Americans Turn to Lawn Care Service to Save Time, Money

Lawn Doctor provides checklist to find the right service for lawn needs

HOLMDEL, N.J., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 34.5 million U.S. households
hire at least one type of lawn and landscape service, according to the
National Gardening Association (1). Homeowners turn to professional services
because they're short on time, wish to increase or protect their homes' value
and know preventative maintenance is easier and cheaper than repairing damage
to their homes' lawns.

Lawns endure the most stress during the summer because of increased
temperatures, higher traffic and less water because of dry weather and
city-imposed watering restrictions. Grass patch diseases also peak in summer
months. Homeowners should proactively protect and prepare their lawns to
survive the high stress summer.

Homeowners need to consider these tips before selecting a lawn service to make
sure their money is well spent and getting results:
1. Annual cost and services: Determine the total annual cost and what
services are included in the basic program. Lawn maintenance service
companies generally offer similar services in their basic program, but
may not include additional treatments like pre-emergents and pest
control.
2. Know what you're getting into: Before agreeing to any services,
request a consultation to determine what your lawn needs to get or stay
healthy. Lawn care maintenance companies like Lawn Doctor provide every
customer with a free evaluation and "prescription" before any
treatments begin. Technicians should also be trained and take a sample
of
your lawn's soil for pH testing.
3. Satisfaction: No lawn care service can guarantee perfect results all
the
time because of variables like weather. A reputable service should
offer
to continue servicing your lawn and take corrective measures until
you're satisfied, preferably free of charge.
4. Optional Services: Research additional services the company provides.
If
the provider can also trim trees and shrubs, re-seed, aerate, or do
lawn
mower maintenance, that can save you additional trouble and time.

5. Comparison Shop: Compare two or more companies in your area to make
sure
you're getting value, expertise and customer-oriented service. You
may have questions or need to make treatment changes in the future.
It's easier to do with a company that's customer-service
oriented. (2)

By finding an expert service that meets or exceeds all of the above
suggestions, homeowners will see dramatic results and enjoy their lawns
through out the summer. The Wall Street Journal recently called Lawn Doctor,
the nation's leading expert in lawn care, the "best combination of service and
pricing of all [lawn] services tested." All Lawn Doctor locations are locally
owned and operated with experts trained to care for and treat lawns in their
area.

"Consumers have come to us for the past 42 years to treat their lawns because
they know we're experts," said Paul Mumm, Lawn Doctor Director of Marketing.
"Our local experts understand local climate, soil conditions and diseases,
making our custom treatments targeted and effective the first time, which
saves our customers money and time."

About Lawn Doctor
For 42 years, Lawn Doctor has been a pioneer in the nation's lawn care service
industry with innovative equipment, scientifically proven fertilization and
horticultural methods and personal attention to each customer's lawn through
locally owned and operated franchises. Through its comprehensive Web site,
Lawn Doctor is a top resource for lawn care information in the country. For
additional care tips or franchise information, call (800) 4-LAWN-DR or visit
them online at www.lawndoctor.com.

(1) National Gardening Association. "Residential Lawn & Landscape Services
Market and the Value of Landscaping."
http://www.gardenresearch.com/index.php?q=show&id=2873
(2) Some tips from the Ohio State University Horticulture and Crop Sciences
Department. Koski, Anthony J. and Street, John R. "What to Look for in a Lawn
Care Service." http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/4000/4025.html.

MEDIA CONTACT
Allison Yeaman or Holly Scimeca
(214) 379-7000
allison@spmcommunications.com
holly@spmcommunications.com

SOURCE Lawn Doctor

Allison Yeaman, allison@spmcommunications.com, or Holly Scimeca,
holly@spmcommunications.com, both of SPM Communications, +1-214-379-7000, for
Lawn Doctor