10 things: 10 things lawn services wont tell you

By Silvia Ascarelli, MarketWatch

1. How did I learn to take care of your lawn? Mowing my own lawn.

An estimated 85 million American households, or 72%, do some work in their yards, whether cutting the lawn, planting a garden, or otherwise tending to their outdoor space, according to the National Gardening Association.

But a growing number also hire someone to make their lawns look good. Nearly 27 million of those households also used lawn services and landscapers in 2012, according to the National Gardening Association, up a whopping 20% from 22 million in 2010, when belts were still tight from the Great Recession. The Professional Landcare Network, an industry group also known as Planet, found that Americans who turned to outsiders on average expected to spend $700 on mowing, edging and leaf cleanup last year and another $400 on lawn care, such as fertilizers and weed control.

Heres the thing: Starting a lawn- and landscape-maintenance service a business that can do as little as mow the grass or as much as fertilize and prune shrubs and trees requires little more than a mower and business license. There is almost no required training. So how can consumers feel confident that the person turning their lawn green knows his or her stuff?

Kathryn Hahne, who runs the SmartScape landscape water conservation and education program in the Tucson, Ariz., area, says homeowners should press their lawn service about certifications, whether from a national industry group or state and local programs. Even though that doesnt guarantee quality, it does show some education in the field. Some states require those who apply pesticides and fertilizers to have some kind of training as well.

Homeowners should also check that the firm has a business license and is insured, so that the homeowner isnt liable for injuries or damages, says Katherine Hutt, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau. The BBB has seen a steady rise in the number of complaints about lawn services in recent years, but theres also been a big jump in the number of people checking the BBBs national database, which suggests consumers also are doing their homework.

Master Gardeners and county extension agents are another resource homeowners can tap before hiring a lawn service. While they wont give recommendations about individual firms, many extension agents offer tips about lawn care and about hiring a lawn company.

2. The more often you use us, the more often you need us.

Golf-course putting greens are cut every day to keep the grass at a mere eighth of an inch and are spoon-fed fertilizers and weed killers. Your lawn, however, is not a golf course, and trying to keep it looking like one will cost more than most want to spend.

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10 things: 10 things lawn services wont tell you