If there’s a contest in your neighborhood for who has the biggest pile of unused lawn care products in their garage, would you win?
Be honest. Nobody’s judging.
Well, somebody would judge to choose the winner. But nobody’s judging.
DIY lawn care often seems like a good idea, right? But the reality is, well, piled up in your garage.
Should you bother making a DIY lawn care plan or should you hire a pro?
Just to be clear, this isn’t about mowing. We’re talking about fertilizer, weed control, grass seed, lawn insect control, and the other tasks throughout the year that make for a healthy, beautiful lawn.
Here are important things to consider when choosing DIY lawn care vs. hiring a professional service.
Will you Have the Time for DIY Lawn Care?
You really do intend to take good care of your lawn.
Maybe you already bought all the products. You just stubbed your toe on that bulky bag of fertilizer yesterday.
The thing is, life gets in the way.
One weekend flies by, then another. How long before it’s too late in the season to put this stuff down, anyway?
Maybe next weekend....
Do You Know Which Products to Use (and how to apply them)?
You should also think about lawn care products when deciding if you want to hire lawn care or DIY. The lawn care aisles are stuffed with DIY lawn care products you can use.
Grass seed! Fertilizer! Weed control! Grub killer! Load up the cart, Harry!
Wait, which kind of grass seed? What type of fertilizer? Which is the best weed killer? Do we even have grubs?
These instructions are kind of confusing. One bag? Three bags?
Hello, is there an expert in the store? Hellooooo? Anybody?
This is kind of a hassle. How will you know you’re getting the right kind of materials, designed for the conditions of your yard?
And will you actually know what you’re getting? Bargain seed from the big box store often has weed seed mixed in.
Same with fertilizer. RainMaster uses premium professional-grade formulations of granular fertilizer, which is more effective than products you can buy at the store. It breaks down slowly, giving you consistent benefits from fertilization.
Then when it comes to weed and insect controls it gets even more complicated as there are dozens of options to choose from. Which is the best? Not just the one with the snazziest bag with catchy marketing slogans.
DIY products won’t get you that thick, healthy lawn that you’re expecting.
Weeds Are Tougher Than You Think
Planning to get out there and kill all your lawn weeds for good?
Let us know how it goes. Some weeds give us a run for our money — and we’re experts.
For one thing, not every weed-killing product kills all weeds. And some weeds are so tough, they just laugh at those DIY lawn care products you can buy at the store.
For Creeping Charlie, a tenacious perennial weed in Minnesota, we use a professional-grade, specialty weed killer multiple times throughout the year to combat it. Your typical home improvement store weed control won’t do the job.
We target dandelions with a specialty “weed shield” designed to reduce the number of dandelions that emerge in the first place.
Again, you can’t just grab a bottle from the store shelf and expect it to work as well as the pro products we use.
Also, weed control isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a continuous process. Don’t you have better things to do?
We thought so.
What Does Your Lawn Really Need?
Some people think it’s all about fertilizer, and that alone will do the trick.
Nope.
A thick, green lawn is all about the roots and the soil. If they’re healthy, your lawn will be, too.
Maybe it needs a boost of iron, magnesium, or humic acid. Or some nice, rich organic matter.
We go beyond the fertilizer big three of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to really target your lawn’s unique needs. (We’re actually phosphorus free, to protect our precious waterways.)
Your lawn might be compacted and need aeration. Your soil pH might be off, which means your lawn can’t absorb the nutrients it needs until it’s back in balance.
Your lawn might need more than just products you can toss in the cart.
Let’s Face It, DIY Lawn Care is a Hassle
All the bags piled up in your garage, all the dates to keep track of, equipment to maintain.
If you don’t apply fertilizer or weed killer correctly, you can actually damage your lawn. We see this a lot.
Don’t you have a ball game to enjoy? Or a camping trip?
Do you really want to let lawn chores stop you?
Trust your lawn care to a professional, and there’s no equipment to maintain. No messy bags of fertilizer stacked in your garage, taking up space, spilling all over the place.
Your calendar won’t nag “fertilize the lawn” anymore, because that’s our job. And we promise we’ll make it easy.
Lawn Care Professionals Can Spot Problems
When you’re out on your lawn lugging those bags around, you’re probably not looking for possible problems.
You’re just putting products down, trying to get done so you can get in a round of golf. Or start grilling those steaks. Or grab that mint chocolate chip ice cream you hid in the freezer before the kids find it.
But when our lawn care technicians are out there spreading seed, or applying fertilizer, or treating for weeds, we’re looking at your lawn’s total health.
We might notice signs of Japanese beetles, grubs, or lawn diseases.
Our technicians are trained professionals, so we catch things early — before they turn into worrisome and expensive problems.
DIY Lawn Care Tip: Call RainMaster & Relax
If you do your best to tackle a DIY lawn care program, get frustrated by the time, the hassle, and the lack of results, you won’t be alone.
Plenty of our customers tried it themselves first. Then they realized it’s just not worth it.
We make it easy.
We offer three different levels of lawn care programs in Minneapolis and Eau Claire, based on the results you’d like, how fast you want to see results, and your budget.
- Luscious Lawn is a high-end, proactive program that will promote amazing lawn care results. This is the program to choose for the quickest and best results, particularly if your lawn needs a lot of help.
- Terrific Turf, a mid-level option, is our most popular program to grow a thick, green lawn and deal with most challenges.
- Healthy Habitat is a basic plan that includes the elements you need for a better lawn.
When you’re ready to put your trust in us, we can’t wait to meet you — and help you make the best choices for your lawn.
Want to be confident about your choice for lawn care services in Minneapolis or Eau Claire? Request a quote today! We’ll review your lawn care options together so you can make a great choice. Then, you can finally enjoy watching your lawn transform and stop worrying about it.
