Get Quotes from Top Lawn Care Companies in San Antonio, TX
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lawn Care Company in San Antonio
The average cost of professional lawn care in San Antonio is $32.63 to $37.28, and this might add up to a 267 percent interest when you decide to sell. Besides, hiring a professional to do your lawn care work saves you a lot of stress and time associated with DIY attempts, and protects you and your family from lawn mower-related injuries.
Before choosing any San Antonio lawn care firm, make sure the potential employees are qualified, insured, have the necessary expertise, and have the right tools to maintain your grass in top condition. To do this, ask the following questions:
- How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in San Antonio?
- Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?
- What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?
- Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?
- Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Lawn Care Service in San Antonio
How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in San Antonio?
Hiring lawn care companies with a good reputation for providing excellent service has a lot of advantages. One reason is that trustworthy lawn care businesses are less likely to be complicit in home remodeling fraud. Home improvement-related issues were the third most common complaint among US consumers in 2021. Your chances of being a victim of these scams are significantly reduced if you use the services of enduring, reliable lawn care providers.
Also, when searching for lawn care services in San Antonio, it is crucial to consider the longevity of the lawn care company's business. Landscapers with plenty of expertise and skill are typically employed by lawn care businesses that have been around for a while, ideally no less than two years, and have a solid track record of success. Compared to less experienced landscapers, these professionals often have a greater understanding of native grasses and garden plants and are more knowledgeable about how to care for them. The following native grasses, ground covers, flowering plants, and garden plants can be found in lawns all across San Antonio:
- Agarita
- American beautyberry
- Aromatic sumac
- Hill Country penstemon
- Horseherb
- Indiangrass
- Oxblood Lillies
- Texas lantana
- Texas mock orange
- Texas wisteria
- Turk's cap
- Woods' rose
- Yaupon holly
Regardless of how long a company has been in business, you should always ask for and check references of previous clients from any lawn care company you intend to use. Through websites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Reviews, you may also research a company's business history and customer testimonials.
Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?
Finding out if your lawn care professionals have credentials in lawn care specialties related to the services you need is one approach to determining their expertise. Landscapers and lawn care contractors working in San Antonio are not subject to any occupation-specific licensing requirements, but depending on the services they plan to provide, they may be expected to adhere to certain local and state regulatory standards.
A license from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is required before one can sell, design, install, maintain, modify, repair, service, inspect, or consult on an irrigation system. Your San Antonio landscaper may need to first acquire a Landscape Irrigator, Irrigation Technician, or Irrigation Inspector license depending on the precise services they provide.
In order to become licensed as a Landscape Irrigator, Irrigation Technician, or Irrigation Inspector in San Antonio, applicants must:
- complete the training requirement,
- complete the TCEQ application,
- submit a criminal history attestation,
- pay the $111 fee, and
- pass the relevant exam (minimum score of 70 percent for each section).
Keep in mind that there are particular criteria for each licensing category, such as a Basic Landscape Irrigator Licensing Course. However, those prerequisites do not include formal education or professional experience. After passing the examination, applicants can submit their completed application to the TCEQ online. For questions regarding the landscaping licenses in San Antonio, contact the TCEQ at (512) 239-6133 or via email.
Additionally, the Texas Department of Agriculture or the Structural Pest Control Service license is required for landscapers for hire who want to apply any pesticides to plants, trees, shrubs, grass, or other horticultural plants. Landscapers must declare whether they are commercial or noncommercial in order to obtain a TDA license. Commercial applicators control the use of herbicides or apply pesticides with restricted or state-limited uses. A noncommercial license is required for landscapers who solely use pesticides for general usage.
Candidates for a commercial applicator license must:
- pass the TDA general exam, the rules and regulations exam, and the ornamental and turf pest control exam;
- provide the necessary confirmation of financial responsibility for $200,000 in total coverage, $100,000 in property damage and $100,000 in bodily injury per occurrence;
- submit an application and pay a $200 non-refundable fee;
- not have a criminal record that includes moral turpitude within the preceding five years;
- submit an Applicator Business Registration on their behalf or through their employer.
Candidates for a noncommercial applicator license must:
- pass the TDA general, legal, and ornamental/turf pest control tests;
- submit an application with a $140 fee.
Keep in mind that the applicator license expires every year on the anniversary of when it was first issued or renewed. Call the TDA at (800) 835 5832 or the SPCS at (512) 305-8250 or (866) 918-4481 for further details.
In addition to acquiring licenses and certifications that are required by the state or the city, many professional landscapers and lawn care providers in San Antonio also pursue voluntary certifications from organizations like:
- The Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA)
- The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)
- The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)
- The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS)
- The Irrigation Association (IA)
It is important that you always confirm any claims of voluntary certification made by a lawn care provider you want to hire by asking for proof and checking it with the proper organization.
How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?
Finding out how much your favorite lawn care firms charge for their services and coming to an agreement on these rates is another action to take to guarantee that you receive satisfactory lawn care services in San Francisco. The following pricing formulas are usually used by city-based lawn care businesses to determine their rates:
- Per Hour: The lawn care provider will establish an hourly cost for each hour they spend working on your lawn under this simple pricing structure. Depending on the type and size of the job, these charges can range from $25 to $80 per hour, but they may go higher.
- Per Square Foot: In this pricing model, the lawn care provider bills customers for each square foot of lawn that is serviced. The normal fee scale for this structure is $2 to $10 per square foot.
- Per Visit/Per Project: In this pricing model, the lawn care provider bills a flat rate for either each service they render or for a range of services over a certain time. Fees might range from $40 to $1,000 for each visit or project, depending on the type of work being done.
Several factors, some of which are listed below, affect the price of lawn care services in San Antonio, including:
- How big your lawn area is
- Obstacles on the lawn, such as sharp hills, trees, fences, and rocks
- The kind of tools and equipment needed for the job
- The level of manpower required for the required services
- The regularity of the necessary lawn maintenance services
- The type and extent of the services that are necessary
- Where you are in the city
It is usually a good idea to seek and compare price quotes from various firms before making your final hiring decision when looking for the best lawn care company to supply you with lawn maintenance and other landscaping services. This has a number of advantages, such as:
- It provides you with a realistic estimate of the going fee for the services you need.
- It assists you in avoiding getting overcharged for services by dishonest businesses.
- It makes it easier to identify dishonest lawn care providers.
Lawn care contractors in San Antonio earn an average wage of $31,300 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 Texas and also in other locations across the United States:
What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?
Interested parties in the city of San Antonio can choose from a variety of lawn care services provided by local lawn care firms, including but not limited to:
- Flower services
- Garden cleanup and debris removal
- Irrigation system maintenance and repair
- Landscape design
- Lawn aeration
- Lawn fertilization
- Lawn mowing
- Lawn seeding
- Leaf blowing
- Mulching
- Pest control
- Retaining wall installation
- Shrub and hedge trimming
- Shrub and tree planting
- Tree trimming
- Weed control
Find out precisely what they plan to provide as part of your lawn care program when making hiring arrangements with local lawn care businesses. Note that some lawn care businesses entice potential customers with relatively affordable lawn care plans in hopes that they will sign up for their services, fully aware that these customers will eventually need more intensive, and frequently more expensive, services. You can avoid misunderstandings with your lawn care provider later on by insisting on knowing the precise nature, extent, and cost of your desired lawn care program up front, particularly if you intend to sign up for recurrent lawn care services and treatments.
There are generally two primary sorts of packages that many reliable lawn care businesses in San Antonio provide:
- Basic Lawn Care Treatments: These services are mostly performed to enhance the appearance of your lawn without enhancing its general health. Services including lawn mowing, leaf blowing, hedge and shrub trimming, and garden maintenance are often included in basic lawn care programs.
- Full-service Lawn Maintenance: These include services that not only enhance the visual appeal of your lawn but also enhance its general health. Standard lawn care services as well as extras like lawn aeration and fertilization, tree trimming and pruning, weed control, and repair of grass diseases are often included in full-service lawn care plans.
Below are cost estimates for lawn care services frequently offered as part of lawn care programs in San Antonio:
Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?
Organic lawn care is the practice of maintaining a lawn without the use of artificial materials or chemicals, such as insecticides, fungicides, or herbicides. The grass is instead maintained using naturally occurring ingredients such as potash, compost and leaf mulch, seaweed, bone char, worm castings, and manure that are derived from animals or plants. Organic lawn care often aims to reduce the quantity and amount of chemicals discharged into the atmosphere while also providing a chemical-free outdoor environment that is suitable for kids and pets.
It is usually a good idea to find out if your desired lawn care business offers organic lawn care services, especially if you value the environment or if you have small children or animals that will be playing in your yard frequently. By doing this, you may greatly reduce the number of pesticides and other potentially dangerous lawn care chemicals that these kids and dogs are exposed to.
Be aware that organic lawn care requires more labor than traditional lawn care, which could increase the expense to you. However, this method of lawn care also has a number of advantages, including:
- It enhances root development
- It facilitates the process of photosynthesis.
- It is secure for both kids and animals.
- It lessens contamination of the land and water.
- It makes use of biodegradable materials.
- It makes your soil less susceptible to illnesses and pests as a result.
- It restores the ecosystem of your lawn.
- It saves you money over time
- It strengthens your lawn.
- There is no chance of applying too much.
Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?
When selecting lawn care businesses, it is crucial to take plant warranties into account, particularly if the services being evaluated involve the installation of plants, flowers, seeds, or sod on your lawn. You should be aware of lawn care firms who do not provide such warranties as they are assurances that the plants will grow and prosper once they have been put on your lawn.
Keep in mind that different lawn care firms often have different plant installation warranties with different specific terms and coverage. However, plant warranties provided by numerous reputable San Antonio lawn care businesses are often only good for a year and do not cover things like:
- Animal-related damage.
- Damage brought on by the client's improper plant upkeep and care
- Natural disaster damage and acts of vandalism
In addition, many lawn care businesses include requirements in their plant warranties that must be followed for the warranties to stay valid due to the organic nature of plants and flowers and their need for appropriate care and upkeep. Typically, these include
- Watering routines
- Schedules for mowing and permitted mowing heights
- Requirements for fertilization
In order to prevent the guarantee from being voided, always be sure to read the specific terms and conditions of any plant warranty that your favorite lawn care provider offers.
Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?
It is essential that you establish that the company, as well as any lawn care contractors and landscapers in their employ, are adequately insured before finalizing hiring agreements with any lawn care company in San Antonio. Lawn care and maintenance tasks have the potential to be dangerous; it is estimated that lawnmowers alone result in more than 70 fatalities and 87,600 serious injuries annually. If your lawn care contractors and landscapers are not fully insured, having these injuries or any other unanticipated unfavorable occurrences occur during your lawn care job could result in out-of-pocket costs and other legal obligations.
Always ask for proof of insurance from your lawn care company before signing any contracts with them, get this proof verified by their insurance provider, and determine whether the firm's general liability insurance coverage is sufficient for the range of your desired services.
Although San Antonio does not require lawn care professionals to have insurance, it is crucial that you verify that anybody you hire to take care of your lawn does have enough coverage. In order to avoid being held responsible for damages and accidents sustained during the project, insist on general liability insurance, and worker's compensation insurance, if they have any employees under them.
To learn more about the obligatory insurance requirements for lawn care businesses operating in the city, call the Texas Department of Insurance at (512) 804-4000 and (800) 252-7031.
How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Lawn Care Service in San Antonio
The main consumer protection organization in San Antonio is the Texas Attorney General's Office, where complaints against subpar lawn care services and dishonest lawn care businesses can be made.
According to a May 2018 article from Spectrum News, a San Antonio contractor was imprisoned after being accused of scamming older folks in numerous Texas locations. When looking for lawn care services in San Antonio, there is always a chance of coming across a dishonest landscaper or lawn care contractor, despite the fact that many lawn care businesses offer their services competently and legally. These con artists often use a variety of tactics to defraud trusting home and property owners of their money, including:
- Adding pointless extra services and unstated costs to their contracts
- Initially providing reasonably priced lawn care services, which they increase subsequently.
- Performing subpar jobs yet asking for high-end compensation for their services
- Promising to use organic lawn care products while charging more for this, then performing the task with non-organic products instead
By taking the following actions, you can successfully fend off scammers offering lawn care services:
- Avoid being pressured into enrolling in lawn care programs by lawn care firms and landscapers, or by unsolicited offers of lawn care and maintenance services.
- Watch out for lawn care businesses that promote offers and services that seem too good to be true.
- Get price quotes from at least three different lawn care providers and compare them before making a final hiring decision.
- Make sure to read any contracts you are given in their entirety before signing them.
- Never pay the full amount of your lawn care services up front, and be aware of companies that demand large down payments or ask for this.
- Keep copies of all paperwork pertaining to your lawn care strategy.
- Pay attention to lawn care businesses that provide estimates without first examining your grass.
- Always investigate recommendations from previous clients.
- Make sure your lawn care business is adequately insured.
- Get a written agreement that outlines the details of your lawn care program, including its nature and scope, as well as the frequency and cost of the essential services. Note that written contracts are required by state law for any service involving the application of pesticides to residential property.
- Make sure that any lawn care business you intend to engage with has a solid reputation for providing the best services by conducting extensive research on them. You can check internet reviews for local landscapers and lawn care providers on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Google Review.
By calling the Consumer Protection division of the Texas Attorney General's Office at (800) 621-0508 or (210) 225-4191, or by filing a complaint online, you can report dishonest or fraudulent lawn care professionals in the city.
Table of Contents
- How Long Have You Been in the Lawn Care Business in San Antonio?
- Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?
- How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Lawn Care Companies in the City?
- What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?
- Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?
- Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?
- Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Lawn Care Companies in the City?
- How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Lawn Care Service in San Antonio