Five Star Lawn Care, LLC – Lawn Care Service, Charlotte NC https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/ Charlotte's #1 Choice for Experienced, Affordable, Reliable Lawn Care. Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:07:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-five-star-lawn-care-site-icon-1-32x32.jpg Five Star Lawn Care, LLC – Lawn Care Service, Charlotte NC https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/ 32 32 Fall Armyworms: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide to Armyworm Identification & Treatment 🌱🐛 https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/fall-armyworm-damage-identification-treatment-guide-%f0%9f%8c%b1%f0%9f%90%9b/ https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/fall-armyworm-damage-identification-treatment-guide-%f0%9f%8c%b1%f0%9f%90%9b/#respond Sun, 15 Sep 2024 21:38:06 +0000 http://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/?p=4697 In this Fall Armyworm Lawn Care Guide, I show you how to identify Armyworms as well as how to eliminate them for good!

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Wrapping up the close of summer 2024, I felt it was necessary to take a moment to write up a guide for Charlotte, NC and Southeast residents to inform homeowners that I am seeing earlier than normal and higher than normal Armyworm activity with the vast number of reported Armyworm Damage experienced by local homeowners.

A vast number of Charlotte, NC area homeowners have begun using a new tool just released in 2024 to aid in Armyworm Lawn Damage Prevention personally reporting Armyworm damage of this quick-moving, invasive turf pest.

You can bookmark this tool for future use with this all-new 2024 Armyworm Damage Reporting System which you can access here:  Interactive Armyworm Damage Map

Armyworm Identification: 🐛

Here is a picture of what Armyworms look like and some questions to ask to identify this pest and treat to mitigate damage as quickly as possible:

Fall Armyworm Identification

 

👉 Do you noticed increased browning in your lawn over the past week or two?

 

👉 If so, do these brown spots appear to be spreading?

 

👉 If yes, go ahead and take 60 secs (your lawn with thank you!) to pull up some of the dead grass and look for signs of these worms. If you have Army Worm infestation, it won’t be hard to find them feeding just below the surface.

You also may notice “Armyworm Moths” that will fly out of the grass when you mow or walk across the yard.

Over to the right, you will see a photo of what Armyworm Moths look like so you can properly identify them:

Armyworm Moth

👉  Discovering an infestation of these pests requires immediate attention — seriously❗

Why the immediate response to treat these pests so quickly?  Well, that’s because once the Armyworm eggs hatch, the larva begin to feed heavily on dense canopy follage and a preferred diet for them is your beautiful turfgrass we work so hard to make look great.

Once these larva begin feeding, if their numbers are great enough…

Army Worms can literally destroy a lawn overnight !!

I have personally witnessed this time and tie again — mostly from new customers reaching out for treatment solutions who did not have our Annual May Grub, Turf Caterpillar, and Armyworm Season-Long Preventative treatment applied.

👉 Unprotected lawns are most susceptible to to Armyworm Damage. 

I released a short video this week showing the absolute havoc these Armyworms can produce in turfgrass that did not receive a preventative protection app against these Fall season pests.

WATCH NOW:  Armyworms DESTROY Neighborhood HOA Turfgrass Common Areas:   

Armyworms Destroy Unprotected HOA Turfgrass Common Areas 

Treated lawns for our clients are protected with a single, one-time preventative application appropriately timed in May of each calendar year to prevent turfgrass loss before it starts!

This preventative application, once applied, is absorbed by the plant and has a residual hold for the remainder of the season which will actively kill any larva that begin to feed on the turf and eliminates them before they can cause any noticeable damage.

Whatever you do, whether you call a Professional Turf Care & Pest Control Care Company to handle the Armyworms or you treat them yourself — do something.

One way or the other, it is imperative you take action to prevent reproduction cycles and a bigger problem the following year.

Your neighbors will thank you as well as Armyworms do not abide by lot boundary lines and will trespass until you lay the law down!

Top 2 Options for Total Armyworm Control:

Crosscheck EZ Granular Insecticide

Crosscheck EZ Granular Multi-Insecticide – Just dump bag in your spreader and apply according to the rates of insects wanting to control.

👉 Must be watered in to be effective. 

👉 Can be applied with a common Scott’s broadcast spreader.

 

 

 

 

Crosscheck Liquid – Mix at 1oz/gal of solution for max control of:
Armyworms, Ticks, Fleas, Sod Webworms, Billbugs, Cinchbugs, etc.

Preventative vs Curative Treatments:

Preventing Armyworm Damage Before It Starts:

As with any turf care plan that gets results, we need to implement preventative measures as our first line of defense.

Doing so gives us a huge advantage against all kinds of weeds, lawn pests, fungus issues, and disease pressures a typical homeowner’s lawn will encounter throughout the varying weather extremes of any year.

Industry Leading Preventative Insecticide:

Acelepryn Xtra Preventative Insecticide: 

GRANULAR Acelepryn:

How to apply:  Can be applied with a common fertilizer Scott’s broadcast spreader.

👉 Must be watered in to be effective. 

👉 Can be applied with a common Scott’s broadcast spreader.

 

 

LIQUID Acelepryn:

👉 PREVENTION:  Applying Acelepryn to turfgrass areas in May will prevent Armyworm Damage in the first place:

⏰ TIMING: Don’t get caught off guard this season!  Early to mid-June is ideal for applying Acelepryn as a preventative insecticide at the 20 fl. oz./A rate (0.36oz – 0.45oz/k sqft) for season-long control of fall armyworm, white grubs and billbugs. This max rate can also offer:
•    Turfgrass ant control
•    Grub control
•    Mole cricket suppression

Acelepryn Xtra can also be applied at the following rates for these specific uses:
•    16-20 fl. oz./A (0.36oz – 0.45oz/k sqft) for additional grub control, along with turf caterpillar, ant, and billbug control
•    10 fl. oz./A in mid to late July to prevent fall armyworm for at least two months

Armyworm Curative Liquid Treatment:

Crosscheck Insecticide* 

*Liquid treatment requires a handheld or backpack sprayer.
💦 Best 2 gallon Handheld Pump Sprayer:
💦 Best 4 gallon Manual Pump Backpack Sprayer: 
💦 Best Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer: 

Granular non-liquid application:
Crosscheck EZ Granules* 

*Granular applications require push spreader to apply like this very popular Scotts Broadcast Spreader here:Scotts Turf Builder Edgeguard Broadcast Spreader

Generic Crosscheck:
Talak 7.9% Bifen


Armyworm Damage Identification

Although Armyworms may be better known as agricultural crops pests, they can be a sporadic but serious pest of turfgrasses.

Fall Armyworm damage in turfgrass is very distinctive.

Since Armyworms cross the turf surface as a group, they create a noticeable line between damaged and undamaged turfgrass.

Usually damaged areas will originate around a site where egg masses can be easily laid (signposts, buildings) and radiate outward.

Although fall Armyworms do not have many specific preferences, newly-installed sod is more attractive and more susceptible to damage.


Armyworm Treatment

Fall Armyworms can be more difficult to control than other turf caterpillar pests. When possible, mow and lightly water the turfgrass areas to be treated prior to applying control products.

Insecticides are generally ineffective against large larvae so be sure to note the size of the Armyworms before making an application. Large larvae are likely to finish feeding and burrow into the soil to pupate so only treat if larvae are relatively small. Pyrethroids (particularly lambda-cyhalothrin) and carbamates (carbaryl), will provide somewhat effective control against smaller larvae. Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn) will also control turf-feeding caterpillars, if applied very early. For specific control information, consult your local Cooperative Extension center for recommendations.

 

Table 1. Insecticides for control of Fall Armyworms in turf.
Insecticide and Formulation Amount per 1,000 sq ft Precaution and Remarks
Acephate* (Orthene, T, T&O) 0.5 to 1.2 oz Water in immediately after application.
Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn) 0.046 to 0.092 fl oz
Chlorpyrifos* (Dursban) 4 E, 2 E, 50WP, Pro See label For use on golf courses; check new label.
Indoxacarb (Provaunt) SC 0.0625 to 0.25 fl oz Not labeled for use on sod farms.
Pyrethroids* (Advanced Garden, Battle, Deltagard, Menace, Scimitar, Talstar, Tempo, Cyonara) See label
Spinosad A + D (Conserve) SC 1.25 fl oz Rate varies with size and species

Additional Info & Resources:

For additional detailed information on Armyworms & other various turf pests, be sure to check out the NC State Extension website.

—————-

Get Help Treating Your Lawn for Fall Armyworms

If you think you have this turfgrass pest problem, reach out to me via call or text 704-578-9302 and I will expedite any and all curative insect treatments ASAP because this issue is time sensitive to deal with before Armyworms destroy, in some cases, the entire lawn.

Again, it is imperative these pests are controlled so they are not able to complete their next life cycle, reproduce and lay eggs leading to more of the same problem now and into the following season.

You work hard to keep your lawn looking good.

Let’s guard that turf today!

All-Season Turf Master Turf Care Clients:

If you have been with us since at least May 2024, thankfully — your lawn has already been protected for season-long control of these pest with our one-time annual preventative treatment that was applied to your lawn in May earlier this year to prevent these Armyworm pests from wreaking havoc on your beautiful lawn.

If you are an annual client — great job!   We already did the heavy lifting for you 🏋️‍♀️

If for whatever reason, you still think you have identified Army Worm damage, reach out to me immediately and I will personal come out to treat again at no cost to you to ensure your 100% satisfaction.  That’s how it should be.

Treat Your Lawn for Army Worms Today & Schedule: 🐛⚡

✅ Curative Multi-Insecticide Treatment (Quick-Release) 🐛

This turf care treatment controls the following insects:

  • Armyworms 🐛
  • Fleas
  • Ticks
  • Chinch bugs
  • Sod webworms
  • Cutworms
  • Mole crickets
  • Billbugs, and more.
  • Don’t Delay — Schedule today:

👉 Email me at ( info@fivestar-lawncare.com ) or call/text my cell anytime @ 704-578-9302.

You can also request a free, no obligation quote for our most sought after Turf Care Treatment Plan by going online to our  quote request form page.   In the additional details section, ask about our most popular “All-Season Turf Masters Signature” Turf Care Program (includes preventative treatment once annually for Army Worms and nuisance insects) and I will ensure you receive a new customer experience unmatched in the Lawn & Landscape industry.

Until then, I will see you in the yard!

 

Guarding your Turf,
Riley Adkins, Founder
Five Star Lawn Care, LLC
US Marine Veteran 🇺🇸
⭐  ⭐  ⭐  ⭐  ⭐

 

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Greenworks Pro 80v Cordless Hedge Trimmer – Field Tested & Reviewed https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/greenworks-pro-80v-cordless-hedge-trimmer-review/ https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/greenworks-pro-80v-cordless-hedge-trimmer-review/#comments Fri, 25 Dec 2020 23:11:57 +0000 http://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/?p=4377 We field tested the Greenworks Pro Hedge Trimmers on a severely overgrown fence and give our thoughts on how it compares to gas power. The end result is surprising...

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Greenworks Tools = No gas.  No fumes.  No fuss.

I’m excited today to bring you a company that takes battery-powered electric tools to the next level, the level that so many professionals in the green industry have been waiting so long for, well that time is now and that company is Greenworks.

Greenworks boasts the largest lineup of lithium powered tools in the world with over 25+ lithium powered tools for the homeowner and professional tradesman! Whether you need a cordless mower, leaf blower, chainsaw, string trimmer, or even a powerful snow thrower — Greenworks Tools has you covered.

Today, we have the brand new just released Greenworks 26″ cordless hedge trimmer with the 80-volt lithium rechargeable battery system with fuel indicator lights, easy fix jam button, brushless motor, rapid charging times as fast as 30 minutes for non-stop power, and more.

>>> Watch the video review below.  Just wait until you hear how quiet these cordless hedge trimmers are:

Why We Are Switching to Greenworks Tools In 2021:

Within my lawn & landscape company, Five Star Lawn Care, we have already begun to phase out our traditional 2-cycle gas-powered tools such as our Stihl & Echo brand tools which we have faithfully used to produce sales in excess of $1,000,000 over the past decade, in which we have helped thousands of homeowners just like you to achieve the yard of your dreams, in favor of these advanced lithium powered, no gas, no fumes, quiet cordless tools.

We also just purchased the Greenworks Pro 80v cordless chainsaw which I am super excited about and will be reviewing soon like but that we’ll save for another day.

What About Battery Run-Time & Longevity?

Up until now the biggest issue for me with lithium technology has been the run-time and longevity of the batteries.  But now the lithium technology is at a level of advancement where companies like Greenworks Tools are now providing a 4-year warranty with each battery.

These lithium-ion batteries are rated to be able to receive a minimum of 1,000 charging cycles — that’s a ton of work! Greenworks tools have put their money where their mouth is with this 4-year warranty and have even given the consumer a reason to buy with much less risk.

What’s So Great About The Greenworks Pro 80v Cordless Hedge Trimmers?

Below you will find my personal feedback (the bullet points) of having used these Greenworks Pro 80v Cordless Hedge Trimmers on many different property landscapes for our lawn care clients.

✅  Up to 60 minutes of runtime with fully charged 2Ah battery

  • Battery charges in just 30 minutes for non-stop power (two or more batteries)
  • 2Ah battery is not excessively heavy
  • One battery can run multiple tools!

✅  Digital controlled brushless motor for more torque, longer run-time, quiet operation, and longer life

  • Equivalent to 25cc gas engine
  • Weight is compareable to a gas engine
  • Incredible power and torqueCheck out this video of me shredding through an overgrown fence line.

✅  180 degree rotating rear handle provides easy trimming at multiple angles

  • 5-position rotating rear handle (one of my favorite features!)
  • Trim at whatever angle you need whether it’s a long fence line or a hedgerow, you can find a comfortable setting for your trigger hand.
  • Speeds up trimming jobs with a lot of vertical trimming.

✅  Durable Die-Cast Magnesium Gearbox

  • Magnesium is 75% lighter than steel and 33% lighter than aluminum.
  • High impact resistance & durability
  • High strength to weight ratio

✅  Exclusive Jam Button

  • Reverses trimmer blades to easily free common jams.
  • Greenworks addresses an age-old problem and hits a home run.
  • Exclusive feature for Greenworks cordless hedge trimmer!Please Note: Jam button will not work in traffic or for morning toast.

✅  Efficiently cuts and trims

  • Massive 1.2 inch cutting capacity
  • Laser cut precision cutting blades shreds through bushes like a hot knife in butter.
  • 3,600 strokes per minute

✅  Quiet Operation

  • Say goodbye to the loud (and annoying) gas engine.
  • Can hold conversation while operating.
  • Less noise pollution and neighborly disturbance.
  • Can operate without blowing your ninja cover.

✅ 4 Year Tool & Battery Warranty

  • Double the industry standard warranty of 2 years.
  • Gives consumers a risk-free way to switch to cordless tools.
  • Must register your tool online or by phone 1-888-909-6757

Final Thoughts:

While I was reluctant that I would ever switch my company fleet over from gas-powered equipment to lithium powered cordless tools, these hedge trimmers turned a skeptic into a believer.

I love the fact that I can just grab these, hit the on button and get to work.  No hard cold starts or equipment cutting off from not being warmed up.  No more choking on gas fumes while trimming bushes.  Heck, we don’t even need hearing protection with these cordless hedge trimmers and that is such a breath of fresh air.

Overall, I highly recommend Greenworks huge lineup of tools as they have a proven track record of durable, efficient, high-quality tools for homeowners and professional landscapers alike.

So throw away your gas can and hearing protection and get to work!

Tame the wild,
Riley Adkins, President
Five Star Lawn Care
US Marine Veteran

Be sure to Subscribe to my Youtube channel for pro tips, DIY videos to save you time & money, giveaways, and more!

Leave a comment below and let me know:

What is your favorite cordless tool to use around the yard?

What cordless power tool do you plan to get next?

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7-Steps to Avoid a Lawn Care Service that gets Hired, Fired & Left More Desired https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/7-step-how-to-guide-to-hiring-the-most-qualified-lawn-care-maintenance-service/ https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/7-step-how-to-guide-to-hiring-the-most-qualified-lawn-care-maintenance-service/#comments Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:01:20 +0000 http://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/?p=4004 Discover exactly what you need to know to ensure you avoid the common pitfalls that lead to a bad lawn care service hiring decision.

The post 7-Steps to Avoid a Lawn Care Service that gets Hired, Fired & Left More Desired appeared first on Five Star Lawn Care, LLC – Lawn Care Service, Charlotte NC.

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Discover how to easily avoid the common mistakes customers make when hiring a lawn care service. 

But first, a quick background on why I was inspired to write this lawn care service hiring guide to aid consumers in their search to hire the right lawn maintenance company the first time around.

This hiring guide is based off of well over a decade of experience and personal interaction with thousands of lawn care clients.  I was inspired to write this hiring guide to help consumers avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls I hear about on a regular basis in the lawn maintenance industry

My desire with this hiring guide is to help you avoid the frustration of ending up as another poorly treated lawn care client that well, unfortunately, happens all too often in the lawn maintenance industry. 

Main Objective:

To ensure you are armed and well-informed in your hiring decision.  This will allow you to easily avoid wasting your valuable time and hard-earned money which is the likely result from a bad hire.

The 8 Most Common Complaints

Here are the top 8 complaints I hear from new clients venting their frustration with a previous lawn care service:

  1. Lack of consistency
  2. Lack of communication
  3. Nightmare billing process
  4. Lack of adequate business systems in place to automate invoicing & payment process to save time
  5. Does not offer convenient payment options (usually only cash or check)
  6. Have to remember to leave the money under the mat and pay every service (inconvenient!)
  7. Random price fluctuations due to a lack of flat-rate monthly pricing built in to service plan
  8. And finally, what I call “Ghosting”
    (Lawn care service stops showing up & leaves the client high and dry not even having the moral fortitude to communicate with the client to provide a reason — not cool, Casper!

Many times there were 2-3 lawn maintenance companies that did not work out for one reason or another — OUCH!  My aim is to help you avoid this same fate with the checklist that follows.

Let the hiring insight begin!

Step 1 – Check Company Reviews (At Least 5-10)

Check the lawn care business’ reviews first and foremost.  If this step fails, move on to the next company in your search.  Do not waste your time on a company that doesn’t sit right with you from the start.  Trust your gut here.

Tips while navigating company reviews:

• Where to find the most legitimate reviews? Google is King here.  Next, check Facebook & other social media outlets the company may or may not use.  Almost all will use Google so start there.

• Simply do a Google search for “Lawn Care Service” and scroll down a bit just past the sponsored ads and you will see the business listings, reviews and ratings of some of the top companies in your area.

• Take some time to review what previous customers have to say about how they were treated, the level of service they received, fairness of pricing, consistency over time (a big complaint from clients in the lawn care industry!) and just to get an overall feel of the lawn care service and how they conduct business overall.

• If a particular company does not have any reviews or very few — steer clear.  It is better to go with a company that has at least a small established track record than one that has no documented proof they can provide consistent quality landscape services for their clients.

• When reading reviews, keep in mind that a company, no matter how much they try, cannot please 100% of the people 100% of the time.  If a company has a bad review, check to see how quickly the customer was responded to and how the situation was handled. Did the company stand behind their work and make what was wrong right, or at least do everything in their power to establish a positive outcome for the client?

Step 2 – Visit the Lawn Care Company Website to Assess the Following:

• Do they have a professional website that shows it was well thoughtout with the client’s needs in mind?

• Does the website provide infomation such as a blog to help you make a more informed decision?

How easy is it to request a free lawn care quote or order lawn care services?  Does the site provide a way to order services online or do you have to be inconvenienced with calling their office every time you need services or consulting regarding your landscape?

Does their website affirm your decision overall, that this business is professional and competent in its ability to adequately meet your service needs or did you already hit the back button?

There’s a saying and it goes like this: “How you do one thing, is how you do everything.”

If a website is confusing to navigate, looks like a 3rd grader built it, etc. — you can only assume the service you will receive would be in a similar fashion

Step 3 – Hire a Company that Stands Behind their Work.

Let’s face it — no human being or business on planet earth is perfect.  We all know this, but when and if an issue does arise, will the company take ownership of it, stand behind their work and make it right by you, the lawn care customer?  

Are their systems and regular company training in place to eliminate the majority of unnecessary issues?  Routine company training is vital to successful field operations in any business.

To determine if a company will stand behind their work and do the right thing in times where others take the check and run for the hills, you can read additional reviews as mentioned in step 1.

If the company is reluctant to provide 2-3 references of past clients, don’t waste any more time with that company, move on in your quest to find a landscaping company who views you as a long-term win/win relationship and is focused on building trust over the long-haul.

Another method is to ask for traditional references. 

The company you select should view your relationship as a marriage — a commitment to always do right by both parties — think win/win and not a fly-by-night.

A win/win relationship where the lawn care business has your best interest at heart means that in the unlikely event an incident does occur on your property, they will already have an insurance plan in place to handle any issues that may arise.  

A business that does not carry liability insurance is short-sighted and does have the best interest of their client in mind, period.  

Would you neglect to protect your family with adequate health insurance, life insurance, automobile insurance coverage, etc?  Of course you wouldn’t neglect such important safety measures for your family and neither should you hire a landscape contractor that does not have a general liability insurance policy in place to protect you and your property.  

Simply ask: “Do you carry General Liability Insurance to protect my property while work is being performed?”

For your reference, here at Five Star Lawn Care, we carry over $1,000,000 in general liability coverage to ensure our client’s properties are always protected, no matter what.  

That leads us into Step #4 which is, drum roll please…

Step 4 – Hire a Company with Proper Licenses & Liability Insurance Coverage

Did you know that to even apply basic granular fertilizer on a customer’s property for compensation, the state of North Carolina requires a valid Turf & Ornamental Pesticide License?  

Most lawn care companies we have spoken to over the years DO NOT have a Pesticide license at all, much less a valid one which requires an annual renewal fee and continuing education of up-to-date best horticultural practices.

To keep our pesticide license valid with the North Carolina Dept of Agriculture, we are required to take continuing education classes each year to keep up with the ever-changing landscape (pun intended) of the lawn & landscape industry and best horticultural practices for effective management of client’s properties. 

Would you rather hire a company that is constantly growing in their knowledge, sharpening their proverbial saw and knowledge of best horticultural practices, has training their employees as a regular to do item with their team OR a company who only mows or provides a small array of services since they do not have the knowledge or confidence to provide additional services and in turn, additional value for you, the client?  

One way to ensure the company you hire is operating legally and is continually educating their staff to provide quality services is to ensure they have a valid Turf & Ornamental Pesticide License in place.

One of our most received compliments is the fact that we provide our clients added value of providing a one-stop shop if you will, and saving our clients time, effort and headaches from having to hire, set up and develop another relationship with a separate service company. 

We also have developed great business to business relationships with other small business owners over the past couple of decades that we are always happy to share and recommend to our clients, if there is a service that is requested but is outside of our scope of services.  

One recent example that comes to mind is when a client asked if we could grind a stump of a tree took down for her the year prior.  Although we do not offer stump removal, we were able to provide her with a qualified recommendation and she got her stump taken care of the very next day with our recommendation of Southern Stump Removal which can be found @ www.SouthernStumpRemoval.com 

One of our missions is to provide ever-increasing value to our clients whether that be through clear communication, quality, consistent & timely service, value-added business referalls, personal time savings by providing a vast array of services under one roof, automated business systems that make the accounting and billing processes streamlined which in turn leads to time and cost savings for the client & our lawn service company.  

We believe if it can’t be a win/win then it shouldn’t be done!!  Speaking of win/win, that leads me to Step 5, the written service agreement…dun dun DUNNN!

Step 5 – Ensure the Company Provides Terms of Service in Writing via a Service Agreement

Okay, let me go ahead and start by addressing the elephant in the room — CONTRACTS. 

It seems there are two types of clients I have discovered over the past decade — those who never question a basic written service agreement (because they seem to just know from experience why they are so very important) and those that seem absolutely terrified to sign anything more than their credit card receipt at the grocery store.  

This fear is unwarranted and usually based off the false belief that a written agreement is there to take advantage of them — this is far from true from a legitimate lawn care service company.  

Allow me to show you exactly why…

Let me ask you this: 

Will your cable company, cell phone company, life insurance company, home insurance company or even your mortgage company do business with you as a client without a written agreement (contract) in place?

Absolutely not!  But why? The main reason is thus:  Without a written service agreement in place, read and signed (approved) there cannot be, what is vital for effective business to customer interaction — clear direction and instruction to each party which is designed to eliminate unnecessary misunderstandings and make as clear as humanly possible the obligations and conditions of conducting business between business and client.

A word of caution:

Be wary of any lawn service company (contractor) who does not utilize a service agreement (terms of service in writing — that is all a contract really is anyway) due to the fact that without having the terms of service in writing exposes both the lawn care business and the client to unnecessary risks, problems and  frustration (usually due to miscommunication) that could have easily been avoided with a simple one or two page service agreement.

A basic lawn care service agreement that has both the client and the business’ best interest at heart (win/win) will benefit both parties in the following ways:

  • What is expected of the business to perform services is in writing which eliminates confusion.
     
  • Written explanation of how to terminate the agreement (should be simple, hassle free and with no termination fee).  A quality lawn care service agreement’s main intention is not to “lock you in” but rather to eliminate unnecessary confusion for both parties, in turn making conducting business as effective as possible by saving both time and frustration by both the client and the service business.
     
  • Holds the lawn care company to a set standard of precisely what service(s) are to be performed and when, like how many times per year the service(s) will be performed (giving both the client and business a standard of measure to judge service-based execution and performance on), exact price to be paid each month for service, when payments are due, how to handle a dispute, etc.
     
  • When a lawn or landscaping business does not outline the way they are, in affect, “giving their word” to do business with you in writing, via a basic service agreement you can bet on two things happening just like rain coming when the sky grows dark and cloudy:
  1. The company is directly or indirectly allowing themselves a way to wiggle their way out of a bad situation when something adverse happens because hey, after all, if it’s not in writing in the business world — it doesn’t exist.  Remember this.
     
    Case in point: Don’t be fearful of a service agreement — be fearful of the lack thereof.
     
  2. There will be undefined expectations that go unmet because both parties are not on the same page (literally, because there is no page without a written service agreement — think about that).It’s like I kindly remind my wife from time to time, I say “babe, I cannot read your mind, you have to tell me what it is you need.”  A thriving marriage is a relationship that takes ongoing, clear and precise communication to work long-term, there is no way around it and if proper communication is left unchecked or ignored it will lead inevitably to problems in any relationship.

    Written terms is the best way to ensure communication is as clear as it can be for both parties, to “communicate” exactly what is expected of both parties so effective business can be conducted which will eliminate unnecessary stress, anxiety and broken trust from what I like to call, “death by assuming” that is most certainly to follow a relationship without well-defined, clear communication which we have learned at this point is a written service agreement.
     

  3. I mean think about it, you didn’t even marry your spouse without a contractual agreement — that’s right, a marriage certificate signed by, you guessed it — both parties.  Always remember, if it is not in writing it does not exist.  So protect yourself and only do business with a legitimate company that is willing to do what they are being contracted to do and have it clearly outlined in writing.
     
  4. Honestly, the list of benefits to both the business and client goes on and on but just know that any lawn care company that has a win/win mindset is going to want to protect both themselves and their customers.  This protection afforded to both parties simply cannot be accomplished without a basic lawn care service agreement in place.

Step 6 – Has a Payment System that Allows for Auto-Pay

I will never forget what a new client said to me when I was explaining to him that we handle payments a little differently than most other companies.  We do not charge per cut like most lawn care companies, which causes a fluctuation in price every third month due to an extra cut in that month leading to unnecessary price fluctuations, confusion, the client having to check the invoice each month to make sure the amount they are paying is correct and tying them to having to remember to make a manual payment each month which can and should be avoided, because there is a better way!

When I explained that to make our billing process streamlined, we simply add up the total number of services to be performed and divide by the total number of months service will be performed allowing us to arrive at a flat-rate monthly price and extends the luxury of auto-pay service to our clients, a set it and forget it approach to the entire billing process, I will never forget his words.  He said, “Riley, you are a pioneer!”

Honestly, this compliment caught me a little off-guard.  A pioneer?… Really? I guess to him and so many other clients who are used to dealing with the hassle of paying previous lawn care guy, maybe I was.  However, I simply explained to him that I appreciated his kind words, but all I really have done with Five Star Lawn Care is to place myself in my clients shoes, ask good questions and implement changes to avoid common complaints I hear from clients time and time again. 

In doing so, I would create another win/win for the business and our clients by eliminating common problems I see in the industry making our client’s lives easier while providing additional value to our customers in turn making our company stand out even further.  I love win/wins scenarios! 

My main goal is to make our client’s lives easier (and ours too!) by providing value and implementing automated systems wherever possible that other lawn care companies simply fail to provide.  We will never be perfect, but we continually strive to improve and get better. 

Flat-rate monthly pricing with automatic payments has been such a huge success for our business and our clients (win/win) that our business now offers automatic payments as the sole method of payment for our clients. 

With auto-pay, here are a few great benefits:

  • No more wasted time writing manual checks.
     
  • No more lost checks in the mail not arriving on time which can lead to unnecessary late fees.
     
  • No more having to spend the mental energy having to remember to pay another dreaded bill.
     
  • Time is your most valuable asset and therefore, we think it should never be wasted.  Auto-pay prevents wasted time doing mundane tasks like writing manual checks, licking stamps and even walking to the mailbox. 
     
  • Don’t hire a company that only gives you the option to lick stamps!  Seriously, the chemicals in that glue cannot be good for you.   

Do yourself a huge favor and make certain that the next lawn care company you hire has an advanced automated payment processing system in place for your convenience and peace of mind.

Step 7 – Lawn Care Company MUST have a Win/Win Approach to Business

Does the company give you the overall impression from your research that they will treat you like family or a free lunch to be taken advantage of?  Will you be treated like just another quick buck to be made or valued as a long-term relationship? You should have a better idea of how to answer these questions from completing Steps 1-6. 

Another pitfall I have seen time and time again of unhappy clients that hired wrong company the first time or three is that they got what I like to call, “low price tunnel vision” one too many times.  

Remember, think win/win.  The company you hire should give you a fair price, yes, but to effectively run a legitimate company with adequate licensing, proper insurance coverage to protect you and your property, pay taxes, provide quality commercial equipment to do the job right, etc. — the lawn service company needs to be able to provide all of these things to ensure top level service that you would expect and also still be able to turn a profit at the end of the day.

It’s been said forty two million times but it bears repeating because it is especially true in the lawn care industry — You truly do get what you pay for.  Think about what your time is worth to you.  Do you want to spend it trying to get someone on the phone, wondering when the due date is, how much you owe, and all the stress and personal time consumption that goes along with the “cheapest bid”?  

I have said it many times and I will say it again: 

“Be sure that what you save in money paid will not lead to having to pay with something more costly later — your time and frustration.  You can only spend time, you cannot save it so make certain that you spend it wisely and make decisions today that allow you time to be spent wisely tomorrow as well.”  

Do not make the common mistake of looking at the price tag as the only factor to consider when hiring a lawn care service company.  Doing so is the equivalent of marrying someone because they have a job. Let’s get real! There are more variables to consider than just price alone. 

Think value per dollar spent, not ONLY the amount of dollars spent. Value per dollar is what being smart with your money (frugal) is all about. Being cheap is only focusing on the dollar amount spent.  BIG difference in mindset and the quality of results that follow.  

You want peace of mind and confidence knowing that the company you higher has advanced systems in place so once your account is set up, you’re done!  Payments will be handled automatically on your behalf and so will the maintenance services each week. My recommendation is to not focus so much on the dollar spent but rather on the value you will receive for what you will pay.  

A win/win mindset is the key to long-term relationships between a business and its clients.  Think win/win for long-term effectiveness for all interdependent relationships. I will leave you with a quote from Mr. Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which is one of my favorite books and one that I recommend often:

“When one side benefits more than the other, that’s a win-lose situation. To the winner it might look like success for a while, but in the long run, it breeds resentment and distrust.  In the long run, if it isn’t a win for both of us, we both lose. That’s why win-win is the only real alternative in interdependent realities.”

-Dr. Stephen R. Covey | Source: www.franklincovey.com/the-7-habits/habit-4.html

Follow the 7 steps outlined above so you don’t end up, as I have heard so many describe, with a company that was hired, fired and left more desired.

In Summary:

Step 1 – Check the Reviews of Current and Previous Clients 

  • The proof is in the pudding – check the history of service provided and what other clients have had to say about working with the company.

Step 2 – Visit the lawn care company website

  • To get a better overall feel for the professionalism of the company and remember: How they do one thing is how they do everything.  Does the company portray excellence or not so much?

Step 3 – Hire a Company that Stands Behind their Work.

  • Rainy days happen but no need to get soaked if the proper umbrellas are in place (General Liability Insurance held by the lawn care business).

Step 4 – Hire a Company with Proper Licenses & Liability Insurance Coverage

  • Ask: “Do you have a valid Turf & Ornamental Pesticide license to operate your business?  How about General Liability Insurance?” If they answer yes to both, you can even go one step further and ask how much their GL insurance policy covers per incident.  Ours is over $1,000,000 for your reference.

Step 5 – Get Terms of Service in Writing via Lawn Care Service Agreement 

  • To avoid unnecessary risks, problems and frustration (usually due to miscommunication) that can AND should be avoided with a simple one or two page service agreement.  This agreement protects the business and you, the client. Think win/win.

Step 6 – Has a Payment System that Allows for Auto-Pay

  • Avoid wasted time manually writing checks.  Avoid lost checks in the mail and late fees that result from missed due dates.  Avoid the dread of the mundane tasks of paying yet another bill. Seriously, my head hurts just thinking about not having all of my finances automated.  Only work with a lawn care company that makes the billing process as easy as possible. Don’t hire a company that makes you lick stamps to pay your bills.

Step 7 – Lawn Care Company MUST have a Win/Win Approach to Business 

  • Avoid “low price tunnel vision”.  Don’t focus solely on the amount of dollars spent but rather the value you will receive for the dollars spent.  Think about what your personal time is worth and remember you get what you pay for. This is especially true in the lawn care service industry.  A win/win mindset is the key to long-term relationships between a business and client. Think win/win for long-term effectiveness for all interdependent relationships.

I sincerely hope this 7 Step Checklist to Hiring the RIGHT Lawn Care Company the First Time has been of value to you in some way.

Got Feedback?

We’d love to hear from you!

What problems have you faced working with lawn care companies in the past?

What insights would you want added to this guide or that you could share to help others in their search for a rock-solid lawn care company?

Please take a moment to contribute and share your thoughts to help others in their search for a qualified lawn care service company in the comments section below.

Thank you for sharing!

Warm Regards,
Riley Adkins, President
Five Star Lawn Care, LLC
US Marine Veteran 

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6-Step Lawn Watering Guide to Establish Grass from Seed for Best Results https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/6-step-lawn-watering-guide-to-establish-grass-from-seed-for-best-results/ https://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/6-step-lawn-watering-guide-to-establish-grass-from-seed-for-best-results/#comments Thu, 01 Aug 2019 17:00:47 +0000 http://www.fivestar-lawncare.com/?p=4071 This step by step watering guide will provide you with maximum germination and establishment of new grass seed. It’s simple, effective and proven to get results.

The post 6-Step Lawn Watering Guide to Establish Grass from Seed for Best Results appeared first on Five Star Lawn Care, LLC – Lawn Care Service, Charlotte NC.

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How to Properly Establish Grass from Seed—

This step by step watering guide will provide you with maximum germination and establishment of new grass seed. It’s simple, effective and proven to get results.


This is a before and after picture of my lawn last fall. The guide I have outlined for you below is the exact watering schedule I use on my lawn to achieve these results. This guide is based from a decade of experience operating Five Star Lawn Care, LLC.

Proper watering = Results

Items Mentioned in this Guide:

Neverkink Watering Hoses
Pulsating Sprinklers
Automated Irrigation – Watering Timers
Rain Gauge – Water Distribution Measurement

1. When to Start Watering

A. Installation of watering hoses, timers and sprinklers should be set up immediately following the completion of the lawn being aerated and seeded and the initial watering should begin.

2. Sprinkler Set-Up

A. When setting up your sprinklers, locate as many hoses and sprinklers as possible. You may need to purchase additional hoses and sprinklers to ensure full coverage of entire lawn areas. It is important to note that any area of the lawn not provided with irrigation will NOT germinate or establish.

3. Selecting the Right Sprinklers

A. Pulsating sprinklers, also known as impact sprinklers are the leading above ground sprinklers due to the fact that they are adjustable creating versatility in a variety of landscape situations are a simple, effective design which means fewer parts to break or have something go wrong.

An additional benefit of pulsating sprinklers is the fact that they also have the largest coverage area over other sprinklers which means less out of pocket costs to cover the same area of lawn.

Quick word of caution: Stay away from anything plastic when selecting your sprinklers. The plastic sprinklers will not last a season before they break and the performance is terrible due to the lack of weight needed to create the pulsating motion that the impact sprinkler relies on in order to distribute the water effectively. They “can” work but require high levels of consistent water pressure or they will hang up and just flood the lawn, washing seed away and causing uneven germination – something we definitely want to avoid!

4. Automate your Irrigation

To avoid the hassle of turning sprinklers on/off, etc. — the most effective way to ensure your newly seeded lawn is properly watered at the proper intervals is by utilizing one or more Digital Water Timers. In fact, to properly water a newly seeded lawn, it’s nearly impossible to do this manually without either an in-ground irrigation system or some type of above ground system, and that’s where these simple, but effective digital water timers come to the rescue!

digital watering timer

A digital watering timer like the one pictured above can be purchased on Amazon. They are available with single, double, triple or even quadruple watering outlet ports depending on how many hoses and sprinklers need to be operated per water spigot. Orbit brand models won’t break the bank and will serve our purpose of watering automation.

Single outlet timers are useful for very small lawns that only need one sprinkler for complete coverage. We’re talking a lawn 4,000sqft or less. That being said, it is usually a better idea to opt for the dual outlet timer or greater. The additional outlet(s) allow operation of more hoses and sprinklers giving you additional options for future needs.

Sprinkler water coverage should overlap at edges to ensure proper water coverage. When setting up your sprinklers remember any area not receiving water will NOT germinate and grow. Once the initial watering or rainfall has taken place, the seed MUST remain moist and not be allowed to dry out. This will ensure the highest possible germination rates of new seed.

5. Frequency of Watering Applications – First 3 weeks

A. Upon starting the watering schedule, the entire lawn area MUST receive light, but frequent watering every day. any area not getting watered will NOT germinate. Once the initial watering or rainfall has taken place, the seed MUST remain moist and not be allowed to dry out to ensure proper germination.

B. Each sprinkler will vary in application rate, however generally 7 minutes per sprinkler 3 times per day is sufficient. For example, select on Orbit watering timer’s dial to “Start Time” at 5am. Set “How Long” for 7-10 minutes. Set “How Often” for every 8 hours. Turn dial to “Auto” and ensure water spigot is turned on and your lawn will now be watered automatically per your settings. Easy, right?

These settings will be used for ONLY the first 3 weeks or until new grass reaches a height of 3 inches. Germination of cool season tall fescue grass usually takes 7-10 days (before you see green sprouts over your lawn area) and 3” height around 21 days.

C. The lawn area should be evenly watered over the entire sprinkler area. Some sprinklers have adjustments and others do not. The key is even water distribution. You do not want “rings” of heavy watering around the sprinkler heads. This will cause uneven germination. This is the main reason pulsating sprinklers are preferred over others. Also ensure that fittings on all hoses and sprinklers are firmly fastened so no water is leaking which can also lead to uneven germination.

D. Water ALL lawn areas each and every day utilizing watering schedule similar to the above outline. Continue daily watering UNTIL the new seeds germinate and grow to 3 inches. This height can be expected in approximately 21 days for tall fescue grass if proper watering schedule is followed.

6. New Water Schedule – After First Lawn Mowing

A. Up to this point you should have watered your lawn 3 times per day, every 8 hours for 7-10 minutes each sprinkler. Now the turf grass will begin to help to shade the soil, which will help to retain soil moisture. You should now water your entire lawn EVERY OTHER day, but watering frequency should be reduced from 3 times per day to 2 times per day. Run time per sprinkler will be 20 minutes now instead of 7-10 minutes.

B. You should continue to water your lawn every other day until the second mowing, which will be completed 4-5 weeks after the initial watering of the lawn has taken place. When your lawn is ready for the second mowing, once again allow the lawn to dry out for 48 hours prior to mowing. This may mean setting up your lawn watering days with a little foresight to have the off day land on the day that the lawn is normally mowed.

C. You may now reduce your watering back to EVERY THIRD day. Continue this schedule until your lawn is full. Remember not to mow your lawn or walk on it when it is wet.

Important Irrigation Facts:

The reason we do not continue watering the lawn every day is that the lawn only requires daily watering for the germination phase when establishing grass from seed.

Failure to adjust watering up to the point of every third day will cause the grass to be hindered from establishing deep roots if never challenged to search for deeper sources of soil moisture due to being watered daily.

This will lead to lack of drought tolerance during the summer and an overall weaker turf.

As a rule of thumb, the lawn once established needs 1 – 1.5” of irrigation or per week to thrive. Use a common rain gauge to determine how long your particular sprinkler set up takes to water the lawn 1” and divide this total time to be run every 3 days and adding together to produce 1-1.5” of water per week.

Water in the early morning between 5-7am to allow soil to soak in moisture and avoid unnecessary evaporation and wasted irrigation. Evening watering will cause moisture to sit on grass all night leading to fungus and disease issues.

Final Summary:

Failure to follow a watering schedule like the guide outlined above will result in a lawn short of its full potential. The most common mistake I have seen homeowners make over the years is thinking that watering every day is the best thing for their lawn. Please note that there are different phases of grass development requiring differing watering frequency and watering run times. The irrigation requirements are dependent upon the specific phase of grass establishment such as germination, young grass seedling or fully matured.

Item Checklist :

Neverkink Watering Hoses
Pulsating Sprinklers
Automated Irrigation – Watering Timers
Rain Gauge – Water Distribution Measurement

The post 6-Step Lawn Watering Guide to Establish Grass from Seed for Best Results appeared first on Five Star Lawn Care, LLC – Lawn Care Service, Charlotte NC.

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