As proud homeowners, we perform various lawn care tasks without thinking too much. Think of mowing the lawn as an example of a lawn maintenance task we do that only requires adjusting the cutting height and being alert to objects in the lawn.
Most lawn care tasks require more experience than simply pulling the cord on a lawnmower.
The debate over whether you should maintain your lawn or hire a professional to do it comes down to a few questions to ask yourself.
Is it prohibitive to hire a professional?
Yes, hiring a lawn care professional will cost you money, especially for complex tasks that require knowledge of lawn science principles. Plus, you can save money by doing one or more lawn care tasks, but what if you’re causing more lawn problems than you’re solving? The answer is to spend a lot more money fixing the problems than you should have hired a lawn care professional in the first place. This principle also applies if you cut costs by hiring the child next to the thatched roof or by contacting a lawn care company that offers non-qualifying cheap services.
Do you know how to apply professional strength products?
This is a huge (perhaps even the most important) factor when making the decision to contact a lawn care professional. Many lawn care products contain harsh chemicals that, if used improperly, can turn a healthy lawn into a part of the Sahara desert. You also need to understand the exact percentage of nutrients your lawn needs to thrive. Different types of grass benefit from different types of fertilizers that contain different percentages of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Unless you’re spending time studying for a competency certificate, it’s best to contact a lawn care professional to handle professional lawn care products at a professional skill level.
What do you know?
As mentioned, lawn care involves the application of many scientific principles, from the nutrient composition of fertilizers to the edge of a lawn to promoting grass growth near walkways and paths. When it comes to more advanced scenarios like this, be honest with yourself and do an accurate self-assessment of how much you know about lawn care.
Ask these questions:
Do you know how to handle lawn care tools to use?
Do you have experience completing complex lawn maintenance projects?
Do you understand all the scientific principles that ensure a healthy lawn?
Do you have the time and patience to see through complete lawn care projects?