Lawn service professionals perform a variety of tasks to keep homeowners’ lawns lush, green, and healthy. They often deliver their services in packages that vary from company to company.
Generally, all lawns need fertilizing, weed control, soil testing and core aeration. In addition, some lawns require ISA-certified arborist tree care.
Mowing
Mowing is an essential service to help keep a healthy lawn. It keeps grass blades at the right height for photosynthesis and nutrient absorption, as well as removes overgrowth and trimmings. Professional lawn mowing is usually done with a high-quality mower that is designed to cut through thick, dense grass and is often equipped with mulching capabilities. This ensures a clean, consistent look and prevents dirt from flying around the property.
Regular mowing also helps to spot issues like fungus and insect infestations quickly. Leaving these problems unchecked can spread quickly, making the yard look ragged and unhealthy. In addition, mowing regularly helps to prevent thatch from developing. Thatch is a mat of dead grass and clippings that can build up to the point where it blocks sunlight and impedes water flow in the soil. Dethatching is one of the services that many homeowners find themselves in need of to restore a healthy lawn.
A regular mowing schedule also means that weeds and other unwanted plants are less likely to take hold in the lawn, so that you don’t have to deal with them on your own. Professional lawn care companies will use a broad spectrum of weed control strategies, including chemical and mechanical methods.
A landscape company will be able to help you with other maintenance options, such as aeration, lawn fertilization, routine cleanup, and edging. These services are included in most mowing packages, but will depend on the size of your property and any other landscape features you have, such as garden beds, trees, shrubs, and retaining walls.
Fertilization
Lawn fertilization helps keep grass looking pristine and vibrant. A lawn care service can spread granular or liquid fertilizer across the yard to encourage healthy grass. It also helps prevent weeds, such as crabgrass, from growing. A typical program typically includes applications of nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K).
Many companies offer pre-emergence weed control services as part of the basic lawn care package. Others provide it as an add-on service for a nominal fee. In either case, a lawn care professional uses custom products or treatment methods to reduce the number of common garden weeds like clover and dandelions in the yard.
Some companies also offer aeration, which involves poking holes in the ground to keep soil from compacting. Overseeding is another add-on service that increases color, thickens turf, and prevents weeds from spreading. Some lawn care professionals may also offer mulching, which moderates soil temperature and moisture while suppressing weed growth.
Other lawn care services include trimming trees and shrubs to maintain their shape. A lawn care company can also clear away debris from yards and prepare gardens for planting by digging, tilling, and adding compost or other organic materials to the soil. Some companies also install hardscape features, such as patios, decks, stone walls, fire pits, and water areas. These landscaping additions can be incorporated into both residential and commercial properties. They help transform outdoor spaces and enhance curb appeal.
Weed Control
Weed control is a necessary part of lawn care to prevent unwanted plants from taking over. This may involve removing weeds by hand or using a machine, applying preemergence (to stop crabgrass) or postemergence weed control products, and/or herbicide applications.
Preventative weed control services can help reduce the need for more expensive and toxic chemical treatments by keeping weeds from growing in the first place. This includes cleaning tillage and harvesting equipment after each use; planting certified, weed-free crop seed; and preventing weeds from spreading in barnyards, field edges, and along roadways, fencerows, and ditch banks.
Many providers offer organic care, using slow-release fertilizers and natural weed treatment methods. This type of lawn service is usually safer for children and pets, but can take longer to yield results than standard chemical treatments.
Lawn disease and pest management is another key component of lawn care. Fungicides and insecticides can help keep grass healthy by reducing the incidence of turf diseases, such as brown patch or summer patch, and controlling insects that damage lawns, like grubs or chinch bugs. Some lawn services provide these services as an add-on to their mowing, fertilization, and weed control programs, while others offer them as standalone options. Many companies also offer a variety of add-on services, including mulching and leaf removal. This helps improve curb appeal and is a great way to keep outdoor spaces clean and tidy.
Insect Control
Lawn care services offer a wide range of services. They typically include mowing, fertilization, weed control, aeration, and routine cleanups. They may also offer disease and pest control services. Some companies even offer landscape services like tree and shrub care, landscaping and snow removal.
Fungicide – The use of preventative fungicide treatments can help keep your lawn healthy and free of fungal diseases such as leaf spot, brown patch and summer patch. Pests – There are many kinds of insects that infiltrate lawns and damage turf. These pests include grubs, ticks, and mosquitoes. A good lawn care service will know which types of pests are a problem in your area and can provide treatment to keep them away from your yard.
Most lawn care services will provide grub control as part of their standard packages. Other services that are often included are preemergence (for crabgrass) and postemergence (for broadleaf weeds) weed controls, as well as dethatching and lawn aeration.
Some lawn care services will offer insect control as an extra-cost option for their customers. Insects that can damage turf include white grubs, chinch bugs, sod webworms and cutworms. A well-maintained lawn usually discourages insect populations and is easier to manage with fewer insecticide applications. Proper identification of the insects is important to determining how they should be controlled, since different methods will be needed depending on their life cycles, habits and the conditions that affect them.
Bed Maintenance
Lawns are not just grass; they may also have shrubbery, flower beds, and trees that need to be maintained. Keeping these elements neat and trimmed is important for curb appeal as well as for the health of the plants. A landscaping company that offers this type of service is a good choice for those with more than just grass in their yard.
The crews at Top Choice are trained in what should be trimmed and what should not be, as well as when to trim what. Their experience and knowledge of central Texas foliage allow them to properly prune trees, shrubs, and flowers without damaging the plants or causing them to die. They are also backed up by specialists with decades of experience and degrees in horticulture who help them learn new things as well as give specific instructions on what should be done for the best results.
Many lawn care professionals emphasize the importance of their yard waste removal services to keep garden areas clean and appealing. While this service is usually included in more extensive lawn bed maintenance, it can be offered separately as well. Garden waste such as twigs, branches, leaves, and stems can ruin the appearance of the garden area, so this is an important service that customers seek. Moreover, it is a necessary process to prevent the soil from being damaged by these debris.
Bed Edging
Edging creates clear lines that separate lawn, flower beds and other landscaping areas. It keeps turf grass from spilling over into your garden beds and it discourages weeds from creeping up into your lawn as well. Edging is especially important around the base of any trees and plants as it helps protect these areas from damage that could occur from lawn mowers, hedgers or clippers.
In addition, edging makes your yard look more polished and cared for. It is a relatively inexpensive way to improve the appearance of your home. A properly edged yard also helps to keep soil erosion at bay. It can prevent mulch or dirt from washing into other areas of your yard and it will help to stop grass, weeds and soil from spilling over onto walkways.
Among the most common types of edging is trenching. This is a labor-intensive process, but it provides an effective separation between your lawn and flower beds. You can use a manual shovel or a mechanical edger to dig a trench along your edging line.
Metal edging is another common type of landscape edging that looks good and is easy to install. It is usually made from aluminum, which is lighter and stiffer than steel and will not rust. It provides a clean, sharp separation between your lawn and flower beds and it is easily available at most hardware stores. Plastic edging is less expensive than metal, but it does not provide the same crisp and attractive appearance as a metal border.
