Lawn Service; Yea or Nea

[gary_in_neenah]

We're moving into Early Spring in some parts. How's your lawn look? Some of us care too much, while others hack it off with any means necessary. I'm somewhere in the middle. I like a nice lawn but not to the point of being down on my hands and knees looking for problems. Anyway....

Who pays for a Lawn Service? Who buys their own fertilizer and weed control? Who wouldn't spend a dime other than gas for the mower?

My current quote from TruGreen is around $360 for six treatments. I'm considering a local, small business operator if they're competitive. I don't miss the job of buying the stuff, spreading, and hoping for the best as my efforts were marginal and the contract guys show better results. So, whadya think?

Yup, that's Forrest Gump on his 1962 Snapper.

"And then one day...I just felt like mowing!"

​

 

[Tuck]

that is a vicious circle for me. spend time and money to fertilize, weed control and then spend money and time to mow because it grows. at least I am not mowing weeds and it looks decent considering who is doing it. Dandelions, I know good for bees but do not like a sea of yellow to look at, the property to the west has enough for the bees. if it looks good from the deck good enough for me. And the voles! those little devils make a mess quick, already got 1 this year.

 

[wiscrev]

I have little grass, I have sand so I only mow 2-3 times in a year. Yeah!

 

[whitedust]

I mow myself and always will as long as I’m able. I used to fertilize myself use the Menards weed and feed do one heavy application and call it done while in Vilas. Now living in western Racine county I have evolved to using Truegreen they do a good job with 6 applications and are ready to please will come back for free if not satisfied. Unfortunately the operator is always a different person but all are polite and courteous. I tried the small operator and that didn’t go well at all. His price was very high and if you weren’t satisfied he didn’t want to talk quit on the spot which was a blessing. I was afraid to use the big corp guys call the 800 number and be forced to talk to some unyielding idiot. I called TrueGreen and they were super polite and ready to hear me out on lot size and negotiate a reasonable contract each year. The neighbors liked how my lawn looked and slowly they all converted to Truegreen too. Who knew I would be so happy with Truegreen not me but swear by them now.

 

[hermie]

Normally fertilize once in the spring with menards weed and feed. Then just mow as needed. Having just over 1-1/4 acres fertilizing once a year is enough.

 

[eagle1]

Usually fertilize my self. Ya voles suck@$#*! Once in dries up I'll get Sunjo out and dethatch/scarify, definitely helps get air and loosen soil.
Think probably gonna buy new mower too. Current ones at least 12 yrs old. Just use cheapest Toro front wheel drive without personal pace(don't care for that).

 

[JimAndros]

All sand & pines here. Would take constant watering or a few inches of black dirt spread to make it decent.
The sand destroys a set of 3 blades every year.

 

[Airman68]

1/3 Acre. I have Naturescapes do 5 treatments a year (weed and feed) for $80/ea. Kinda getting up there a bit although the lawn looks nice with no weeds.

Considering having them spray for mosquitos again this year. It really works great. I have a small creek in my back yard which is a breeding ground for those suckers. I think the mosquito treatment is around $350.

 

[pclark]

I have little grass, I have sand so I only mow 2-3 times in a year. Yeah!

Same here Rev, I think I mowed my little patch of grass 4 times last year whether it needed it or not. I like not having any yardwork. When the snow finally melts it will be quite a bit of work cleaning up the mess that Mother Nature left after the Thanksgiving storm that left quite a mess. It's just now starting to show through.

 

[mezz]

Can't find our lawn and probably won't see it for another month. If we're lucky.....

 

[euphoric1]

All I have to say is.... ok.... so you want to have a nice looking lawn, I get it but I welcome anyone to come here and answer phones for a day and listen to the ones who's lawns are what seems to be a live or die situation, I will never get it, peoples patience threshold and entitlement expectations are at an all-time high and only getting worse. Being a small business owner, I would much rather support the small local business guys. I sell outdoor power equipment and at times had the worst looking lawn LOL!! I sell mowers, fertilizer equipment, turf maintenance equipment and like now have hundreds of pieces in for service so I don't have time for my lawn, so I hire out my maintenance, mowing and fertilization to my customers. In the end....its only grass. eagle1....good choice on brand of mower and Tuck...congrats on your deal of the century

 

[jr37]

I mower around 3 acres, once a week. Lots of trees, roots, and uneven ground. No weed and feed for me. I like it mowed nice, but I'm OK with whatever is out there growing. I had a John Deere lawn tractor for many years, then a John Deere zero turn. Was very happy with both of them. Last year I bought a Toro zero turn. The jury is still out on that 1. There are things I really like, some no so much. Still have the JD, so I can switch it up if I want.

 

[pclark]

This was my place in Oconomowoc, 2 acres, I used Scott’s turf builder and sprayed ortho weed killer. Had a John Deere 54” cut, I found that I needed my 2 hours on mower every week. It was therapeutic.

 

[garageguy]

I don't own a lawn mower I live in the woods

 

[jedoyle]

I use a local lawn service called ULTRALawn. I used to have TruGreen & wasn't very happy with them. The new place does an OK job. It costs $82 per application & I think I do a total of 7. Definitely getting pricey. I just de-thatched my lawn with a quick connect deal I pull behind my riding lawn mower. I aerate in the Fall with the same set-up. And yes I have already nabbed 1 mole this spring. They seem to really like the flowering crab apple tree in the backyard. I use those scissor traps that goes across the tunnel & pinch them when triggered. Those are the only ones I have found that work well.

 

[gary_in_neenah]

Our neighbors spray for mosquitos but we don't. Apparently the skeeters don't recognize property lines so we don't have any either. Win-Win!

 

[indy_500]

I’m a lawn nut. Only have about .35 acres. I fertilize myself with menards stuff. Definitely over do it, as I probably put down a dozen treatments of various products between spring and fall. Some of the treatments I do are Milorganite and/or 10-10-10. I have Inground sprinklers for the front half of the lawn too to keep it pretty. Out there at least once a week spraying for weeds. Been battling nutsedge grass the last few years.

 

[euphoric1]

FYI to anyone who sprays themselves for mosquito's.... DO NOT use garlic oil! will likely eventually clog up sprayers especially gas powered ones, wear as much skin protection i.e. gloves and facial if have to clean out or you will be regretting it for a while

 

[jedoyle]

I started using the Cutter Backyard Bug Control because a lot of people were swearing by it. It seems to work OK. Just hook up to hose & go.

 

[Airman68]

I bought all the stuff to spray for mosquitoes, but it never seemed to work nearly as well as the professional companies, so I let them do it now.