Get Quotes from Top Lawn Care Companies in Seattle, WA

How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in Seattle?

Finding out how long a lawn care contractor has been in business before hiring them can benefit you in several ways. First, it helps you determine the contractor's level of experience, which is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a lawn care contractor. Hiring an experienced lawn care contractor not only guarantees quality service but ensures that you avoid liabilities that may result from violations of local ordinances concerning lawn maintenance and installation.

Also, finding out how long a lawn care contractor has been in business will give you a fair idea of their understanding of the type of plants, grass, and shrubs that thrives in the city. It is common knowledge that experienced lawn care contractors are more conversant with native plants, grass, and shrubs in the city, which makes them better at installing and maintaining these plants. Some of the native Seattle grasses and garden plants that are commonly found in lawns throughout the city include:

• Pacific bleeding heart
• Red Columbine
• Common camas
• Tall Shooting Star
• Red-osier dogwood
• Red flowering currant
• Evergreen huckleberry
• Salal
• Oregon grape
• Indian plum
• Vine maple
• Wild ginger

Another benefit of finding out how long a lawn care company has been in business is that it reveals whether the company has a strong reputation or not. Lawn care companies that have built strong reputations for themselves are less likely to engage in any fraudulent activities and with the surge in contractor-related complaints in the state, these companies are safe to deal with.

Nonetheless, you should always bear in mind that unscrupulous lawn care contractors can make false claims about how long they have been in the lawn care business. As such, you should always double-check a contractor on third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review to see the company's business history, as well as reviews on their services.

Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?

Before signing up for a lawn care program in Seattle, it is always in your best interest to find out whether the lawn care contractor offering the lawn care program has any professional qualifications relevant to the service they are offering you.

Reputable lawn care companies in the city will always ensure that they not only obtain relevant professional qualifications that qualify them to provide specific lawn care services but also comply with state and local lawn care ordinances.

For example, a lawn care contractor must register as a specialty contractor with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries before they can provide services like plots preparation and grading, lawn treatment, preparation and installation of topsoil, the performance of hydroseed spraying, installation of all decorative vegetation, and tree removal. It is a gross misdemeanor to provide any services requiring a specialty contractor registration without registering with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Anyone guilty of this offense could face fines of up to $5,000, jail time of up to one year, or a combination of the two.

Lawn care contractors that wish to register with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries must first complete a separate business registration process with the state's Department of Revenue. In addition, registrants are also required to provide proof of insurance and bonding, complete an Application for Contractor Registration Form, and pay a registration fee.

Application for specialty contractor registration can be completed in person at the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries' Seattle office located at:

Alternatively, registrants can complete their registration by mailing a completed, signed, and notarized Application for Contractor Registration Form, along with the required supporting documents and registration fee to:

Queries concerning specialty contractor registration can be directed to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries via email, by calling (360) 902-5226 and selecting option two, or by calling toll-free number 1-800-647-0982.

Other than registering as a specialty contractor in Washington, a lawn care contractor must also pass one or more tests and obtain a commercial applicator license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture if they will be applying pesticides on their client's lawns.

Application for a commercial applicator license can be completed at any statewide testing location. Queries concerning the licensing process and requirements for obtaining a commercial applicator license can be directed to the Washington State Department of Agriculture at (360) 902-1800.

Finally, lawn care contractors may also obtain voluntary certifications related to lawn care services from professional organizations such as:

• The Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association
• The Washington Association of Landscape Professionals
• The International Society of Arboriculture
• The National Association of Landscape Professionals
• The Professional Grounds Management Society

Always ensure that you verify a lawn contractor's certification by requesting to see the certificate and contacting the organization that issued the certificate to confirm the contractor's status.

Similarly, if your contractor claims to be registered with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, do not hesitate to visit the department's Verify a Contractor portal to confirm the contractor's claim.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?

Seattle lawn care contractors consider the following factors when billing for their service:

• The size of your lawn
• The nature and scope of the required services
• The current condition of the lawn to be worked on
• The type of equipment and tools required for the job
• The labor intensity of the required service
• Your location within the city
• The frequency of the required lawn care services

While these factors typically determine what a homeowner will pay for a lawn care service, it is important to note that how and when payment for a lawn care service will be made is determined by the pricing structure a lawn care contractor decides to use. Seattle lawn care contractors utilize different pricing structures to calculate their fees, as such, it is always in the best interest of the homeowner to find out the type of billing structure their preferred lawn care contractor intends to use for their job. Listed below are some of the pricing structures used by lawn care contractors in Seattle:

• Per Hour: in this pricing structure, fees are calculated by setting a rate for every hour they spend working on your lawn. These rates can cost between $25 to $80 depending on the nature and scope of the work.
• Per Square Foot: in this pricing structure, fees are calculated by setting a price for each square foot of lawn area covered during the project. These fees can cost anywhere between $0.18 to $15 per square foot.
• Per Visit/Per Project: in this pricing structure, the lawn care contractor charges a flat rate for each service provided or for a variety of agreed-upon services over a specified period. These rates may vary based on the nature of the lawn care service. They can cost anywhere between $50 to $1,000 per visit/project.

Given the many factors that come to play in determining the actual cost of a lawn care service, homeowners are encouraged to always seek a second opinion on the service they need before signing any agreement with their preferred lawn care contractor. One of the best ways to get a second opinion on a project is by getting and comparing cost estimates from several lawn care companies before making your final hiring choice. This will not only help the homeowner avoid dishonest contractors who charge ridiculous prices but will also ensure that they get a fair price for the project.

Lawn care contractors in Seattle earn an average wage of $44,830 every year. The list below compares the average wages earned by these contractors per hour against the average hourly wages of lawn care contractors in other parts of Washington and also in other locations across the United States:

What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?

Lawn care companies in Seattle offer a variety of residential and commercial lawn care services to members of the public. These services typically include:

• Landscape design
• Weed control
• Tree trimming
• Lawn mowing
• Lawn fertilization
• Lawn aeration
• Lawn seeding
• Flower service
• Shrub and hedge trimming
• Shrub and tree planting
• Mulching
• Pest control
• Garden cleanup and debris removal

Although each lawn care service can be provided separately, it is important to note that many lawn care companies in the city offer a combination of these services instead. This is known as a lawn care program and they are often dependent on clients' needs. A lawn care program typically includes a list of lawn maintenance and installation services that a lawn care company considers relevant to keep a client's lawn beautiful and in good condition always. As a homeowner, it is crucial to find out what will be included in your lawn care program before signing any contract. By finding out what the contractor will be including in their lawn care program and making sure they are stated in the contract given to them, homeowners can avoid misunderstandings with their contractor down the line.

Many Seattle lawn care companies offer two main types of lawn care programs, namely:

• Basic Lawn Care Services: these typically include basic lawn maintenance services such as lawn mowing, leaf blowing, hedge and shrub trimming, and garden clean up. Note that basic lawn care services will not include activities that concern improving lawn health.
• Full-Service Lawn Maintenance: unlike basic lawn care services, this lawn care program will include services that improve a lawn's overall health. Full-service lawn care programs typically include services like lawn aeration and fertilization, turf disease management, tree trimming and pruning, weed control, and lawn disease remediation

Cost estimates of lawn care services commonly included in Seattle lawn care programs are provided below:

Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?

The type of lawn care service you choose does not only impact your home but also your entire neighborhood. In Seattle, there are several cases of water pollution that are directly linked to the use of pesticides and fertilizers on lawns, and as a result, city officials are encouraging homeowners to use organic lawn care services for a healthier lawn and to promote a healthy neighborhood.

Organic lawn care service refers to the use of animal or plant-derived carbon-based substances as well as naturally occurring materials like potash, compost leaves, mulch, seaweed, bone char, worm castings, and manure to improve a lawn. It also involves the use of natural lawn care methods such as aeration, overseeding, and top-dressing with compost to make the lawn healthier, as well as strict adherence to basic planting rules such as the selection of plants that can grow well in your location.

Compared to the use of chemicals, organic lawn care will require more labor-intensive effort and may cost more. However, this is only a minimal price to pay given that the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other potentially harmful lawn care chemicals can make your lawn area a high-risk zone for anyone to visit. With organic lawn care services, you can protect yourself and your family, and also your neighbors from several health risks.

Other benefits of using organic lawn care services in Seattle include:

• It limits soil and water pollution
• There is zero risk of over-application
• It revitalizes your lawn's ecosystem
• It involves the use of biodegradable substances
• It reduces soil and water pollution
• It makes your soil less vulnerable to pests and diseases
• It assists the photosynthesis process

When looking for a lawn care contractor in Seattle, you should always confirm if the contractor offers organic lawn care services. You can ask the lawn care contractor for references from previous clients they have worked for in the past. Note that it is your responsibility as a homeowner to contact anyone provided as a reference to verify the contractor's claim.

Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?

Plant warranty is an important factor to consider when hiring lawn care companies, especially if you are certain that the lawn care company will be installing plants, flowers, or seeds on your lawn. A plant warranty protects you from losing your money if a bad plant is installed on your lawn. Lawn care companies that offer warranty for plants installed on a client's lawn will bear the replacement cost when a plant does not thrive and flourish within a specified period. However, it is always in your best interest to find out the specific terms, scope, and conditions of plant installation warranties your preferred lawn care company will be using before making any arrangements with them.

For instance, many lawn care companies in Seattle offer a one-year warranty period for plants installed on a client's lawn and do not cover areas like:

• Plant damage due to natural disasters and acts of vandalism
• Plant dame due to lack of proper plant care and maintenance on the part of the client
• Damage caused by animals

Similarly, many lawn care companies in Seattle also set conditions that must be met for the warranty to remain valid. These include mowing schedules and acceptable mowing heights, watering schedules, and fertilization requirements.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?

According to the Washington State contractor registration requirements, professionals in Seattle, including lawn care workers who intend to register as contractors must maintain general liability insurance coverage of $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, or a combined single limit of $250,000. Similarly, these professionals must also possess a Washington Continuous Contractor Surety Bond of $12,000 or $6,000 for general and specialty contractor registrations respectively.

Lawn care companies who maintain the necessary insurance policy in Seattle typically do so to protect themselves and their clients from liabilities associated with work injuries, property damage, deaths, and other unexpected events that occur during a lawn care project. This protection is necessary given that lawn care activities like mowing and tree trimming account for more than 100 fatalities and 143,000 serious injuries every year. As a homeowner, you should be wary of any lawn care contractor that is not insured. In addition, you should always confirm a lawn care contractor's insurance status before reaching any agreement with them. You can do this by asking the contractor to provide their insurance certificate and contact the insurance company that issued the certificate to confirm the contractor's insurance status. You can also contact the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries at (360) 902-5226 or toll-free number 1-800-647-0982 to find out if your intended landscaper has complied with these insurance and bonding requirements, or to make inquiries concerning this subject.