Should I Hire a Lawn Care Company or Do It Myself This Spring? | TLC

If your lawn looks thin, patchy, or full of weeds after winter, you’re not alone. Spring lawn care can make or break how your yard looks all year. The real question is: should you hire a lawn care professional or do it yourself? The answer depends on your time, budget, and how much trial-and-error you’re willing to risk. For many busy homeowners, the right choice means fewer weeds, greener grass, and weekends back.

What Does Spring Law Care Actually Require?

Spring lawn care is more than mowing the grass. Timing, soil health, and weed prevention all matter. According to Penn State Extension, early spring is critical for fertilization and weed control decisions that affect your lawn for months.

Here’s what proper spring lawn care usually includes:

• Soil Testing: Understanding pH and nutrients before applying products.
• Pre-Emergent Weed Control: Preventing crabgrass before it grows.
• Targeted Fertilization: Feeding grass without overdoing nitrogen.
• Aeration (if needed): Relieving compacted soil so roots can grow.

Miss one step—or apply it at the wrong time—and you may end up chasing weeds all summer.

If you’re unsure where to start, that’s often when homeowners begin considering professional lawn care services.

Is DIY Lawn Care Really Saving You Money?

At first glance, DIY lawn care seems cheaper. You buy fertilizer, spread it yourself, and skip the service fee. But the real cost includes more than the product.

Here’s what to consider:

• Equipment Costs: Spreaders, sprayers, aerators, and repairs add up.
• Product Waste: Over-applying fertilizer can burn grass or cause runoff. The EPA Safe Pest Control explains how misuse can harm your lawn and environment.
• Time Investment: Researching, buying, applying, and monitoring treatments takes hours.
• Trial-and-Error: Fixing mistakes often costs more than doing it right the first time.

Many homeowners start DIY but feel overwhelmed by fertilizer schedules and weed control timing. Resources like Scotts Lawn Care 101 can help—but they still require you to execute everything properly.

If your weekends are already packed, the time cost alone may outweigh the savings.

When Should You Hire a Lawn Care Professional

Hiring a lawn care professional makes sense when you want consistent results without the guesswork.

You may want to hire a lawn care professional if:

• You’re Short on Time: Busy families and professionals often don’t have hours for lawn treatments.
• Your Lawn Struggles Every Year: Recurring weeds or thin grass may signal deeper soil issues.
• You Want Predictable Results: Professional schedules are timed correctly for your region.
• You Value Curb Appeal: A thick, green lawn boosts pride and property value.

Professional fertilization and weed control services are designed to prevent problems before they spread. Instead of reacting to weeds, you stay ahead of them.

With TLC, treatments are applied using commercial-grade equipment and a structured seasonal plan—removing the uncertainty many homeowners face.

Professional Lawn Care vs DIY: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide:

DIY Lawn Care

• Lower Upfront Cost: You control spending at the store.
• Flexible Schedule: Apply products when it fits your time.
• Higher Risk of Mistakes: Incorrect timing or rates can damage grass.
• More Time Required: Research and labor fall on you.

Professional Law Care Services

• Fertilization: does not only make your lawn look better but also strengthens it against pests, diseases, and environmental challenges.
• Weed control: Our patented, state of the art, ride on spreader/sprayer is calibrated to allow precise application of our pure granular fertilizers, insect and liquid weed controls.
• Crabgrass control: Get ahead of crabgrass with pre-emergent control of crabgrass and other “grassy weeds”.

If your dream is a thick, green, weed-free lawn without spending Saturdays spreading fertilizer, professional lawn care may be worth the investment.

What's the Best Choice for Your Lawn This Spring?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

If you enjoy yard work, have the time, and don’t mind researching fertilizer schedules, DIY lawn care can work.

But if you want:

• More Free Time: Weekends with family instead of lawn chores.
• Consistent Results: No guessing about product timing.
• Healthier Grass Long-Term: Strong roots and fewer weeds.
• Peace of Mind: Confidence it’s done right.

Then hiring a lawn care professional is often the smarter long-term decision.

If you’re still unsure, the best first step is simple: get expert eyes on your lawn.