Frequently Asked Questions
Expert Lawn Care Services – Your Questions Answered
At Colonial Lawn & Garden, we understand that professional lawn care is an investment in the health and beauty of your property. Whether you’re looking for routine fertilization, pest control, or seasonal maintenance, our team is here to help. To make your experience as seamless as possible, we’ve compiled answers to the most common questions about our services.
From pricing and treatment plans to scheduling and safety, we want you to feel confident in the care we provide. Explore our Frequently Asked Questions below and learn how we can help keep your lawn, trees, and shrubs in top shape year-round.
SERVICE FAQ
How much does lawn care cost?
We schedule an in-person visit with homeowner, to gather information, provide estimate, discuss any concerns, and set expectations of our service. In person visits also provide our technicians with accurate service notes, ensuring they have the correct material on the truck, getting maximum result. Lawn care is calculated on the 1,000sqft increments, base rate is 1,000sqft is $62 increasing by $8.25 per 1,000. Rough estimates can be given using satellite imagery, which can be outdated and not reflective of issues your lawn is experiencing.
What if I have my lawn has weeds or brown spots?
We strive for every “Colonial Lawn” to look the best it can be, for your sake, and ours as well. Sometimes an issue can rear its ugly head in between visits, we ask you the client to reach out to allow us to dispatch a technician out to address the issue in a timely manner. We want your lawn at its best, if it’s not, call us.
Will I get a notification of scheduled service, or will you guys just show up?
Yes, our notifications will be 2 business days prior to the scheduled date, via your preferred contact method, either by text, email, or phone call. We can also customize communication if you have greater needs.
Texting is a 2-way communication in our office, please save our phone number to your contact list for quick reference.
Do I have to pay for the whole service year up front?
No. However, we do offer a prepaying discount over the winter months, which will arrive in your email inbox, typically between November - January. For those without email, a paper letter will be sent out in January. The prepay offer expires in Mid-February, so keep a close eye on your email or mailbox.
Our preferred payment method is Autopay, your encrypted credit card or bank information is added to your account file. Autopay will be charged at the time of service. You can update your account information online at https://coloniallawn.com/ or call the office to update.
Can’t I do it myself?
Yes, you can! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for professional advice. We provide a service which takes the work out of your free time. We do the heavy lifting by applying materials at commercially licensed regulations, managing applications on a timed schedule for the best results. Most of the products we use have the same active ingredients you might find at your local hardware or landscape retailer. However, what we as state licensed technicians can apply is often 100% greater strength than federally labeled homeowner use. The benefit of using our service is that we offer professional expertise in taking care of your landscape, while allowing you to use your free time as you wish.
LAWN CARE FAQ
Are your products safe for pets and/or kids?
Yes, all the materials used are EPA approved, with Federal label requirements stating children & pets are safe after the application has dried. If you are concerned about exposure, please keep kids and pets inside until you have watered the lawn again. Please refer to your email for the “after-service summary” for any special instructions.
When should I water after a treatment?
Please refer to the emailed “after-service summary” for instructions as the timeline changes with the seasonal temperature progression. Cooler temps mean the plants need a longer “on leaf exposure” time, warmer temps mean the plants “on leaf exposure” can be shortened. A general rule of thumb is Spring & Fall: 6-24 hours, Summer: 2-12 hours. Do NOT allow any LIQUID application to remain on the leaf more than 12 hours during the summer, to avoid tip burn.
How long will it take for my weeds to die after treatment?
When following your emailed “after-service summary” watering instructions, you can expect some weeds to die within 72 hours and others can take as long as 2 weeks to see full results. We ask clients to call or text us if you do not see the desired results after the 2-week mark. Keep in mind this can vary with season as well; warm temperatures will increase the speed of effect in irrigated areas. In rare cases, due to a lack of water, it will render the weed killer inert.
How soon can you be out to do the service if I sign up?
Our goal is ALWAYS 7-14 business after the accepted bid. This can vary during the season as Mid – April through May being our busiest.
How do you stop crabgrass?
The best way to stop crabgrass is to apply pre-emergent before germination can take place, which will begin when soil temperatures reach between 50° - 55°. Adult crabgrass plants can drop 10,000 seeds a season, so prevention is key. All service trucks carry “post germination” materials, however the results are not immediate, in the longer life span of waiting for the adult plant to die, it can still drop seeds. Both Economy & Premium lawn programs include pre-emergent for crabgrass in spring applications.
What is pre-emergent?
Pre-emergent (s) is a chemical applied to the soil that will suppress seed germination. Some weeds (Puncture vine, AKA: Goatheads) seeds can unfortunately last in soil up to 7 years and then germinate creating a whole new plant if given the opportunity. We apply pre-emergent in both of our Economy and Premium Lawn care programs, and shrub bed weed control program to thwart the invasion of troublesome weeds.
How often should I get fertilizer applications?
The best time to fertilize was 2 weeks ago, but the next best time is now with our Premium lawn care program. Our Premium lawn care program consists of 6 applications designed to maintain a beautiful, healthy lawn all year round. Our target start is Mid-February to Mid-March, as mother nature allows, finishing up in Mid-November. Applications can fluctuate on time intervals by approximately 2 weeks, the average goal is 6 weeks.
When is the best time to reseed?
Both Spring and Fall have benefits and drawbacks. Spring overseeding would require avoiding pre-emergent applications as it would inhibit the germination of lawn seed. Avoiding pre-emergent will make your lawn susceptible to weeds and foreign grasses at the pivotal control period. Summertime has its own issues, as you will need to water several short intervals (3-4) times daily to support lawn seed germination, keep in mind weeds will also germinate and require a bit more weed control efforts in the Summer. We prefer Fall, because the Kentucky bluegrass blend prefers the cooler fall season to germinate, and most weeds are past their germination cycle, leaving the lawn less susceptible to the weeds seen in spring & summer. With cooler temperatures, this means newly reseeded areas may not be as full or lush as spring or summer seeding timeline.
What if it rains after treatment?
Applications are often “rain fast” within 4 hours. Should substantial rain fall, 1” or more, within the 4-hour window, we may need to revisit the property 2 weeks after the rained-out application, to avoid overdoing the fertilizer. Otherwise, rain after the 4-hour window will not hurt the application. We have often seen applications become more effective with light drizzly rain.
Why should I choose the Premium Lawn Program versus the Economy Lawn Program?
Our Premium program consists of 6 applications starting in Mid-February to Mid-March, depending on mother nature, finishing up with a late fall slow-release material in Mid - November, ensuring a healthy lush lawn all year long. The Premium program also includes lawn damaging insecticide components and our full warranty.
Our Economy program consists of the first 4 applications of the Premium program, same start timeline and application schedule, however ending in August. If your lawn is struggling with lawn damaging insects, going Premium is the best option, the 1-time cost for the stand-alone insecticide costs more than one lawn application.
How much should I be watering my lawn?
Watering greatly depends on your soil type; NOT all soils are the same. Water retention, saturation levels and nutrients play a very important role in lawn health. The easiest way to inspect the soil is to use your spade/shovel to dig down at least 4-5 inches, pull back the turf layer to inspect soil types. If you are noticing dry spots in the lawn, you may have to do this in several areas of the lawn as textures can vary in degrees of soil.
Sandy soil will drain quickly, and does not hold moisture well, this will require more frequent watering on short time intervals throughout the day. Sandy soil may benefit from a Top Dress service to improve water retention. Dark Loam soil will retain moisture very well; longer water cycles a couple times a week will be sufficient to encourage deep root growth.
There are many variables to consider when adjusting water cycles, slopes, rocky soil, average daytime temps, presence of clay with would inhibit proper drainage, shady areas, sprinkler types and coverage all play a role in proper watering. Our service technicians can help you make the best adjustments and make recommendations to improve the water cycle.
When should I water? Morning? Evening?
Again, soil type and condition play a part. Without any information about the soil type, we recommend watering in the morning, before sunrise, is best. With evening watering schedules, you risk moisture build up and excessive humidity, leading to potential fungal issues in the lawn. Which one fungal application can be a costly add on you don’t need.
Do I need to fertilize the lawn 6 times a year?
As lawn care professionals, your lawn is our product, and we are pursuing performance for your perennial cool grass lawn, making it look at its best year-round. Regular high-quality fertilizing will ensure your perennial cool grass lawn will bounce back from extreme weather conditions, any fungal issues, insect attacks, and the higher traffic it endures during the season.
If you are OK with your lawn looking good SOME of the time, and reduced mowing requirements, then a couple of fertilizer applications a year will be adequate.
Can you kill Bermudagrass?
With time, yes, we can kill the Bermuda grass in your lawn. It is not easy, simple or cheap. The timeline ranges from 1-4 years depending on the extensiveness of the Bermuda invading your cool season turf grass. We recommend reseeding in the Fall as it is hugely beneficial to fighting Bermuda grass out of your lawn.
Please reach out to schedule and inspection for specific advice on treatment, and expectations.
TREE AND SHRUB FAQ
What does Tree and Shrub Insect and Disease care include?
Our spray program includes control of most pests on your trees, shrubs, perennials and annual plantings. The most common are Aphids, Scale, Mites, Elm Beetle and the similar. We also offer our systemic soil injection service for more invasive or excessive evidence of pest damage, for year-round protection from the inside out. Injected plants do not need topical sprays as they are already protected internally.
Although disease control is not comprehensive, due to the millions of diseases that affect millions of plant species. We do treat all your valuable trees, shrubs and plantings for Fungi spores and bacteria that propagate all winter long with the increased moisture season. In early Spring our Bactericide / Fungicide is applied to reduce its effect.
Does the tree and shrub care include fertilizer?
No, as not all trees or shrubs benefit or can absorb foliar fertilizer from a spray application. The most effective fertilizer is a granular application watered in at the soil level applied approximately 90 days apart. Fertilizer services is a separate service from the insect / disease care program.
Do I need to treat all my trees and shrubs to keep bugs away?
No, there are certain species of trees and shrubs that are naturally resistant to insects and common diseases. Always do your research before installing plants in your landscape. For example, Cedars are naturally resistant.
What about bees?
State Law prohibits application to a plant in full bloom when bees are present. This can make the application tricky when the plants are affected by damaging pests. We can navigate this if the situation presents itself.
PEST CONTROL FAQ
What is covered by the Foundation/Spider Barrier treatment?
This program is very comprehensive to the pests the average homeowner deals with; spiders, ants, and hornets*. Pest control applications are exterior only, because we find this solves 90% of homeowner’s issues. Not only will we treat around your home’s foundation, first floor eaves & windows, doors, vents, fixtures, fittings, hose bibs, and cracks or crevices, but we will also sweep away webbing from windows, eaves and corners of your home.
*Wasps & Hornets are included in Foundation/Spider barrier, however, flying insects do present a unique challenge. These flying creatures can build nests above the barrier. We cannot fully prevent wasps from ever building nests on your house, but we will proactively knock down nests with each visit.
How often do I need that done?
Our pest control is offered on a quarterly schedule, typically we do not spray during the winter season, unless it is an unusually warm winter. The season starts in Mid-March and goes on to early April, depending on weather conditions. The following applications are scheduled on average of 60 days apart until the end of season in late October or early November.
If you are in an area of increased pressure, for example riverbank properties, we can offer increased occurrence of visits at an additional charge.
PRE-EMERGENT WEED CONTROL FAQ
Will this hurt my landscape plants?
Our pre-emergent materials are federally labeled safe around hundreds, in some cases thousands, of plants that have been tested. Pre-emergent material is applied in all areas you need weed control to inhibit germination. Technicians also carefully apply post emergent to any actively growing weeds that have broken through the prior pre-emergent application.
Do you guys guarantee pre-emergent?
Due to the multitude of environmental and local factors, we cannot guarantee the materials themselves. However, what we guarantee is SERVICE. IF you are a full pre-emergent program client, we will warranty our work for any breakthrough that may happen between scheduled applications. We ask you to reach out if you see any breakthrough to allow us to schedule a technician. We strive to keep weeds killed and our clients happy.
Sterilant vs. High Grade pre-emergent herbicides?
“Sterilant” is a bit of a misnomer as there are NO legal sterilant materials. What most people think of as sterilant are restricted to use ONLY at airports, railyards and heavy industrial sites. Washington State law prohibits the use of any material that lasts longer than 1 year in residential properties, whether applied by commercial applicators or the homeowner.
Our approach to every client’s need for weed control is more environmentally friendly by using high-grade pre-emergent herbicides instead of a state prohibited sterilant at residential properties. The highly effective pre-emergent herbicide will provide protection from broad leaf and grassy weeds all season long. Should you decide down the road to landscape the previously treated areas, there will be no long-term effects.
Get Professional Lawn Care Today!
Still have questions? Our experts are ready to assist! Contact Colonial Lawn & Garden to schedule a consultation, request a quote, or discuss the best lawn care plan for your home. Let us handle the hard work so you can enjoy a lush, green lawn all season long!