What is a S330 Landscape & Recreation Contractor?

All contractors are not alike and not all 'lawn care' companies are licensed to do landscaping work.  A general lawn care business license allows you to do just that, lawn care and basic sprinkler repair.  Full yard installation, sprinkler systems and hardscape features require additional experience and knowledge in plumbing, electrical and building code.

All specialty licensed landscape contractors must

• Have at least 4 years of experience working under a licensed landscape contractor
• Take a 25 hour pre-licensure course
• Pass the Utah Business & Law Exam which covers: Business Organization, Licensing, Estimating and Bidding, Contract Management, Project Management, Labor Laws, Lien Laws, Financial Management, Risk Management, Tax Laws and Safety
• Pass the State Landscaping Trade Exam to ensure knowledge in: Planning and Estimating, Reading blueprints, Project planning, Botanical names of plants and care, Pre-construction site planning, Pre-construction site demolition and preparation, Trenching and grading, Hardscape Installation, Flatwork, Masonry, Structures, Water features, Drainage, Irrigation, Lighting, and Plant Installation, Landscape repair and maintenance, Employee and Job site safety
• And show proof of liability insurance, worker’s compensation coverage and proper business licensing

 
 
And while landscapers can provide a beautifully mowed lawn, they know a lot more than just how to walk in a straight line… 😉
 
Unfortunately the landscape trade is the least regulated of all the trades, so we hear a lot of stories when fixing the work of unqualified lawn companies who cut corners or just plain aren't educated in landscaping contracting.
 
There are 3 things we educate people on when looking for a landscape contractor or any contractor. One is that they are a 'landscape' contractor, not just a general contractor or just have a lawn business.  They should be licensed with DOPL (the 4 Digit Identifier for landscapers is 5501), have a State Business License AND a City Business License. They should have commercial insurance and you should request a COI or Certificate of Liability Insurance for large jobs.  Look for a website. Many dishonest contractors won’t have a website or online presence to prevent negative reviews and limit contact with customers. Just having a basic website means they are business minded, more professional and not just a come-and-go start up.  Lastly, get 3 bids and never go with the cheapest because you always get what you pay for in landscaping. The term 'dirt cheap' isn't a real thing, good dirt is actually quite expensive…
 
Most importantly…. Great landscapers will usually be booked throughout the season and because they are honest, they won’t ‘fit you in’ or rush a current job just for more business.  You will need to be put on their schedule to 'wait in line'.  They care about each customer and will dedicate their full attention to the current project.  If you call a landscaper and they are several weeks out, it's because they are good, honest and worth the wait and won't skimp on quality! 

Whether you choose to mow your own lawn or have us do it for you, we'll share with you our method and how you can help to make your lawn healthy and green!  

Aerating: 

• Aeration can be done in the spring or fall, whenever the lawn is healthy and flourishing.  Aeration reduces dirt compaction and allows oxygen and water better access to the roots of the grass.  Avoid doing it during the hot summer months when the lawn tends to be more stressed out.  Aeration can be done in the spring or fall or both.

 Fertilizing: 

• Fertilizer can be applied 4 to 5 times per year.  Most nurseries have programs that give you the right fertilizer at the right time.  I recommend J&J Nursery in Layton.  They produce their own fertilizer (Utah’s Best) and will sell it in bulk.  They can tell you what to use and when to use it.  Generally, fertilizer is applied in early spring, early summer, mid-summer, late fall, and winter.  A good reminder is “fertilize on all the holidays.”
• Remember that with fertilizer, a little goes a long way.  It is natural to think that if a little is good, more is better, but in this case, that is not true.  Over-fertilization will kill your grass, so it is best to follow the instructions on the bag of fertilizer. 

• The NPK count, usually on the front of the bag, indicates the amount of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in the fertilizer.  These numbers vary depending on time of year, type of grass, and what that grass needs.

Mowing: 

• Mow as needed, usually every 7 to 10 days.  Generally, it is best to bag whenever the temperature doesn’t exceed 80 degrees during the day.  Once temps are above 80, mulching is ideal to return nutrients to the soil. 

Power raking/ de-thatching: 

• This only needs to be done when there is an excessive amount of thatch in the lawn.  It can damage the roots if done too often, but is beneficial when done correctly.

Watering: 
​Besides being expensive, over-watering damages the lawn, contributes to poor growth, and causes serious disease problems. Over-watering contributes to iron chlorosis or yellowing in lawns, trees and shrubs, and makes more frequent fertilizer applications necessary.  Water is usually applied too often and left on too long so water runs down the gutter. Turf studies show that most lawns only need to be watered once every 3 or 4 days to stay healthy and green. Water infrequently and deeply.  If water is applied every day, the roots accumulate in the top 1 to 2 inches of soil. This creates weak plants that are more subject to insect, disease and drought damage.

• Train roots to penetrate deeper into the soil by changing the watering schedule to every other day for a couple of weeks, then every third day, and so on. Eventually the grass responds and develops a root system to match the watering schedule.  On average, a lawn needs about 1 inch of water per week.  It is better to water less frequently and more deeply (longer amount of time) than more often for shorter intervals.  You can check the amount of water your lawn is receiving by setting cans or buckets out when you water and measuring the results.  It is better to water in the early morning because that is when most of the water gets absorbed into the soil. During the day, the water evaporates faster.  If you water at night, you are more likely to have fungus and mildew problems. 
• Do not water in the 24 hours before mowing.  When nighttime temperatures consistently fall below 70°,  you should only water 2 times per week.  If you have any questions about your sprinkling schedule, please feel free to call. 

Weed Spraying: 
Unfortunately, if your neighbor has weeds or dandelions, you will probably have weeds or dandelions.  But, here’s what can help:

• Spray as needed, usually 2-3 times a year.  Spraying only kills what is currently growing, it does not prevent more from growing in the future.
• Apply a pre-emergent fertilizer in the spring, which helps prevent weeds from growing.
• A regular fertilizer program with proper mowing creates a healthier lawn that is less prone to weeds. 
• After the weed has been sprayed and dies, the dead weed will still need to be removed by hand for better appearance. 
• Children and pets are safe to be on treated areas once the product has dried.

Lawn care is an on-going process!  It’s nature, there is no one-time fix. 

If you're interested in water conservation, Xeriscaping is a wonderful alternative to an all-grass yard.  There are plenty of drought tolerant flowers and plants that can be incorporated into a landscape design to reduce the amount of water usage.  Check out Weber County's water-wise suggestions and guidelines in the informational pamphlet below.  We love to install Xeriscape!