Do I Really Need Professional Lawn Maintenance?

Points for New Homeowners to Consider

Jaipi Sixbear, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Aug 12, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

New homeowners inherit more than a set of keys at closing. Sometimes they inherit a badly maintained lawn. Of course, you're excited about fixing the place up. That doesn't mean you shouldn't consider a little professional lawn maintenance. Landscaping is hard physical labor. Are you up for it? You say you're in tip top shape? That's great news! Have you considered these other factors?

What is the size of your lawn? If you have a typical city sized front and back lawn, you may be OK on your own. On the other hand, if you chose your home for the huge yard, you might want to at least consult with a landscaping professional. There's more to lawn maintenance than new homeowners might imagine. For instance, ours recently included spraying for the hoards of mosquitoes nesting in our yard and garden.

Are your landscaping needs complicated? If you're like us, you may have purchased your home for the "good bones" and the price. We knew our yard was going to take a considerable effort to maintain before we signed the papers. Luckily, my freelance writing career enables me to keep up with lawn maintenance. I strongly suggest new homeowners who desire a large yard realize they may need professional lawn maintenance dependent on their circumstances.

How much time do you have? Lawn maintenance eats up a big chunk of my day. New homeowners would do well to consider the time involved in do it yourself home maintenance. Hiring a professional can give you more time to spend enjoying your new home. For me, this type of work is enjoyable. For you, it might be the last way you want to spend your days off.

Do you have lawn maintenance tools? This may not seem important until you consider the cost. Items like rakes, shovels, hoes, etc can cost $20.00 and up per item. A simple metal wheelbarrow is over $100.00. Items like mowers, rototillers and weed-eaters are even pricier.

Consider this:

*Do you know how to choose the best tools for your money?

*Do you have a way to dispose of or recycle lawn debris?

If not, you might be better off with professional lawn maintenance.

Do you have lawn maintenance experience? Sure, mowing the lawn weekly and keeping it hydrated is simple enough. What about all the other things you need to know to keep your landscape healthy?

*Do you know when and how much to water your lawn?

*Do you know the ins and outs of fertilization, aeration and weed removal?

There are so many factors in opting for professional lawn maintenance I could list here. Let's put it this way:

If the thought of lawn self maintenance makes you tired, sad or overwhelmed, it might be best to hire a professional.