By choosing a passionate, experienced provider who understands the root cause of lawn care issues, you can have the healthiest, most beautiful lawn in your neighbourhood. Below are ten steps to choosing the best lawn care service in your area.
1. Are you looking for a local independent or national brand?
2. Check out their reputation?
3. What is their position to the environment and integrated lawncare
4. How is their customer support?
5. Do they give value for money?
6. Are they licensed and insured?
7. Do they belong to professional or trade organizations?
8. Are they members of BASIS Lawn Assured?
9. Do they require contracts?
10. Ask Around
Our Top 10 Tips to help you choose a local lawncare provider.
You have decided that you need help with your lawn, your reasons could include you feel the lawn could be improved, or you wish to spend precious time with family and friends. Choosing a lawn care partner could be the answer but where do you start?
1. Are you looking for a local independent or national brand?
There is no substitute for experience in the lawn care industry. Lawn service providers with years of experience have stood the test of time. They have also accumulated the expertise and resources necessary to treat the most challenging lawn problems and are not daunted by emergencies. Your preference may be a franchised brand or a local independent.
Just because a business is independent, it is not a substitute for knowledge, passion and experience. Your local independent will fully understand the local conditions and no doubt has designed a programme to suite these conditions, this could be different from a National brand that provide the same service on the South Coast or Northern Scotland.
2. Check out their reputation
As you search for a lawn service provider in your area, make sure that you narrow your search to providers who are easily accessible and responsive. Peace of mind that comes with knowing your lawn care provider is easily accessible and nearby.
Take time to look at the reviews and the platforms e.g. Google, Checkatrade, Which and Trusted Trader.
3. What is their position to the environment and integrated lawncare?
The most effective lawncare business use an integrated approach to lawn care. They understand that the health and appearance of your lawn are best maintained by addressing the causes of problems as opposed to simply applying chemicals to your lawn.
Choosing a provider that understands not only horticulture but also the roles that chemistry and biology play in the health of your lawn is critical. The best lawncare is about partnership to achieve great results for you the customer, the service provider and the environment.
4. How is their customer support?
Today’s top lawn service companies strive to help their customers understand the issues that are affecting their lawns. They adopt a proactive approach to lawn care and provide guidance, education and support to their customers.
5. Do they give value for money?
Price is often an important factor when comparing lawn care companies. It is important to remember that the lawn care companies with the lowest price are often not providers who offer the highest quality of lawn service.
As you evaluate providers, consider:
- what information is provided with the written quote?
- will the technician completing the quote be caring for your lawn?
- will your lawn technician be consistent through the year?
- what communications will the provider send pre and post call?
In summary, make sure that you have all the information and are comparing “like for like” as you compare prices.
6. Are they licensed and insured?
Any company applying professional or DIY amateur products in the UK now has to be registered with DEFRA, they should also hold NPTC certificates as well as traditional insurance like Public Liability, don’t be afraid to ask.
7. Do they belong to professional or trade organisations?
Trade and professional organisations are a great way for business to demonstrate they take their role seriously, learning from best practice and networking with other similar business.
In the UK, Independent lawn care operators can join a “Non for Profit organisation”, run by an elected committee, its called the UK Lawn Care Association, they also have a search facility.
Members are committed to the highest standards of lawn care providing a knowledgeable, bespoke, efficient and friendly service to homeowners throughout the UK, in addition, through the Amenity Forum Lawncare Group, they work with the two leading franchise networks representing and estimated 85% of the UK providers.
Its members follow a ‘code of practice’ including ‘accreditation’, attend annual conference, free autumn webinar events and summer “Hands on” events with leading suppliers. This will help give you the confidence that your lawn is in safe hands.
8. Are they BASIS LAWN ASSURED registered?
Is the potential provider registered with BASIS Lawn Assured?
The aim of BASIS Lawn Assured Scheme is to independently raise professional standards within the lawn care sector and does this by ensuring all Lawn Assured companies are meeting a consistent standard of performance when managing lawns and applying Plant Protection Products.
This scheme is widely recognised as the benchmark of best practice within lawn care by the UK government and industry bodies such as the Amenity Forum.
For more Information about BASIS Lawn Assured
9. Do they require contracts?
Does the provider want you to sign up to contacts, when and how are these reviewed?
10. Ask Around ….
- Ask family and friends who they use?
- Would they recommend them?
- Do they feel they give value for money.
If yes, give them a call or why not check out their web site for instant estimate facilities
Don’t forget to ask if there are any companies they have tried in the past that did not meet their expectations.
Lets face it, you trust your friends and family more than anyone else, so who better to ask for advice before hiring a company.
In summary
Choosing a lawn service provider is a process that should be approached with care and discretion. Seeking a passionate lawn care service provider is vital to ensuring that your property is maintained in a professional manner. By choosing a top-notch lawn care company, you can transform your lawn into your property’s most valuable asset.
What about Greener Gardens, Nottinghams independent lawn care provider?
- Established 2003
- Public Liability: Yes
- Training: All operators are City and Guilds NPTC Trained and certified
- Treat Safe® – 79% of our treatments applied are 100% natural
- All products are safe for Children once dry
- Pet Safe and Freindly once dry
- We continually review lawns and provide advice for an integrated approach to improving your lawn
- Professional and trade organization members
- Customer retention 95%
- We are a local family business employing local people
- We use local suppliers, where possible who invest in the local economy
o Basis Lawn Assured
o UK Lawncare Association FOUNDER MEMBER
o Best 3 rated
o Checkatrade Reviews
o Google Reviews
Treat Safe® Your Questions answered is written by John Draper of Greener Gardens, Nottingham’s local independent BASIS Lawn Assured specialist and Chairman of the UK Lawncare Association.