Selecting a lawn and garden care company

By Roberta Dow
Special to the Record-Eagle

May 07, 2008 04:00 am

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Do you have or want a lawn or garden care company? It's that time of year that you may be thinking about hiring one. Before you do, consider what you want your lawn (or garden) to be like and how much time you will work on it. Also consider what tasks you want to do mowing, fertilizing, weed control, pest management, watering, mulching gardens, or none at all and what tasks you want the company to do.

Be an educated consumer. Ask friends, neighbors or co-workers for recommendations. Interview the companies on your short list. Ask for references. Check on any complaints against the companies and seek information about the companies. You may contact the Better Business Bureau, Michigan Office of the Attorney General, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division.

Determine what problems are common and serious in the type of lawn and yard plants that you have; your local MSU Extension office can help you with this.

Before signing a contract, ask each of your short-list companies these questions (if only hiring lawn care, omit questions or parts of questions related to garden care):

-- How many years have you been in business in this area?

-- Is your company currently licensed with the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA)? How long has your company been licensed by MDA?

-- Does your company carry liability insurance? How much?

-- Do you evaluate the condition of my yard before you decide how to achieve the yard I would like?

-- What services do you offer? Do you also do pruning, weeding, and deadheading?

-- Can I select the level of lawn care for example no pesticides and no-phosphorus fertilizer unless the soil test indicates otherwise?

-- Do you offer a variety of pest management approaches?

-- Will you show me the pest or evidence of a pest and/or damage it has caused to my lawn or yard plants and will you tell me what will happen if I take no action?

-- If pesticides are needed in my yard, will the person who applies them be certified or registered by the MDA?

-- Can I see a copy of the applicator's certification or registered technician credential prior to service?

-- Could you give me a copy of all labels for pesticides that will be used?

-- Do you soil test before choosing my lawn and/or garden fertilizers?

-- If I choose a spring lawn fertilizer application, will it be applied around the time of my first mowing?

-- If I choose only one fertilizer application will you do it in the fall? If I choose only a fall fertilizer application, will it be applied in September?

-- Do you sweep fertilizer back on the lawn if it gets spread on impervious surfaces?

-- Do you cut the grass at 2.5 inches 4 inches height?

-- What are the terms of your service agreement? If you have to return between scheduled visits, is there an additional cost?

-- How do you keep your staff updated on new techniques, regulations, requirements and pest problems?

-- What will I need to do before and after your visit?

For more information on selecting a lawn or garden care company, call Dr. Roberta Dow at 922-4858.

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