What platforms help me find lawn care for specific seasonal tasks like aeration?

What platforms help me find lawn care for specific seasonal tasks like aeration?

Mowing may be one of the most important parts of maintaining a lawn, but throughout the year, there are seasonal tasks that should be completed as well. These tasks don’t need to be completed as regularly as other landscaping services, but they still need to be kept up on. They make a property look better and promote a healthy, long-lasting lawn.

Many homeowners don’t know where to hire someone for specialized seasonal services like aeration, mulching, and pruning. Basic lawn care pros only do mowing, so where does someone turn? Fortunately, apps like GreenPal have providers who offer a comprehensive range of seasonal services. No matter what you’re looking for, you’re sure to find an expert who can do it. Here’s what you should know about hiring for seasonal services.

Seasonal lawn care services a homeowner should consider

Your lawn has different maintenance requirements each season. There are different weather conditions and different moisture levels that factor into this. Seasonal lawn care can also depend on the type of grass and temperature. Your seasonal needs may be different from your neighbors', but in general, there are five core services:

Aeration

This service is all about giving your lawn a breath of fresh air. Over time, the yard can get compacted. This limits the amount of moisture and nutrients that the roots get. Aeration perforates the soil with small holes. It lets air, moisture, and nutrients enter the deeper layers of the soil, promoting a healthier lawn over time.
The most professional way that this is done is with core aeration. This involves an actual machine that takes “plugs” soil out of the soil layer. Spike aeration is an easier, but less complete method of aeration. This is when a spiked roller is simply pushed across the lawn.

When to do it

It’s very important that aeration is done at the right time of the year. This is also fully dependent on the type of grass, because it needs time to recover. Aerating grass at the wrong time can damage the lawn.

Warm season grasses (common in southern states) should be aerated in the late spring during their peak growth period. Cool season grasses (common in northern states) should be aerated in the fall. 

Leaf Cleanup

If you have any deciduous trees on your property, you likely already know the inconvenience of fall. Leaves can completely cover the lawn, and when this happens, the grass gets zero sunlight. This can kill it prematurely. Additionally, a nicely kept lawn with no leaves simply looks better.

When to do it

Leaf cleanup may be necessary a few times during the fall. If you just want to invest in this service once, time it after all the leaves have fallen. You should be safe by November.

Pruning

Pruning is much more than making trees, shrubs, and bushes look good. It’s also used to keep the plants healthy by removing old, dead branches and controlling growth. For shrubs that have flowers, pruning also creates more opportunity for blooms.

When to do it

Pruning should be done at the end of winter or in the early spring before the trees or shrubs start to grow. If your plants are pruned in the fall, it creates new growth that then immediately dies once winter hits.

Mulching

Mulch helps keep the soil around trees and other greenery moist. This can make it more resilient against dry periods, and it blocks weed growth. Besides the functional benefits, mulching adds aesthetic value to a property and creates a clean finish between the lawn and trees. It’s important not to over-mulch, as this can kill a tree.

When to do it

Mulching should be done in the spring to get the soil situated for the summer. Throughout the summer, more can be added to maintain curb appeal. 

Dethatching

Dethatching is the process of removing the layer of dead organic matter that sits on top of a lawn. While a small layer of this matter is actually healthy for a lawn, excess can create a barrier that blocks moisture and sunlight.

When to do it

This process should be done alongside aeration. Lawns with warm-season grass should be dethatched in the spring, and lawns with cold-season grass should be dethatched in the fall.

Consequences of skipping seasonal landscaping

Many homeowners think that they can neglect seasonal services and just stick to a routine mowing schedule. While mowing will keep your lawn looking good, it’s the seasonal services that keep it consistently healthy.

Many of these services are designed to keep grass alive. If you skip aeration, for example, your yard might be less able to absorb moisture throughout the summer. Water will pool up on top, rather than entering the lower layers of soil. This makes the yard very vulnerable to browning during dry spells. The same thing can happen if you avoid dethatching. If you skip pruning, your trees and shrubs can grow out of control. There will be dead ends and thinning across the foliage.
Overall, sticking to consistent seasonal service ensures that your grass looks its best for longer. It’s not just about the property’s curb appeal. It’s also about lawn health.

How to get accurate quotes for seasonal lawn service

It can be tricky to get quotes for seasonal services. Many lawn care professionals prefer to stick to basic services like mowing. When asked about seasonal tasks, they might agree to them, but at a seemingly random rate. Just like mowing, seasonal services should be priced according to standard market rates.

Here are some tips for getting accurate quotes on seasonal services:

• Get multiple quotes. This helps you understand what a normal bid is and what’s not.

• Explain what you’re looking for. Don’t skip out on details. The more information you provide, the more detailed the quote will be.

• Ask questions. Are standard services included as well? How long will it take? This will help you understand whether the quote is a good value.

Vetting seasonal lawn care businesses

Vetting is an important part of hiring all service businesses, but it’s especially important for a landscaping business that does seasonal services. There’s a lot that can go wrong when someone inexperienced is hired for the job. They might suggest seasonal tasks at the wrong time of the year, or they may do the process incorrectly, potentially damaging your lawn.

There are a few things you can do to vet lawn mowers who offer seasonal services:

• Compare reviews: Always verify reviews when vetting landscapers on GreenPal’s mobile app. All reviews are directly tied to completed jobs, so you can know that they’re authentic and never bought.

• Compare reliability ratings: Reliability and customer communication are imperative. Unlike many lawn care apps, GreenPal has a specific reliability score that you can view to see how often a contractor shows up on time.

• View past project photos: Comparing past projects is one of the first things that new customers check. Photos never lie, so ask to see their portfolio.

• Ask about insurance: All lawn mowing professionals on GreenPal are insured, but homeowners should verify this before hiring. The business owners should have a minimum level of liability protection.

• Ask for examples of past seasonal work: This is the most important vetting process. Ask your lawn care company to show specific examples of seasonal work they’ve done. You want to make sure that they know what they’re doing, especially for tasks like pruning and aeration.

How to avoid long-term contracts and recurring services

One of the biggest concerns that homeowners have when hiring seasonal lawn care is that they’re going to be forced into year-round service. This definitely doesn’t have to be the case. While lawn care software is designed for recurring service, you can switch or cancel providers at any time.

For example, if you want some fall cleanup services, you can hire someone to mow your lawn, do leaf removal, and clean up the sidewalks. You’ll be asked to do weekly or bi-weekly service, but you can cancel future work to avoid these charges. Keep in mind, however, that most lawn care operations will be expecting repeat work, so it may be hard to hire them again in the future.

Why GreenPal is ideal for seasonal services

GreenPal’s Android and iOS app is dedicated to lawn care, so homeowners have an abundance of professionals on the platform who are skilled with seasonal services. Many are experienced with mowing, aeration, fertilization, pruning, mulching, and other services. You can get all-in-one yard work done at a very affordable price compared to larger lawn care businesses.

With online payment processing, it’s the most user-friendly way to keep your lawn in healthy condition all year round. Simply enter your property address, describe what services you’re looking for, and compare bid notifications in real-time.

Sign up today and get lawn maintenance tomorrow

Streamline seasonal lawn care. Whether you need aeration done at the beginning of the summer season or you need fall leaf cleanup, you can find an expert contractor on GreenPal who will leave your property looking outstanding.

Register today to get multiple quotes for lawn maintenance and seasonal services. You may even be able to have the job completed as early as tomorrow.