Congratulations on your new home! As a first-time home buyer, there’s a lot you have to figure out about homeownership, lawn care being one of them. With so much going on in your life, it can be easier to outsource lawn care to a professional. They’ll be able to take the burden off your plate and ensure that you’re set up with a healthy lawn that lasts.
Not sure where to get started? Below, we’ll discuss why it’s so important that you hire an expert for your new home’s lawn care and how you can use GreenPal to find an experienced pro for the job.
Lawn care can be more complicated than it looks
It can be tempting to move into your first home and get excited about doing lawn mowing yourself. After all, it seems pretty easy, right? In reality, good landscaping is hard to achieve for someone who hasn’t done it before. There are countless elements you have to keep in mind, like:
Mowing heights: It’s important to know how high your grass should be for optimal health. Cut it too short and it dies; cut it too long, and it can attract pests.
Lawn care equipment: You’ll need to buy everything you need for lawn care, such as a lawn mower, weedwacker, trimmer, and accessories.
Herbicides and pesticides: Some lawns will need chemical-assisted weed control. You’ll need to know what type of product to buy, such as pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicides.
Type of grass: Different types of grasses have different lawn needs. It’s important to know whether you have warm-season grasses like crabgrass or cool-season grasses like bluegrass.
Grass seed: Some properties may need grass seed to grow a thick, full lawn. You’ll need to know what product to buy, how to apply it, and how to care for it.
Watering needs: Watering can be tricky to get right. Overwatering can lead to inches of water in your lawn, with nowhere to drain. It’s also dependent on location. For example, lawn care in Tuscon, AZ will require more watering than lawn care in Portland.
The importance of avoiding mistakes with DIY lawn care
A lot of new homeowners think that they can handle their own lawn care. While it doesn’t take much to achieve a very basic yard, things can go south if you make mistakes. Cutting the grass too short can make brown spots, using the wrong herbicides can kill your grass, and overwatering can create muddy conditions. Major mistakes can lead to years of recovery, so it’s important that you get it right the first time.
Many people don’t know where they need to start with lawn care, and some lawns need more unique services to be cared for properly. If you’re ready to look for a lawn care pro, check to see if they have any experience with the following:
Overseeding: Overseeding is a technique that’s used to seed a lawn and grow more grass. It improves lawn density and fixes thin patches.
Aeration: Aeration is an important task to do once a year. It relieves soil compaction, allowing water and nutrients to enter.
Fertilization: Fertilization is key for a green lawn, but you need an expert who’s knowledgeable about the products.
Sod: Sod can be beneficial for lawns with bare spots. However, it requires specialized experience to apply correctly.
Lawn care professionals know what your lawn needs
The main benefit of hiring a professional to handle your new home’s lawn is that they have an expert understanding of lawn care and what’s required to make your property beautiful. They typically have years of experience in the industry and are very experienced with local lawns like yours.
They’ll know what type of grass you have and what the common problems other homes in the area face. They can even offer lawn care tips to ensure your grass stays healthy in between visits. By hiring an expert, you never have to worry if you’re doing lawn care right or not.
What’s the best way to find a lawn care expert for a new home?
It can be daunting trying to find someone in the local area who can mow your lawn. You might not know anyone who can give recommendations, and there might be way too many options to narrow down. Plus, it’s a huge risk. You never know if you’re hiring someone qualified or not.
While most people jump to Google or social media to find a local lawn care pro, marketplaces like GreenPal are a much easier solution. You can get a variety of bids from local contractors by listing your property. From there, you can compare prices, qualifications, and availability to help you find the perfect match. Every contractor is highly vetted with reviews, so you can feel confident in your decision.
It’s not difficult to get started with GreenPal. New homeowners can follow a hassle-free process:
Sign up with your information.
Enter your address and some details about your property, specifically what you’re looking for when it comes to lawn care.
Specify whether you need any additional services like mulching.
Specify when you need the job done by.
List your property. You’ll start receiving bids from pros.
Once you have enough quality options, start comparing them to each other. Look for value, not just price.
Hire your contractor, set up a weekly or bi-weekly mowing schedule, and they’ll show up on time.
Pay through the app once the job is completed.
What to expect once your pro gets started
The underlying theme of GreenPal is that it makes your life easier. You don’t have to worry about finding time to mow your lawn or wonder if you’re doing it wrong. Once you hire through the app and set up a time, your mower will arrive when they say they will. You don’t have to be home.
Most people start with standard services. This includes mowing of grass up to a certain set height, weedwacking around obstacles, and edging/trimming around any hard surfaces. Cleanup is also included in the process, although grass clippings are left behind as natural mulch.
Once the job is complete, your mower will send a picture of your property to the app. Your payment is then processed. Depending on your recurring schedule, you can then expect the same thing the next time your pro shows up.
Get started with GreenPal today
Moving into a first home is one of the most exciting times in someone’s life. The last thing you should have to worry about is lawn care. By hiring a professional from GreenPal, you can have a green, beautiful lawn that your neighbors will admire, and you’ll have more time to dedicate to other parts of first-time home ownership. Sign up today!
