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FAQ FOR LAWN CARE
How can a lawn maintenance program help me?
Having a professional lawn company care for your lawn takes the hard work and worries out of your hands. This leaves you more time to spend with family and friends.
Is your company licensed?
Yes, Village Landscapes has a pesticide business license. Our lawn care employees are registered technicians and our management team is commercially certified.
What will a lawn maintenance program cost me?
The cost of service is based on the size of your lawn. All estimates are free.
Do I have to sign a contract?
No. What you must sign is a standard agreement. This allows you to cancel service at any time with a 30 day notice.
How often will my lawn be mowed?
You have a few different options for lawn mowing visits. Village can schedule your lawn every 7 days, 14 days or 21 days.
What if I only need my lawn mowed on special occasions i.e. out of town, too busy, big party, mower broken?
Village can schedule a one time mow for these cases. The mowing will be done when it is cost efficient for our crews to do it.
Is weeding my mulch beds part of the mowing service?
No. This service can be added for a small fee.
Is fall leaf removal part of my mowing agreement?
Fall leaf removal is a separate service from your lawn mowing service. If the leaves can be removed in 15 minutes or less the mowing crew will do this at no extra charge. Lawns with large amounts of leaves will need to have a leaf removal agreement.
Do you offer discounts?
Yes, there are discounts for pre-payment of your yearly service and for referrals who sign up for our services.
Why do I have weeds if I have a lawn care service?
Broad leaf weeds (Dandelion and Cover) are a couple of the most common weeds found in lawns. These type of weeds can only be controlled by using a post emergent..
What can be done about weeds in my lawn now?
Village offers our customers free service calls to determine what type of weed your lawn contains and what action should be taken. A thick healthy lawn is a good weed preventative.
What kind of grass do I have?
Northern Virginia lawns are mostly seeded or sodded with a cool season grass. The most common being Kentucky Bluegrass and turf type Tall Fescue.
How short will Village cut my grass?
The finished mowing height of your lawn will be 3-31/2 inches. This allows the grass blades to shade the crown of the plant from the hot sun. Never remove more than 1/3 of the grass height at a time.
What is core aeration and when is the best time to do this?
Core aeration is the proces of removing 1-11/2 inch plugs from your lawn. This helps nutrients, oxygen and water more easily flow into the root zone. Over seeding after aeration is a good idea.
When should I over seed?
The best time to over seed your lawn is fall. This allows the grass plants to mature before the hot summer moonths. It also allows you to apply a crabgrass pre-emergent in the spring. It is best to aerate before over seeding.
What is Thatch and what causes it?
Thatch is a dense accumulation between the soil and actively growning grass plants. It is made up of roots, stems and leaves. Causes of thatch are soil compaction, poor drainage and lawn soil PH. Thatch prevents water and fertilizers from reaching their intended targets.
What should I do for a Thatch problem?
For minor to moderate Thatch-aeration is the best treatment for the problem. This allows water and oxygen to reach the soil level and speed up the decomposition process of plant material build up. Dethatching using a power rake is best for severe Thatch problems. This process is aggressive in cutting through the thatch and tearing it loose.
Should I bag my clippings when mowing?
No. In most cases, it is a good idea to mulch grass clippings. This practice returns nutrients back to the lawn, and also helps retain water.
How does proper mowing improve my lawns health?
Poor mowing practices can negate fertilization and other care you do for your lawn. Mowing too short exposes the crown of the plant to the hot sun, and limits the leaf area of the plant needed for photosynthesis. Mowing too short also encourages shallow root growth. Changing your mowing direction with each mowing helps prevent grass from being pushed in one direction and lying over, returning grass clippings to the lawn returns nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.