Many people choose to hire a professional company to

help maintain their lawn. Lawn care companies offer a

range of services, from fertilizing and pest control to

aerating, mowing and renovation. Here are some important

questions to ask when deciding which lawn care service

is best for you:

Is the company licensed?

Nearly all states require lawn care companies to be licensed.

The qualifications for obtaining a license vary from state to

state, but having a license is one indication that the company

is reputable and

operating legally.

Does the company

have a good track

record?

Ask neighbors and

friends who have dealt

with the company if

they were satisfied with

the service they

received. Call the

Better Business

Bureau or the state or local consumer protection office listed

in your phone book? have they received any complaints

about the company? Determine from the state pesticide

regulatory agency if the company has a history of violations.

Is the company affiliated with a professional lawn

care association?

Affiliation with a professional association helps members to

stay informed of new developments in the lawn care field.

Does the company offer a variety of pest management

approaches? Does it apply pesticides on a set schedule

or only when they are really needed? Does it use

integrated pest management, or "IPM"- an approach

that often reduces pesticide use by combining it with

other, non-chemical methods of pest control?

More and more lawn

companies are offering

integratedpest management

(IPM) in response

to public concern about

pesticides. Be aware

that IPM is a general

term and that companies

may use it to describe a wide range of activities.Find out

exactly what a company means if it says it uses IPM.

Is the company willing to help you understand your

lawn's problems and the solutions?

Lawn services generally apply fertilizers and pesticides. But

you may be the one who mows and waters and

poor watering

and mowing practices can lead to disappointing results.

The company should tell you how it plans to take care of your

lawn, and advise you about the work you need to do to keep

your lawn in good shape.

Will the company tell you what pesticides it applies to

your lawn and why, and what health and environmental

risks may be presented by their use?

You have a right to this information. If asked, the company

should readily supply it. All pesticides sold legally in the

United States are registered by EPA, but such registration is

not a guarantee of safety. Ask to see a copy of pesticide

labels to make sure they bear an EPA registration number,

and to review the directions that should be followed.

Keller Williams Pearland

Iris Velazquez , GRI, SFR

2816701845

2819097543

iris@irissellhoustonhomes.com

Iris Velazquez , GRI, SFR

Keller Williams Pearland