jqlawn
04-17-2009, 03:51 AM
I've noticed this year my zoysia lawn, mainly the front, is looking pretty bad as it starts to green up. There's a patch in the front where the grass has completely died leaving nothing, but weeds and dirt. I decided that I have struggled long enough trying to keep this lawn to my satisfaction. Never had nowhere near as much trouble with bermuda at the home I owned about 4 years ago! I've decided to hire a lawn service company(LCO).
I decided to interview 3 LCO's...2 franchise companies and a local company. Here's how it's gone thus far:
First franchised LCO returns my call and comes out the next day, Wednesday. He determines the square ft. of my lawn, about 9800 sq ft. Walks the lawn and concludes that the bare spot is mature mole crickets. There was a burrow hole in the bare spot. Brown spots in back yard is "brown patch" and I need to aerate. Says that the yard actually isn't that bad and he could have it "greened up in no time"...Red flag!!! Quotes 5 ferts' @ $72, aerate @ $160, treat for mole crickets 2x's @ $130. Says he'd been in this biz for 15 years.
Second franchised LCO calls back 2 days later and comes the day he calls, Thursday morning. He come dressed almost like he's going to an evening dinner!!! Dress slacks, dress shoes, and casual sweater! He walks the yard and in about 10 mins comes back with his review of said property. He determines that the bare spot is fungus, needs aeration, brown spots in backyard is "brown patch". Does not measure yard sq. ft. Quotes 5 ferts. @ $69, aerate @ $110, fungicied @ $100.
Local LCO won't be here until next week, but here's his deal thus far. He will walk the lawn, take soils samples and send them off to Ohio State. Once he gets the report back he'll interpet and make suggestions at that time. He charges a consultant fee of $75 and $75 for the lab analysis. If you use his company to service the lawn he'll credit back the consultant fee, but I'm unsure about the lab fee. He consults/has consulted for golf courses. Services my neighbors yard across the street...it looks great year in and year out!
Well that's the LCO quest thus far, but I think I've made my choice...what about you guys!
Thanks!!!!
I decided to interview 3 LCO's...2 franchise companies and a local company. Here's how it's gone thus far:
First franchised LCO returns my call and comes out the next day, Wednesday. He determines the square ft. of my lawn, about 9800 sq ft. Walks the lawn and concludes that the bare spot is mature mole crickets. There was a burrow hole in the bare spot. Brown spots in back yard is "brown patch" and I need to aerate. Says that the yard actually isn't that bad and he could have it "greened up in no time"...Red flag!!! Quotes 5 ferts' @ $72, aerate @ $160, treat for mole crickets 2x's @ $130. Says he'd been in this biz for 15 years.
Second franchised LCO calls back 2 days later and comes the day he calls, Thursday morning. He come dressed almost like he's going to an evening dinner!!! Dress slacks, dress shoes, and casual sweater! He walks the yard and in about 10 mins comes back with his review of said property. He determines that the bare spot is fungus, needs aeration, brown spots in backyard is "brown patch". Does not measure yard sq. ft. Quotes 5 ferts. @ $69, aerate @ $110, fungicied @ $100.
Local LCO won't be here until next week, but here's his deal thus far. He will walk the lawn, take soils samples and send them off to Ohio State. Once he gets the report back he'll interpet and make suggestions at that time. He charges a consultant fee of $75 and $75 for the lab analysis. If you use his company to service the lawn he'll credit back the consultant fee, but I'm unsure about the lab fee. He consults/has consulted for golf courses. Services my neighbors yard across the street...it looks great year in and year out!
Well that's the LCO quest thus far, but I think I've made my choice...what about you guys!
Thanks!!!!