Get Quotes from Top Lawn Care Companies in Indianapolis, IN

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

Lawn maintenance and installation services require a great deal of experience. As such, it is always crucial to find out whether the lawn care company you intend to hire has the experience to expertly manage your lawn project. One of the best ways to measure whether a lawn care company has enough experience to deliver quality service is to ask how long they have been in business. By asking how long a company has been in business, you can protect yourself from incompetent lawn care professionals and dishonest companies that do not stick around that long.

Lawn care companies that have been in business for a long time are more likely to hire more experienced lawn care professionals to deliver their services. Experienced professionals are more conversant with the city's native grasses and garden plants, as well as how to care for them. Some of the native Indianapolis grasses and garden plants that are commonly found in lawns throughout the city include:

• Big Bluestem
• Sideoats Grama
• Bottlebrush Grass
• NannyBerry
• Crossing
• Tulip tree
• Choke Jerry
• Purple Cornflower
• Ostrich fern
• Cardinal flower

Another benefit of hiring lawn care companies that have been in business for a long is that they are also more likely to hire individuals who are willing to comply with both the state and local regulations governing lawn care maintenance and installation in Indianapolis. In addition, lawn care companies that have built a reputation for themselves through years of hard work are less likely to engage in home improvement scams, which is a common occurrence across Indiana. Over 15,000 complaints concerning bad businesses and contractors were filed with the Indiana Attorney General's Office in 2021 alone. However, hiring a lawn care company that has built a reputation for itself through years of hard work will ensure that you do not fall victim to these scams.

However, always bear in mind that dishonest lawn care companies can lie about how long they have been in the lawn care business. As such, it is always in your best interest to verify whatever claims a lawn care contractor is making. Before finalizing any arrangement with a lawn care company in Indianapolis, you should always check third-party websites like Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Google Review to see the company's business history, as well as what other customers have reported about their services.

Do You Hold Any Professional Qualifications Relevant to Lawn Care?

There are no occupation-specific licensing requirements for lawn care contractors in Indianapolis. However, reputable lawn care contractors in the city will always make sure that they not only obtain relevant professional qualifications that qualify them to provide certain lawn care services but also comply with state and local regulations concerning lawn care.

For instance, lawn care contractors who will be applying fertilizers or pesticides as part of their lawn care service must be licensed by the Office of Indiana State Chemist. There are different categories of licenses awarded by the Office of Indiana State Chemist and applicants can choose any category depending on the type of services they will be offering to members of the public. Lawn care contractors can choose either the ornamental pest management applicator license or turf management applicator license or both.

To obtain any of the following categories of applicator license, interested persons must pass a written core exam covering pesticide laws, general pest biology, pesticide formulations, personal and environmental safety, and label comprehension. The core exam is usually followed by a category exam covering information on pest identification and biology, pesticide chemistry, pesticide application techniques, equipment and calibration, and environmental concerns. In addition to passing the core and category exams, there are experience requirements for anyone who wants to obtain a license for applying pesticides or fertilizers to lawns for compensation. Interested persons should check the experience requirements for the category of license they want to obtain on the Office of Indiana State Chemist website.

Applications for an applicator license with the Office of Indiana State Chemist can be made by downloading, completing, and mailing an application form alongside a mail check to:

In addition to obtaining an applicator license, lawn care contractors who intend to engage in the distribution of a tank mixed liquid fertilizer to private, institutional, or commercial entities for compensation to maintain and nourish turf, shrubbery, trees, and other plants must hold an additional commercial lawn care service fertilizer license. To obtain this license, interested persons must:

• Already be licensed in Turf Management
• Submit an application form which shall include the name and address of the person applying for the license and the name and address of each location from which the person will distribute tank mixed liquid fertilizer for this purpose
• Pay $100 for each location specified in

Queries concerning the process and requirements for obtaining an applicator license and commercial lawn care service fertilizer license in Indiana can be directed to the Office of Indiana State Chemist by calling (765)494-9564.

Finally, many lawn care contractors in Indianapolis may obtain voluntary certifications in fields such as arboriculture, organic farming, and other niche areas from organizations such as:

• The Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association
• The Indianapolis Landscape Association
• The Indiana Professional Lawn and Landscape Association
• The International Society of Arboriculture
• The National Association of Landscape Professionals
• The Professional Grounds Management Society

It is crucial to verify claims of voluntary certification made by any lawn care contractor. You can do so by requesting proof of certification and validating it with the appropriate organization. Similarly, if the lawn care service you need will involve pesticide and fertilizer application, you should contact the Office of Indiana State Chemist at (765)494-9564 to confirm the lawn care contractor's license status.

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

Lawns are a great place to spend quality time with your family, but they require regular maintenance to stay in good condition. The cost of lawn maintenance and installation services in Indianapolis is influenced by several factors, some of which include:

• 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 services
• Your location within the city
• The frequency of the required lawn care services

After considering these factors, your lawn care contractor will come up with an estimate for the job. The estimate will contain a breakdown of the services that will be provided, as well as the pricing structure that was used to calculate the fees. Indianapolis lawn care contractors calculate their fees using one of the following types of pricing structures:

• Per Hour: this involves the lawn care contractor setting an hourly rate for every hour they spend working on your project. These rates can cost $25 to $90 depending on the nature and scope of the work.
• Per Square Foot: the contractor charges for each square foot of lawn area covered during the project. These fees can range from $3 to $13 per square foot.
• Per Visit/Per Project: the lawn care contractor charges a flat fee under this pricing structure, either for each service provided or for a variety of agreed-upon services over a specified period. Fees vary greatly depending on the nature of the work being performed and can range from $30 to $1,000 per visit/project.

Even if a lawn care contractor visits your lawn before making an estimate and provides a detailed analysis of the pricing structure used to calculate the fees, it is always important to seek a second opinion on the service you want. As such, you should always get and compare cost estimates from several companies before making a final decision. This will benefit you in several ways, including:

• Giving you a fair idea of the average market price for your required services
• Helping you avoid dishonest contractors who charge more than what is required for the job
• Protecting you from falling victim to a home improvement scam

Lawn care contractors in Indianapolis earn an average wage of $34,740 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 Indiana and also in other locations across the United States:

What Is Included in Your Lawn Care Program?

Indianapolis lawn care companies offer a variety of lawn care services to members of the public. These services include, but are not limited to:

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

Lawn care companies in Indianapolis typically include all or some of the aforementioned services in their lawn care programs depending on a client's specific needs. A lawn care program typically contains a lawn treatment and maintenance plan that a lawn care company must follow through to keep a client's lawn in good shape at all times. As a homeowner, it is always in your best interest to find out what will be included in your lawn care program before signing any contract. This will not only help you avoid misunderstandings with your lawn care company down the line but will also help you keep track of the lawn care company's performance.

Most lawn care companies in Indianapolis typically offer two main types of packages, namely:

• Basic Lawn Care Services: these include services that focus on maintaining your lawn without improving its overall health. Basic lawn care services generally include lawn mowing, leaf blowing, hedge and shrub trimming, and garden clean up
• Full-Service Lawn Maintenance: these services focus not just on maintaining your lawn but also improving its overall health. Full-service lawn care programs typically include services available in basic lawn care programs as well as additional services like lawn aeration and fertilization, tree trimming and pruning, weed control, and lawn disease remediation

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

Do You Provide Organic Lawn Care Services?

Lawns are a great place for your children and pets to play, but 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. Residents of Indianapolis are encouraged to always stick to an organic lawn care approach to keep their lawn area in good condition and safe for children, pets, and the entire neighborhood.

Before making any arrangements with a lawn care company in Indianapolis, it is crucial to confirm if they offer organic lawn care services. Organic lawn care services typically involve the use of animal or plant-derived carbon-based substances and naturally occurring materials like seaweed, bone char, potash, compost, leaf mulch, worm castings, and manure to improve the condition of your lawn. These materials help to revitalize your lawn's ecosystem, prevent turf disease, reduce soil and water pollution, reduce waste of water, assist the photosynthesis process, and improve root growth.

While it is best to avoid hiring lawn care companies that do not provide organic lawn care services, bear in mind that many dishonest lawn care companies are willing to do anything, including claiming to offer organic lawn care services, to get you to sign up for their lawn care program. As such, you should always ask your preferred contractor for references from previous clients that have received the exact service you want. Always contact these past clients to verify the lawn care contractor's claim.

Do You Offer a Warranty for Plants Installed?

Reputable lawn care companies in Indianapolis offer warranty for plants installed on your lawn. A warranty guarantees that plants installed on your lawn will thrive and flourish, and if they do not, they will be replaced by the lawn contractor. However, it is important to note that the specific terms and scope of plant installation warranties typically vary by lawn care companies. As such, you should always find out the specific terms and scope of plant installation warranties your preferred lawn care company is using before signing any agreement with them.

Many reputable lawn care companies in Indianapolis offer plant installation warranties that are valid for one year and do not cover areas like:

• Damage caused by natural disasters and acts of vandalism
• Damage caused by lack of proper plant care and maintenance on the part of the client
• Damage caused by animals.

In addition, these lawn care companies also set conditions that must be adhered to for the warranties to remain valid. These typically include but are not limited to watering schedules, mowing schedules and acceptable mowing heights, and fertilization requirements.

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

It is estimated that at least 100 people are killed and several thousand get seriously injured during lawn care and landscape-related activities every year, and the majority of these fatalities and injuries are the result of exposure to machines, chemicals, and severe weather conditions.

While these events are largely unexpected, associated costs can be overwhelming for the homeowner if the lawn contractor in charge of the project is not insured. As such, a lawn contractor's insurance status is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a lawn care contractor in your city.

Although lawn care contractors are not required to maintain an active insurance policy before they can provide services to members of the public, reputable lawn care contractors in the city will obtain the necessary insurance policy to protect their clients from unexpected events such as work injuries, property damage, and deaths that occur during a lawn care job.

You should always confirm the insurance status of the lawn contractor that you intend to hire before signing any agreement with them. You can do so by asking the lawn care contractor to provide their insurance certificate and contact the insurance company that is responsible for issuing the certificate to verify the contractor's insurance status.