What's the easiest way to schedule one-time seasonal lawn services without a long-term contract?
Specialty landscaping services are often needed during the changing seasons. Spring and fall have unique lawn care requirements beyond general mowing. Many people like to outsource these services to lawn care professionals. However, many people also don’t want to sign up for a long-term, year-round contract.
Below, we’ll discuss how you can find lawn care pros who are willing to do short lawn care stints. We’ll compare one-time vs recurring services, discuss common seasonal yard work, and provide you with tips to get the most out of your contractor.
Benefits of using a marketplace app for seasonal lawn care services
The most efficient way to get seasonal, local lawn care is to use a marketplace app like GreenPal. It can be difficult to find lawn care providers with availability when you rely on traditional hiring methods. Calling local numbers, finding contractors on Google, or spending on family recommendations are all very time consuming. An established landscaping company often books out months in advance, so it’s hard to get immediate seasonal lawn care.
Additionally, more established landscaping businesses work with long-term contracts for seasonal care. So when you hire them, you’re locked into months of service whether you want it or not. For most homeowners, this is a huge disadvantage.
GreenPal gives you more flexibility. While the intention is to hire lawn care pros for weekly or bi-weekly service, if you hire them at the end of the year for seasonal lawn care, you can avoid regular service because winter is approaching.
One-time service vs recurring service
It’s worth asking yourself if one-time service is really worth it. While it might seem like it would save on costs, most people find that one-time mowing costs more than regular mowing. A normal $35 mow could end up costing $50 or $60.
One-time service has a variety of other disadvantages as well:
Contractor inconsistency: If you have to hire a new person every time you want your yard maintained, you’re starting from scratch. There’s more risk that the person you hire won’t work out. Sticking with one contractor maintains quality.
Lawn health: Many lawns need regular mowing and weed control to remain healthy. Skipping weekly or bi-weekly service compromises this.
Grass grows taller: It costs more to mow lawns that are taller. Most contractors will charge a premium, so it can be more affordable to keep your grass short. Grass that’s too tall can also create problems with pests. However, you don’t want to cut it too short either. The University of Minnesota recommends keeping grass at least 3 inches high to shade out weeds.
Lower property value: An inconsistently maintained lawn can lower your property value. If you’re considering selling soon, it’s very important to keep up with regular mowing.
Common seasonal lawn maintenance services
Regular mowing is essential for a healthy lawn, but what about all the extra services you need at different times of the year? Mowing is just one part that determines how your lawn looks. Seasonal services can vary based on where you live in the country. For example, you might not need leaf removal as part of your Tucson lawn care needs. But if you live in the northeast, it will definitely be required.
Here’s a look at the most common types of seasonal services:
Aeration
Aeration punches holes in the soil to improve nutrient and water flow to the grass. In southern climates with warm-season grass, it’s done in the spring. In northern climates with cold-season grasses, it’s done in the fall.
Leaf Removal
Leaves can cover a lawn in northern climates, and busy homeowners often don’t have time to do yard cleanup themselves. One-time leaf removal is often not enough because leaves fall in cycles. It’s important to clear them as they fall to maintain your yard’s health.
Fertilization
Fertilizer is crucial for new lawns or for lawns that require a little help with growth. It’s most commonly done in the spring to accelerate grass growth into the summer, but many people also like to do it in the fall, especially if it’s been a hot, dry summer.
Mulching
Mulch is often applied in the spring and fall. It creates a nice aesthetic for the property, but it is also crucial for weed control around trees, shrubs, and other foliage. Mulch can be natural, such as the extra clippings from mowing, or it can be inorganic, like stone and pebbles. The USDA recommends avoiding piling mulch around trees because it can cause trunk rot. This is commonly called “volcano mulching.”
Dethatching
Dethatching is the process of removing dead grass from the top layer of the lawn. It can block out the sun, preventing healthy grass growth. It’s recommended to complete dethatching right before the primary growth season. This depends on your climate.
Snow Removal
It’s common for lawn care professionals to offer snow removal in the winter. While it doesn’t help your yard in any way, it does make your life easier, especially if you live in a particularly snowy climate.
Why you should stick with one full-service pro
Seasonal services can be tough to hire for. It requires you to find a lawn care pro who does more than just mowing jobs. Many people may say they do it all, but when it comes down to it, they lack the experience necessary for an effective job.
Once you find a skilled lawn care business or contractor who is good at what they do, hold onto them. They’ll be an invaluable asset to your lawn. It removes the hassle of having to search for a new provider every time you need lawn care, and it ensures that the quality will be good.
Oftentimes, hiring for regular service is the best way to keep this type of lawn care company. It may be a higher upfront cost to have them do mowing all summer in addition to seasonal services, but you’ll appreciate the peace of mind knowing that they’ll be available.
Tips for avoiding long-term contracts
Most of the time, you’ll get a better price and better quality if you invest in regular lawn mowing services. However, this doesn’t mean you have to sign up for a long-term contract. With a platform like GreenPal, you’re not signing anything saying that you’re committing to a full year’s worth of payments.
When you do hire someone, however, they are expecting to be hired for regular service. The first time that a provider on GreenPal shows up at your property, they’re treating it like a “trial.” If all goes well, plan to hire them for bi-weekly or weekly mowing. You only pay after they’re done with the job, though, so you’re never signing up for any contract.
The best way to get seasonal services is to pay for them as add-ons to your regular mowing. When the time comes for aeration or leaf removal, communicate with your pro and ask them to provide you with a quote. This can then be added to the lawn care pricing in the app.
Find a seasonal on-demand service provider today
Whether you need spring aeration, fall leaf cleanup, or winter snow removal, GreenPal can connect you with quality home service providers who are able to help. As the best lawn care software, homeowners find that GreenPal is easier to get bids, compare quotes, and process payments. Take the stress out of hiring for seasonal lawn care jobs, and find an expert who can do it all for you. Sign up today and enter your property address to get started.
