Sometimes we just get lazy and tired of the sweat and tears of constant yard cleaning. It is time for a professional who can provide lawn maintenance, but how do we know which one to pick? Here are some strategies you should know on how to choose a lawn maintenance company that will provide you great service.

1. What do you need?

Lawn maintenance companies do several jobs other than mowing the grass, such as fertilizing, weeding, lawn-damaging pest control, aerating, mowing, and small tree and shrub maintenance. Choose one or a combination of these services that is right for your lawn, so you can find companies who have expertise in these specific services.

2. Do your Research.

First, ask friends, family, and neighbors to see if they have any recommendations. Ask these companies if they can provide you with references of past customers. If they decline, then that may be a bad sign. The references are a good way find a company’s methods and philosophies.

3. Compare quotes.

After the research, begin to narrow down the companies to which is the best. Ask them to come over for a quote of your lawn and other services that you want them to provide. The face-to-face contact is the best way to weed out companies. If they are not actively listening to want you want, they may be a company you can eliminate from the list. Lawn maintenance professionals have different analyses of a lawn even within the same company, so ask the company to bring two representatives. With two people, there can be a comparison of the two analyses and you can choose what’s right for you. If they cannot give you two people, ask for the most experienced employee in the company for a for an analysis.

With these strategies, you should be able to find a lawn company that is right for you. If you prefer someone else do all this work for you, then call TalkLocal. TalkLocal comparison shops for you and connects you with the best lawn maintenance companies in  your area who can give you what you want.

Adding sloping gardens or landscapes around your home can bring excitement and change. They can help buffer noise, aid in privacy concerns, and simply bring an elegant appearance to the land. They also allow more space for planting and can even change the lighting from the sun in that area.  The slope provides sunlight to plants who need more, and shade for those that don’t.

A major concern with sloping gardens and landscapes is the increased erosion. If your landscape is not properly equipped, dirt will begin to slide down and away from your plants when it rains. This would ruin your garden as plants would lose the dirt necessary to grow, and you would have a bunch of unsightly dirt sitting in a pile at the bottom of your slope.

Therefore, you must take some precautionary steps to prevent this from happening. If the slopes are very steep and erosion would be severe, using a retaining cloth (in the form of any porous material such as mesh) on top of the soil. Cut holes in the material for the plants to fit through. If the erosion is not as drastic, simply put about 4 to 5 inches of mulch to prevent runoff. Plastic or wooden baffles, which are horizontal terraces, slow the speed at which the rainwater spreads. When placed in the ground, they allow more time for the dirt to soak up water. They can be inserted by using a trowel or by digging small ditches with a spade if the baffles are larger. Finally, adding stones to the area is another option; it can slow the spreading of dirt, while making the area more stylish.

You can prevent erosion through methods like these, but getting a professional landscaper to analyze your yard is the safest option. A landscaper can choose the best option and install it for you. If you want to find an available landscaper in your area, TalkLocal can help you talk to a local service provider in minutes.

You can reap more than a harvest from good sustainable gardening practices.  Along with delicious homegrown food, gardening and landscaping makes your land more aesthetically appealing. Cooking with your own vegetables and herbs is also more convenient and less expensive. Before you know it, you’ll want to add more items to your garden and buy less chemical-filled vegetables from a supermarket shelf. Your naturally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables will have just as much flavor as the overpriced organic food you would find at the market. Plus, it’s exciting to see your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow. If you’re looking to transform your backyard into a beautiful garden, here are some tips and tricks to reach your goals.

Getting started may seem overwhelming, as there are many aspects of gardening that you need to know beforehand. First, the land must be prepared for planting, assuring that weeds are eliminated and that enough mulch and fertilizer are in place to prevent further weed growth and slow erosion. Fertilizer also provides proper nutrients for your crops. You can either purchase seeds or young plants that have already grown to plant in the ground. Young plants are more likely to continue growing, but come at a higher price tag. Both sources of plants can be placed almost anywhere, with some species requiring more sunlight than others. Some types of plants need only one plant to grow, while others require at least two growing side-by-side to flourish. Be sure to prevent animals, such as chipmunks and birds, from eating your matured plants. Draping mesh on top of bushes and small plants and wrapping netting around taller plants is one of the most effective ways to ward off unwelcome critters.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed about where to begin, a landscaper can help. You can consult with an experienced landscaper to figure out how to customize your land and create a garden. By analyzing your land, a landscaper can designate areas best suited for gardening. They’ll also have expertise on specific environments and species of plants as well as general gardening advice that will guide you in the right direction. If you want to get in contact with a high quality landscaper in your area, TalkLocal can help you locate one. Just fill out a short online service request to talk with a local landscaper in minutes.

Are you sick of the way your back and front yards look? Do they lack excitement and beauty? Although you may spend the majority of your time inside your house, your front and back yard play a large role in the overall appearance of your property. While it is possible to improve your landscaping without the use of a professional, it requires an immense amount of planning. You must research planting tips and the plants that fit your needs, purchase the tools, and finally follow through with those plans to achieve your garden. Not many people are aware of all that a landscaper handles.

Two major questions people have are: What do landscapers do and how can they help me? The answers are simple, but they can make all the difference between an ordinary lawn and a truly beautiful one.

First of all, one of the most useful things about landscapers is their experience; they know what will and will not work. Nothing would be worse than having a great idea yourself but running into major problems at the start of execution–or even worse, after a few days of tedious work. Landscapers know about different plants and how they fit in to different locations and environments. They would also take into account factors such as erosion, hills, valleys, fences, and how they would affect your plants and available land.

Landscapers also have suppliers they work with that provide them with elegant additions to your land, such as simple yet stylish stepping stones, or even the option of a bird bath. One of the toughest aspects about revamping your yard alone is the manual labor that comes along with it. This would include driving to pick up the right tools and the energy needed to prepare the soil and plant the seeds.

With the use of a landscaper, you get the benefits of having an expert in design with the help of a gardening staff. A landscaper comes equipped with all the necessary supplies to make your dream backyard a reality. If you want to find a reputable landscaper available in your area, TalkLocal help you find exactly what you’re looking for in a matter of minutes. Fill out a service request stating details about your specific need. Local landscapers will then read your request and contact you if they can help. TalkLocal matches you with up to three service providers so you can consider your options.