NJ Lawns Community

Hey everyone, been doing my own Scotts 4-step program for the past 3 years on my tall fescue lawn in Ridgewood and honestly I'm just feeling burned out this spring. Got a quote from TruGreen for $400/year and trying to figure out if it's actually worth it for the money. My lawn looks decent but not great - I definitely have some patchy areas and I've been fighting weeds every year. For those of you who've used TruGreen or similar services around here, is the results difference noticeable enough to justify the cost? My neighbor uses them and his lawn is nice but he's also putting significantly more work in than I am. Curious what people in the area think - especially fellow fescue owners. Thanks!

I'll be honest - I tried TruGreen for one season on my KBG/fescue mix in Waldwick and wasn't super impressed. They did get the weeds under control but my lawn didn't suddenly look like a golf course or anything. The tech that came out was fine but inconsistent - had different guys each time and they never really gave me a customized plan. For $400/year you're basically paying somebody else to show up and spray the same stuff you'd buy yourself at the Home Depot on Route 17. I'd say stick with your Scotts program but actually commit to the timing - that's probably your issue with the patchy spots. Apply Step 1 early March, Step 2 around Memorial Day, Step 3 Labor Day, and Fall fertilize in October. Consistency is king with tall fescue.

Thanks Steve - timing is definitely where I've been slacking. I tend to just do it when I remember throughout the season which is probably why I've got the patchiness. That's good advice on the schedule. Out of curiosity though - do you think there's any advantage to having a pro handle the weed control vs doing it myself? I've always struggled with the broadleaf weeds especially. Is their herbicide selection that much better than what I can get at the store?

Not to go off on a tangent but have you checked your irrigation setup at all? I've been doing a lot of sprinkler installs in the Ridgewood/Franklin Lakes area and honestly a ton of lawn problems people blame on fertilizer are actually irrigation issues. Tall fescue needs about 1-1.5 inches of water per week including rain. If you're running your sprinklers but not getting consistent coverage you'll have hit or miss results no matter what program you're on. Might be worth running a catch cup test before you spend the $400 on TruGreen. Could save you money in the long run.

Ivan makes a solid point - irrigation is huge. I'd also add that for $400/year if you're really just burnt out and not going to do the Scotts program consistently anyway, then maybe it IS worth it to just pay somebody else. There's value in just not having to think about it. But if you're willing to set phone reminders and stick to a schedule, you can absolutely match or beat what TruGreen does on tall fescue. The products they use aren't magical - mostly the same granular ferts and generic prodiamine for pre-emergent. You're paying for the convenience and labor more than anything else.