I live in Florida, and my neighbors on both sides have lawn services that come once a month for some sort of treatment. However, my lawn looks much better than either of theirs—it’s greener, fuller, and has fewer dead patches. Their yards are overrun with weeds like crabgrass.
I’m currently reducing the size of my lawn and adding native ground covers like Frogfruit and Sunshine Mimosa to my St. Augustine turf to create a tapestry lawn. I stopped using weed and feed four years ago and let whatever green grows thrive on my lawn.
So what’s the deal with these lawn services? Is it just a total scam? Both neighbors are retired couples who often mention how tight money is and that they can’t afford certain things. What’s going on here?
I worked for about seven years at a pretty high-end lawncare service in a major North American city.
Customers of this kind of service typically want a magical solution to achieve a “golf course” lawn in front of their homes. They really don’t want to hear explanations on how to achieve that; they just want to pay someone in a uniform to get it done overnight. This type of customer often ends up angry at the technician over their lawn’s flaws instead of reflecting on the service itself or changing their grass-care habits.
That ideal “magical golf course lawn” isn’t realistic, and lawncare companies know this. There are always steps and conditions involved in plant care, but customers like this don’t see their lawn as a plant ecosystem; they see it as just an accessory to their home. If that accessory isn’t perfect, they expect it to be fixed as one would expect a carpet cleaner not to miss any areas.
These customers might hire a company to put down top-quality fertilizer but then refuse to water it. They might hire professionals to mow but insist on having the mower set low, which damages the grass. They undergo re-sodding every couple of years chasing after a uniform lawn that their chosen grass type can never achieve in their climate. It’s a waste of money to hire someone to fertilize but rely solely on rain for watering. When you contract someone to fix something that was never going to be fixed but never cancel their service because they see a disconnect between their desires and the methods they’re using, you just accept the payment and keep going.
I’ve tried more times than I can count to explain that the golf course they’re trying to copy spends forty to fifty times what they’re putting into it per square foot to maintain that look, and they’re even painting the brown spots green. I no longer work in the lawncare industry.
Yes, lawn services can be viewed as a scam. Lawns themselves, in many ways, are a scam. Your grass likely looks better because you probably water it occasionally and your soil is likely less compacted if you aren’t driving a riding mower over it multiple times each week. I also assume you mow at reasonable heights, while your neighbors likely mow it as low as possible, which is detrimental to lawns.
Sorry for the wall of text; I’ve held this in since I resigned, lol.
@Bay
I dislike lawns and the chemicals they need. Everyone wants to kill every little thing that isn’t grass. Grass is a grain—similar to corn or wheat and thrives on nitrogen but needs a diverse ecosystem to survive. Without things like clover, it won’t stand a chance or will require constant chemical support, which is bad for the environment. I’m that one person who gets reported to the city by neighbors insisting on keeping a perfect lawn. I try to mow as little as possible and let the weeds grow. I use no chemicals, allowing birds, bugs, butterflies, and bees to thrive.
I recently mowed because the city threatened me over my non-traditional lawn. Luckily I didn’t hit any baby bunnies this time, but I found two nests with rabbits and numerous frogs. Long, thick grass retains moisture and does good for the ecosystem instead of mowing it down to a level that’s unhealthy for wildlife. If I could afford a privacy fence, I’d have one to protect my green space.
There’s a looming possibility we might need to rely on wild rabbits for food in times of crisis. I’d prefer a wildflower meadow to a perfect, poisoned lawn devoid of life.
And that ‘dollar weed’ everyone talks about isn’t actually dollar weed. It’s Creeping Charlie, which has medicinal properties and is one of the first to flower in spring when pollinators are emerging. My lawn has way more wild strawberries, clovers, thistles, and other wild plants than actual grass, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
Oli said: @Joss
Thanks for doing your part for the environment.
I’m trying, but it feels like a lonely battle. The government and local agencies seem tied to big companies, writing laws favoring them. Many of my neighbors have been conditioned to report anyone whose lawn isn’t manicured, while they believe they oppose authoritarian measures.
They think people like Bill Gates are heroes fighting climate change while he wants to flatten forests to put in solar farms. Climate change isn’t the issue; it’s habitat destruction and deforestation. I feel like I’m living in a satire of society, where common sense is lost.
Try this experiment: water a patch of grass daily with municipal water and observe how long it takes for the grass to die. The antimicrobial disinfectants present in our drinking water poisons the soil’s biology. If it’s harmful to the grass, what’s it doing to us?
@Joss
You’re mixing a lot of conspiracy theories with facts.
It’s true that corporations like Monsanto have harmed the environment and influence policies, but climate change is a significant concern. Denying it is as absurd as saying the earth is flat.
Corporations do manipulate climate change discussions for profit, but that doesn’t discount its importance. Bill Gates, for all his faults, is trying to make positive changes, albeit through capitalist means which can be problematic.
Municipal water is generally safe for consumption and plants. It doesn’t kill them outright; contamination can happen, but generally, it’s harmless. I care about preserving the environment, but some of these claims veer into conspiracy theories.
Oli said: @Joss
Thanks for doing your part for the environment.
No energy source can compensate for the damage done to ecosystems by lawns, cars, and plastics. Living in Reston, which hasn’t fallen victim to total destruction, I’ve observed how wild gardens for pollinators thrive. Areas still host rich wildlife, but when I visit typical suburbs, it’s a different picture altogether. I’ve only seen fireflies and butterflies again after moving here.
The narrative about climate change is often used by those in power. If their concern over rising sea levels was genuine, why do they keep selling beachfront properties? I trust their actions more than their words.
@Rin
This isn’t about seizing power, but about recognizing the right choices while failing to act on them. This leads to many supporting climate action while not changing their personal habits.
It’s similar to wanting to exercise for health but never getting around to it because it’s too hard.
@Bay
Thanks for this detailed explanation! It really hits home for my neighbors. They definitely don’t water enough and mow too low. I set my mower much higher than any of the services around here.
@Bay
This has been very educational, thank you. I’ve taken a more relaxed approach to my front lawn this year. I’ve only cut it twice so far, and since it’s mostly shaded, it doesn’t grow much. I also raised my mower deck, and now my lawn looks the best it has in the three years I’ve lived here.
@Bay
I’m also in the lawn care industry here in Texas. I handle fertilization and pest control and work hard in this heat. Yet my boss keeps getting complaints about weeds from customers. I can’t figure out why, considering I apply products efficiently for everything. Have any ideas? My company uses MSMA, and we deal with dallisgrass and crabgrass and use Trimec for other weeds.