The Best Lawn Care Services of 2019 | Reviews.com

The Best Lawn Care Services

A lush green lawn is practically the American dream. Because a beautiful lawn is a healthy lawn, the best lawn care providers tend to the holistic health of your yard the soil, its nutrient balance, the beneficial bugs burrowing through it. We compared national lawn care companies to find which best combine ecological landscape practices with reliable customer service.

We opted to focus on major lawn care companies doing business in a sizable number of states more than half the country by geographic area. Its important to note that we looked for lawn care providers whose primary task is treating the health of your grass. You may be interested in contracting a local lawn care company to mow once a month, or a full-service landscaping firm to install a water fountain or retaining wall. In those cases, our guide below can still help you find a reputable company.

For our purposes, we sought out reliable and well-established lawn care companies with the resources to tend to the health of your lawn, not just mow or landscape. We pulled names from customer review sites like Consumer Affairs as well as industry reports of major players, then checked for stand-out companies that hit the following four criteria.

The diverse benefits of a well-tended lawn (good to look at, nice to roll in, more resistant to invasive weeds and pests) illustrate the importance of hiring a lawn care company that takes them all into account. One promising sign of a mindful provider: membership to national and regional landscaping organizations.

The national membership we looked for: National Association of Landscape Professionals. As Kathryn Hahne, a water conservationist and landscaper, told MarketWatch, affiliation reflects providers education and professionalism in their field. A conscientious lawn care provider follows landscaping and agronomist best practices, as well as legislature about permitted turf and fertilizer types, that professional networks codify.

We love the convenience of an online or over-the-phone quote for most services. But when it comes to your lawn, the company shouldnt have a preconceived number. You dont want a company doing half of a job because they quoted you the price of half the necessary work. The size, slope, and state of your lawn can only be accurately assessed in person. Even if a provider offers a ballpark quote to get you through the front door, final rates should be based off of an initial lawn consultation.

Considerate landscaping feeds the soil, not the grass. We looked for lawn care providers that conduct a soil test before any other service. Healthy soil has the right pH balance for your region, as well as a specific nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) balance either 3-1-2 or 6-1-4. Before adding nutrients and recommending grass and ground cover, your lawn care provider has to know your soils current content.

Landscape practices can either help or hinder the environment: both the micro-environment that is your lawn and the greater biome it takes part in. While fertilizing for growth and spot-treating weeds is necessary for that emerald carpet look, over-fertilizing or spreading weed and seed products hinders your grasss ability to plant deep roots and thrive long term. More globally, the runoff from excess chemicals can damage key species in the food chain. Proper amounts of fertilizer natural and slow-release versus synthetic and quick-release at spaced-out intervals is key. So is opting for manual weeding when feasible. We verified that our top companies ascribe to these fertilization practices.

Best Full-Service Lawn Care

Lawn Doctor

A thoughtful range of services ensures you can pick just the lawn care elements you really want.

ProsCustomizable treatment optionsThorough pest control servicesUnique lawn mower maintenance

ConsNot available in 10 states

Lawn Doctor boasts high customer service ratings on sites like Trustpilot and Yelp, and at least one reason for the companys success is its spread of services. Treatment options are varied and customizable. You can choose whichever specific service best meets your lawn care needs, or opt for the Lawn Maintainer Care Program. This annual program combines all of Lawn Doctors most popular services (fertilization, weed control, pest control), customized to your lawns individual needs. This plan is also available with organic products made exclusively with plant and animal waste.

While both TruGreen and Weed Man USA have the products and know-how to combat common lawn pests like mosquitos, Lawn Doctor expands pest control into a whole practice area. The company claims to have practiced IPM (integrated pest management) long before the acronym gained popularity.

This holistic vision of pest management seeks to put a damper on annoying critters rather than exterminate them completely. With it, Lawn Doctor treats the insects that wander onto your property when their season is ripe: mosquitoes, ticks, fire ants, grubs, armyworms, chinch bugs, moles, as well as perimeter pests like ants, spiders, clover mites, fleas, and ladybugs. (For a fuller discussion of IPM, check out our Pest Control Services review.)

Another pest control service from Lawn Doctor we love: Special Event Sprays. If youre holding a reception or reunion in your backyard, leave mosquitos off the guest list with Lawn Doctors Yard Armour treatment.

Like most lawn care providers, Lawn Doctor wont mow your grass. But Lawn Doctor goes a step beyond the competition by offering a unique service in select locations: maintaining your personal mower. Lawn Mower Maintenance includes cleaning and winterizing the engine and tank as well as sharpening the blades. This last step is key. The jagged tears made by a dull lawn mower leaves grass vulnerable to rot and disease. In other words, mowing your lawn without a properly sharpened blade could sabotage the very lawn care youre paying for.

Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming are still waiting for a Lawn Doctor outpost. Residents of all the above states save for Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont can turn to TruGreen. Those remaining three states will need to scout for local lawn care using our guide.

Best Annual Lawn Care Plans

TruGreen

A step up on annual plans and a nation of happy customers. And if you want to see evidence of its work, flip on the golf channel: Its the official lawn care provider of the PGA.

ProsOutstanding annual planAvailable in the greatest number of states

ConsNo natural planYearly plans automatically re-up

If your lawn needs help from many angles, TruGreens four 12-month lawn care plans are some of the best in the business. Each plan offers different combinations of aeration, pH balancing, fertilization, weed control, and tree and shrub care. All include nine visits spread through the course of a year, plus four additional visits if you opt for the larger plans with tree and shrub care included.

Other companies offer similar long-term plans, but these dont come with as thorough of a work guarantee as TruGreens the Healthy Lawn Guarantee promises return visits from a technician between scheduled visits whenever you feel your lawn needs aid. If you dont want to invest in a full year of lawn care (your first visit is a deal at $29.95, but subsequent visits will likely cost $40 to $50), TruGreen provides la carte services like aeration, overseeding, even mosquito defense.

Every state save for Alaska, Hawaii, and Vermont can receive lawn care from TruGreen. While TruGreens national and multi-market stance may make its services seem less personalized, the website offers a glimpse into the companys local approach with seasonal precautions and reminders based on your location. Enter your ZIP code at the top of the TruGreen homepage to make the information relevant to you.

If you're interested in integrating natural lawn care (think organic fertilizer and no pesticides), then TruGreen may not be your best fit. While the website claims on one FAQ page to offer an organic program called TruNatural, the program is not listed alongside other services, and it takes some hunting to find any more information. For now, natural lawn care is likely better secured from a company that puts it front and center.

Unless you personally cancel service before your 12-month TruGreen plan draws to an end, the company will automatically sign you up for another year. If you want to continue receiving regular visits, this automatic continuation will be a boon. But if you think of lawn care as a solution and not a management system, youll want to keep a weather eye on next years calendar or risk surprise charges.

Weed Man USA

A growing franchise company with a focus on residential lawns that get green by going green.

ProsEncourages a natural yardWell-run and thriving

ConsNo commercial services availableNot available in 15 states

Environmentally conscious lawn care encourages the growth of native and pest-resistant plants and attempts to grow grass only where grass belongs off steep embankments and away from shady areas. Weed Man USA checks these boxes with organic lawn dressing options, targeted weed removal services, and affiliation with the EPAs Environmental Stewardship Program.

Weed Man USA was included in Forbes magazines list of Best Franchises for two of the past three years. The list weighs system sustainability, system demand, value for investment, franchisor support, and franchisor stability to craft rankings, and Weed Man was called out as one of the best.

Contributing to this major mark of success: the companys environmentally friendly lawn care, which appeals to consumers throughout the US and beyond (Weed Man also operates in Canada and the UK). Even if you arent interested in the landscaping business, Forbes kudos is meaningful. Weed Mans popularity reflects the efficacy of its natural approach and portends its increasing availability.

Unlike our other top picks, Weed Man USA doesnt explicitly include commercial lawn care in its service menu. A residential-focused company, Weed Man gives your personal real estate its full attention. But if youre looking for a provider with experience handling commercial accounts, Weed Man may not offer the expertise you need.

Residents of Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Maine, Mississippi. Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming, and Vermont do not yet have access to a local Weed Man USA branch.

While landscaping professionals often advise against choosing a provider that offers quotes sight unseen, plenty of good lawn care providers offer an online quote in conjunction with a free lawn consultation. If getting the best price is important to you, ask for quotes from several. While your price will depend on the state of your lawn and its square footage, Home Advisor provides a list of typical costs.

Landscapers are not required to carry any official license, but they should provide their own insurance and be able to speak to their horticultural training. Apart from knowledge of native growth and the functions of common groundcovers, they should also be familiar with integrated pest management. Managing invasive pests without scouring the natural environment of your lawn is a cornerstone of responsible landscaping.

If you want them to preserve the clover, tell them. If you want them to stick to organic products, tell them. Any desires for the treatment process and its outcomes should be relayed to your lawn care provider. Like a tattoo artist or hairdresser, its their responsibility to tell you if your vision wont turn out like you expect.

If you are concerned about your provider accomplishing the tasks the right way, schedule visits when you can be at home. Just know that some visits will be short five to 10 minutes. Your provider isnt pulling a fast one; not every visit requires action. Quick visits allow your provider to monitor how prior steps are taking effect.

What is the best grass for my lawn?

Propagating grasses naturally agreeable to your local climate cuts down on excessive watering and fertilizing demands. But you also want to consider your expectations for look, feel, and maintenance, as well as your standard foot traffic. If your grass takes a beating, you need hearty grass, though these varieties require more maintenance.

This image from Lowes shows the best zones for cool season grasses (blue) and warm season grasses (orange). The transition zone (green) is best planted with a mix of cool and warm varieties. If you live in this region and want to stick with one grass type, go with cool season.Warm-season grasses

Cool-season grasses

Cool- or warm-season

How often should I water my lawn?

Water your lawn less often but more deeplyrather than quick, daily showers, soak your lawn slowly two to three times a week. Your lawn needs one inch of water each week, year round. A pro tip is to scatter a few empty tuna cans throughout your yard as you water; when those have filled, its time to turn off the sprinkler. This allows a healthy inch of water to moisturize the roots, promoting a deeper root system. Lawn care experts also recommend watering your lawn as early in the morning as possible.Its also more than okay to let your lawn go brown during the hottest parts of summer. Grass can bounce back from a full month without water. During that time, it enters a harmless period of dormancy. If the grass goes from brown to pale, you know its time to turn on the sprinkler.

How often should I fertilize?

Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you live in the South, a little earlier on both ends of the summer. Remember that using organic, slow-release fertilizer is the standing order from modern landscaping. Youll also reduce the odds of harming your lawn if you take a similarly moderate approach to weed-fighting. Mulching grass clippings serves double duty as a nutrient-bearer and a weed-fighter. And if you are wrestling with existing dandelions or other unwanted sprouts, try sprinkling corn gluten meal on them rather than store-bought weed killer or harsh rock salt. This corn-byproduct remedy works by inhibiting the root growth of germinating plants.

What happens if I over-fertilize my lawn?

Over-fertilizing your lawn just makes it dependent on fertilizer. Thats because a superabundance of chemicals kills off earthworms and other organisms vital to a healthy lawn. Earthworms burrows allow oxygen and water to seep deeply into soil, and earthworms themselves release nutrients for plants use through their decomposition of dead matter. Without earthworms, your grass is more likely to develop a shallow and undernourished root system.

What's the problem with fertilizer and pesticides?

Fertilizers and pesticides in excess will run off from your lawn and potentially pollute bodies of water. The latter is a hazard for humans and wreaks havoc on small water-dwellers. As for fertilizer, it can nourish anything green that grows. Algae will gorge on the stuff, spreading thickly across the surface and denying fish access to light and food in the process.

How should I water my lawn during a drought?

While water restrictions during a drought mean you cant water your lawn as frequently as it needs, there are still measures you can take to help your lawn survive longer dry spells.

How do I find the right lawn care service?

What services do lawn care providers offer?

Available services will vary between providers, so be sure to ask if you have a particular service in mind. Generally, most lawn care services perform the following tasks:

You make a lot of purchasing decisions when it comes to your home. Choosing the best option every time is a tall order but we can give you a boost. Check out some of our home service reviews below:

Read this article:
The Best Lawn Care Services of 2019 | Reviews.com