For some, there just aren’t enough hours in a day to get the lawn mown. For others, you might be on a large plot of land where you need a professional to take care of the grass with a ride-on mower. Whatever the reason, at hipages you’ll find plenty of experienced lawn mowing services who can get the job done quickly and to your standards. Here’s what to expect.

What does a lawn mowing professional do?

A lawn mowing professional is someone who maintains and cares for all varieties of lawns for their clients. They use equipment like lawnmowers, whipper snippers and edgers to cut grass to an appropriate height, trim edges and remove debris. They may also provide additional services such as weed control and lawn aeration.

By hiring a lawn mowing expert, you’ll get someone who understands the optimal height and frequency of mowing for different types of grass and climates, which means your lawn will always be mowed to a neat and optimal height. They may also provide advice on how to care for your lawn throughout the year, including watering schedules, fertilisation and pest control.

What are the different types of yard work a lawn mowing service offers?

If you are short on time but still wish to enjoy your lawn, hipages has a range of lawn mowing professionals you can approach to keep your lawn looking well-groomed and maintained. Their lawn mowing services may include:

• Lawn and garden maintenance

• Fertilising

• Rubbish removal (e.g. lawn clippings)

• Weed control

• Ride-on mowing

• Slashing

• Landscaping

• Pruning and trimming

• Gutter cleaning

Why is it important to maintain your yard?

To have a healthy lawn, you should feed at the right times throughout the year. This will not only make the grass look greener, it will also strengthen your lawn against diseases, patchiness and unwanted weed growth. Be aware that lawns require a different type of fertiliser than other plants, so make sure you get the right one if you are doing some DIY lawn maintenance.

There are many lawn fertilisers on the market with some of the most common including:

• Organic lawn foods such as blood and bone and dynamic lifter, which will slowly feed the grass over a period of months.

• Synthetic granular fertilisers, which are quick to green the grass.

• Combination fertilisers, which are a combination of organic and synthetic fertilisers.

• Slow-release lawn foods, which gently release nutrients into the lawn.

• Liquid hose-on fertilisers, which are perfect for greening the grass up quickly.

DIY lawn maintenance tips

Before you apply any fertiliser, you will need to prepare the lawn. Ensure it is well aerated, and that all weeds have been removed. If there are any bare patches of soil, cover them with sand or lawn dressing, then spread your fertiliser – be careful not to go over the same area more than once, as over-application will actually burn your lawn. You can spread the fertiliser by hand, or use a spreader for a more even distribution. Read the instructions when fertilising as some will require you to water the lawn beforehand while others will require you to water after.

The secret to a good lawn is to not mow it too short. Never remove more than one-third of the height of the lawn when it is mowed. Mowing too often can also weaken the lawn. Weeds are also a problem in most Australian yards at some point or another, but they can be removed by hand or you can choose to apply a selective lawn herbicide – products that will kill the weeds but not the grass. Moss may also grow in poorly drained areas, so ensure the soil is well aerated, and use a wire rake to remove any moss.

Many people think that lawns require a lot of water, but if you don’t over-fertilise your lawn or mow it too short, you can reduce the amount of water it needs. Reduce the water requirements even further by applying a wetting agent and keep the lawn well aerated; there are aerators available from most gardening or hardware suppliers.

If you live in a location where there are water restrictions, you can still water your lawn. Simply check with your local council to find out what levels of restrictions are in place. Alternatively, a rainwater tank can store water specifically for use on your lawn or garden, and these have no restrictions on how you use them.

If your lawn feels ‘spongy’ underneath your feet, you may have a thatch build-up – thatch being the layer of dead grass that lies at the base of the lawn. This needs to be removed as it stops air and water from getting to the root system of the lawn and can also cause fungal disease. Thatch can be removed with a de-thatcher or scarifier. If it is just a small area, you can use a metal rake to remove the thatch.

Lawns may also become compacted over time and will need to be aerated. Aeration can be done using a corer, hollow tine machine or simply a garden fork.

How much does it cost to hire a lawn mowing professional?

Professional lawn mowing services charge about the same as general garden maintenance services. On average, it works out to about $40 an hour, but can be as low as $25 an hour or as high as $60 or more. That's quite a spread, so you'll want to choose your professional carefully.

A lawn mowing service may cost you $60 to have your lawn mown once, but as little as $40 or $50 if they do your mowing regularly, such as a fortnightly or monthly service, or even $120 per hour or more for a ride-on lawn mowing service. This should include grass cutting and removal of debris and grass clippings, but generally will not include other services like sidewalk edging and trimming.

The time of year may also affect the overall cost. According to Sydney Gardeners, prices can be as low as $25 per hour during winter by as high as $75 per hour during the peak season.

What to ask when hiring a local lawn mowing service

Hiring a local lawn mowing service can help you maintain a well-manicured and healthy lawn. However, finding the right lawn mowing professional requires asking the right questions, which might include:

• What services do you provide besides lawn mowing?

• How often do you recommend mowing my lawn?

• What type of equipment do you use for lawn mowing?

• Are you licensed and insured?

• Can you provide references or testimonials from previous clients?

• How do you price your lawn mowing services?

• Do you offer any guarantees or warranties on your work?

Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.