Questions for Your Natural Lawn Contractor

In junior high, when I started mowing lawns for fee, I wasn’t supposed to know anything; I just showed up and mowed the lawn for $5 and the customers were happy. When I started my own professional lawn care company as an adult, I still didn’t know anything; I simply bought a truck, a lawn mower and began calling myself a landscaper. Though the industry does have several professional associations, few states require any kind of certification before landscape contractors can open for business. When you’re searching, in other words, you’re on your own. Here’s a checklist of questions:

1. What is Your Experience? — Beginners aren’t all bad; some may have newly minted degrees from technical colleges or universities. Beware the person who sold insurance last year, who wants to try his hand at lawn mowing this year.

2. May I Have References? — It is amazing how many homeowners are apathetic about checking credentials because they’re just so happy someone called back. Take the time to do at least a small background check.

3. Do You Have Licenses and Insurance? — The insurance is for your protection, not theirs. If a contractor gets hurt on your property, the contractor’s insurance should pay and medical expenses. Also, anyone applying any kind of weed killer, insecticide or fungicide on your property should be licensed by the state board of pesticide control; the license often requires a special rider on their insurance policy as well.

4. What Are Your Professional Affiliations? — Membership in professional organizations such as the Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) or your state’s landscape association is a solid indication your contractor is taking steps to conduct business as professionally as possible.

5. Do you offer a Natural, Pesticide-Free Lawn Care Program? — If the contractor says ‘no’ or ‘sort of’ or generally stammers around the answer, you’re better off picking someone else. Some companies will talk about “transitioning” your lawn to organics, which is covered at length in chapter 5. If you buy into this approach — which involves weaning your lawn off chemicals — make sure the plan is realistic and that the weaning process doesn’t go on indefinitely. If you don’t want any synthetic chemicals used, get this in writing and talk to the contractor about the products he or she plans to use.

6. How Will the Contractor’s Program Build Your Soil? If your contractor is sold on a natural approach, he’ll want to excitedly talk all day about beneficial microorganisms, soil life, fungal content and the role of calcium and compost. If your contractor wants to talk a lot about adding nitrogen, pick a different one.

7. What is the Game Plan, or Lack Thereof? Traditional lawn care companies operate according to a pre-set calendar. Natural lawn care companies operate based on that year’s particular climate challenges. “Every year is different in this industry,” said Philip Catron, founder of the Naturalawn of America franchises that operate in 24 states. “I don’t think I’ve seen the same conditions two years in a row. You have to be willing to make decisions according to the weather, rather than to make blanket applications.”

8. What is My Role, as Homeowner, in the Process? Spell out all services to be provided by the contractor, as well as what tasks you will retain, if any. Does the contractor invite you to call if you see something askew in the lawn? Do you have time to mow, and the budget and space for all the requisite equipment?

9. What are the Proper Expectations? — Talk about your vision for your lawn in one-, three- and five-year increments and make sure you contractor understands, and vice versa. No weeds or disease is not realistic. The closer to perfection you desire, the more money and/or time you’re likely to spend on your lawn.

10. Can I Get it ALL in Writing? — Since natural lawn care doesn’t let itself to set schedules and applications, it requires more understanding on the part of the contractor and homeowner. Many contractors talk in terms of “time and materials,” which determines a pre-set hourly rate and charge for soil amendments, fertilizers etc.