Lawn Care

[maryrosek]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?

[Tommyc6]

Pest Control, Lawn Care - Green Smiths - The Villages, Florida (http://www.greensmithspestcontrol.com/home.html)

We’ve been very pleased with Greensmiths.

[tophcfa]

LeeCo

[mtdjed]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?

We have had good luck with ARROW. Cost is about $340 a year.

[Papa_lecki]

Pest Control, Lawn Care - Green Smiths - The Villages, Florida (http://www.greensmithspestcontrol.com/home.html)

We’ve been very pleased with Greensmiths.

My grass was a distaster when we bought. GreenSmith brought it back and the yard looks great.

[polirudb]

Another vote for GreenSmiths. Brought my yard back. Small local company. Pay as you go, no contract. Good service, fair prices.

[Bay Kid]

FertiGator has done a good job for my lawn.

[ThirdOfFive]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?
Florida Pest Control. Not the cheapest by a long shot but excellent and dependable. We have two services from them on an ongoing basis: lawn fertilization/weed control once every three months and pest control every other month. We also have a termite policy through them. We moved here four years ago and noticed right away that we were not alone: a fair amount of cockroaches and ants also lived here, together with huge snails in the lanai. After two months on the job the critters were gone except for two cockroaches we found--both dead.

We pay total something like $450 per year. They schedule the service in advance and you pay after-the-fact.

[JoMar]

Pest Control, Lawn Care - Green Smiths - The Villages, Florida (http://www.greensmithspestcontrol.com/home.html)

We’ve been very pleased with Greensmiths.

Agree with this recommendation.

[Rwirish]

Not the answer you want - Deans.

[MCJEFE]

We fired Dean's this year.

[banjobob]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?

There are many options, I have tried 3 different companies but Deans is the best I have found all the others had issues , weeds ,bugs, dying grass..

[BernieJr]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?

Superior Services
1-800-PestControl
Ask for Mitch Bolton

[JanRoberts]

I could have asked this same question! We had Massey's but weren't satisfied so switched to Superior, and now have to resod over mole crickets. Superior was generally unresponsive, and when they would eventually respond said they weren't liable for their work, unbelievably! We went with Greensmith and they're treating the LIVE mole crickets Superior swore up and down were gone!

[75090BAR]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?
I use Zoysia and have been very happy with their technicians and their service.

[Blackie]

Superior Services
1-800-PestControl
Ask for Mitch Bolton

They destroyed our grass, kept promising to improve and never did.

Hire this company at your peril.

[fcgiii]

Pest Control, Lawn Care - Green Smiths - The Villages, Florida (http://www.greensmithspestcontrol.com/home.html)

We’ve been very pleased with Greensmiths.

We have Greensmiths too. Our lawn was full of weeds and we considered ripping it out and resodding. We got Greensmiths and 6 months later have a beautiful lawn.

[ChicagoNative]

I’m trying to figure out what a monthly bill is for a typical Village residence. I know that $200 is the base assessment that everyone pays and that Villagers are responsible for their own landscaping.

What is a ballpark figure for a full service landscape package that includes edge, mow, shrub and tree trimming, debris removal, outdoor pest control, quarterly fertilization, and irrigation? My guess is that it would also be about $200, for a total of about $400/momth.

Yes, no, maybe so?

[KSSunshine]

We are using Greensmiths. Tried Deans without Success.

[KendallW]

1st rate residential service...we bought our home in December with alot of lawn issues....ended up re soding half my yard...not only was the work supurb but a less expensive than the well known guys. He's been taking care of my yard and looks like new...highly recommend him.

[dadcat]

Yes, yourself. Always done correctly and pride in your work

[retiredguy123]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?
I cancelled my pest control contract about 3 years ago and I haven't seen any insects inside my house. You may want to try doing nothing for pest control inside your house. It works for me.

[PaulUnderwood]

For me it’s Deans been here 6 years lawn looks great and no pests. Had a problem with brown spots and some weeds call office and someone came out within a couple days and resolved problems 👍. Just like most businesses down here constantly changing employees fortunately we’ve had great technicians.

[mntlblok]

We have Greensmiths too. Our lawn was full of weeds and we considered ripping it out and resodding. We got Greensmiths and 6 months later have a beautiful lawn.
Fascinating subject for me. I see that they call themselves "Green Smiths", two words. In my experience, salvaging a fouled up lawn would be an impressive feat. The lawns and general look of all the greenery here in The Villages was no small part of the draw for me. Just the "edging" in our neighborhood (just north of Hillsborough) strikes me as practically a work of art - even along the "main drags". What happened to many of the executive course greens this winter has been of great concern, and I'd feel a whole lot better if I were hearing better answers about an accurate diagnosis and predictable "cure".

Still haven't been through a full yearly cycle here, but starting to have some new questions about the lawns. Have gotten the sense that the builders have changed the "standard" lawn turf "type" as things have moved south. Have they now gone strictly to St. Augustine? *Love* the wider blade zoysia that came with our lawn, but have now come to understand that it has lots of Bermuda mixed in. The parts *without* the Bermuda are definitely more consistently attractive. Continue to ponder whether it's worth trying to reduce the Bermuda. Seem to recall that the differences were least noticeable last summer at the height of the "greenness".

We've only recently started to explore inside the gates of some of the other villages - other than in passing on the way to executives. Was surprised to see some "abandoned-looking" yards way up north. Also got the sense a bit further south from there that the lawns, while nicely kept, had less of the "crisp edge", look as well as what struck me as an even greater "mixture" of grass types (within lawns), with many sections of lawns looking considerably better than other sections. Has me wondering if keeping a "pure" lawn of any variety is a realistic goal here, especially over a couple of decades. Still learning. . .

[nn0wheremann]

Does anyone have a recommendation for lawn fertilizing and pest control that isn't Massey or Dean's?
Go to Lowe’s and get a container of fertilizer, one of pest control, and weed control. Put each on your garden hose and do it yourself. Be sure the weed-be-gone is the one labeled for St Augustine grass if that is what is on your lawn.

[retiredguy123]

I’m trying to figure out what a monthly bill is for a typical Village residence. I know that $200 is the base assessment that everyone pays and that Villagers are responsible for their own landscaping.

What is a ballpark figure for a full service landscape package that includes edge, mow, shrub and tree trimming, debris removal, outdoor pest control, quarterly fertilization, and irrigation? My guess is that it would also be about $200, for a total of about $400/momth.

Yes, no, maybe so?
I pay Massey $86 per month for those services for a courtyard villa, but they recently stopped doing the shrub trimming. So, I will need to find someone to do that about every 4 months or so or do it myself. Until they stopped doing the shrubs, Massey was the only company who would do all of those services, except trees. I don't have any trees.

[mntlblok]

For me it’s Deans been here 6 years lawn looks great and no pests. Had a problem with brown spots and some weeds call office and someone came out within a couple days and resolved problems 👍. Just like most businesses down here constantly changing employees fortunately we’ve had great technicians.
Have also had a fine experience for a particular issue with Dean's, and I also feel that it was largely due to the technician we lucked into. He fixed our mole cricket problem swimmingly.

Dean's offers the ability to email them with specific questions, so I did. It has been pointed out that I "overthink" things. Didn't bother him a bit. Got a phone call during a "rain delay" shortly thereafter from this same technician and he answered all my questions and we had a nice long discussion. He also clearly takes pride in his *own* lawn. Turns out that he had formerly worked under that extremely knowledgeable fellow at Ace Hardware. Not surprised.

[LonnyP]

Just switched from Deans to Fertigator. So far so good.

[maistocars]

Fertigator and a big NO on Superior.

[retiredguy123]

Have also had a fine experience for a particular issue with Dean's, and I also feel that it was largely due to the technician we lucked into. He fixed our mole cricket problem swimmingly.

Dean's offers the ability to email them with specific questions, so I did. It has been pointed out that I "overthink" things. Didn't bother him a bit. Got a phone call during a "rain delay" shortly thereafter from this same technician and he answered all my questions and we had a nice long discussion. He also clearly takes pride in his *own* lawn. Turns out that he had formerly worked under that extremely knowledgeable fellow at Ace Hardware. Not surprised.
There are 3 things that I don't like about Deans. They require a credit card on file that they can charge monthly or whenever they want. They do not do shrub trimming or irrigation maintenance. And, they only do termite treatment on an annual fee basis, with no long term termite damage contract, like Massey and other companies offer.

[Glewellen]

We had same poor experience. So, I called Ortho. Explained my situation. They recommended 2 of their products that were available at Ace, Wildwood. Ace horticulturist agreed with Ortho. Working well. Takes me 15 minutes every 2 months.

[karostay]

Flip a coin
There all the same
First 2 months their like bees on honey.
After that their
like hens teeth

[billethkid]

It is all about the technician and how good he is at his job. Watch how they do your job.
Get to know your tech and let him know what you think, want/need.
Good company + good tech = good company.

We switched to Massey two years ago. Excellent tech. Our lawn is the best it has ever been (in 20 years!).
Massey is a little more expensive but they do back what they say.....and that becomes a function of your expectation/communication.
In my humble opinion/experience.

[dadspet]

I've been paying Deans for years to have an awful lawn. Calling them several times to complain doesnt improve anything. If I could find the right company I'm more than ready to switch. Been considering new sod but can't seem to write the check. Keep opinions coming especially on replacing the Sod vs new lawn company.

[mntlblok]

I've been paying Deans for years to have an awful lawn. Calling them several times to complain doesnt improve anything. If I could find the right company I'm more than ready to switch. Been considering new sod but can't seem to write the check. Keep opinions coming especially on replacing the Sod vs new lawn company.

Makes me wonder if there's a Villages "lawn club". We did our largest exploratory golf cart trip to date yesterday and I came away with a vastly greater picture of what the range of lawn conditions is out there, covering a large portion south of LSL between the N/S main drags. Was *very* surprised to find the vast majority of the nicest looking lawns up that way to be of St. Augustine grass. Had never seen it grow that thick and be so dark green in color. Interesting. Still holding out hope that summertime brings better lawn conditions, as that is what my "memory" is from last summer, at least as an overall "picture".

I remember "giving up" in Savannah after re-sodding at my second place and having the same ugly picture quickly re-emerge with the centipede grass that was most common up there. The experiment at the first place was a sorrowful joke, attempting to make a fine-bladed zoysia work in an ill-suited climate. :-(