Most lawn care companies sell their services as programs: a set number of visits through the season, each with a planned treatment. Comparing programs from different companies can be confusing, because names and contents vary. Here's how to read them and choose the one your lawn needs.
This site celebrates local lawn care companies doing great work, and one of our first spotlights goes to LawnWorks, a family-owned company serving Joliet and the southwest suburbs of Chicago since 1988.
LawnWorks offers three lawn care programs, Basic Works, Preferred Works and Complete Works, so homeowners can pick the level of care that fits their lawn and budget. They also offer grub control, mosquito control and perimeter pest control.
Here's what to look for in any lawn care program.
What a basic program usually includes
The foundation of almost every program is fertilization and weed control. Expect several fertilizer applications through the season, crabgrass pre-emergent in spring, and broadleaf weed treatments for dandelions, clover and similar weeds. For many lawns in decent shape, this is enough.
What mid-level programs usually add
The next step up often adds services that protect against the most common problems: preventive grub control, extra weed treatments, or treatments that improve the soil. If your neighborhood has had grub damage before, grub prevention is worth having.
What complete programs usually add
Top-tier programs typically add aeration, overseeding, disease prevention or soil amendments like lime. These are the services that turn a thin or struggling lawn into a thick one. If your lawn has bare spots, heavy clay or a lot of shade, a complete program often pays off.
Services that usually cost extra
Some services are often sold separately, so ask about them:
- Core aeration and overseeding
- Disease treatments for brown patch or dollar spot
- Curative grub treatments for active damage
- Mosquito and tick control
- Perimeter pest control around the home
How to choose
Start with the condition of your lawn. A healthy lawn may only need the basics. A lawn with weeds, bare spots or past grub damage usually benefits from a fuller program for a year or two, then can step back down.
Look at the total cost for the season, not the price per visit. And ask whether the company offers discounts for prepaying or for bundling services like mosquito control.
Questions to ask a lawn care company
- How many visits are in each program, and what happens at each one?
- Which services are included, and which cost extra?
- Which program would you recommend for my lawn, and why?
- Do you re-treat between visits if weeds come back?
- Are there discounts for prepaying or bundling?
The right program is the one that fixes your lawn's real problems without paying for things it doesn't need.