Home Services
What a Lawn Service Contract Should Include in Skye Ranch
September 12, 2026 · 6 min read
Lawn disputes almost always come down to the same thing: the homeowner assumed something was included and the contract never said so. Here is what to check line by line before you sign.
The basics that should be written down
- Visit frequency by season — most Sarasota lawns need weekly cuts in the growing season and every other week in winter.
- What each visit includes: mow, edge, line-trim, and blow off hard surfaces.
- Whether clippings are bagged or mulched, and who removes debris piles.
- The monthly price and exactly which months it covers.
- Notice period to cancel, and whether the price changes mid-term.
What is usually extra — confirm it in writing
- Fertilization and weed control. This is a separate licensed treatment program almost everywhere in Florida.
- Shrub and hedge trimming, and how many times a year it happens.
- Mulch, palm trimming, and tree work.
- Irrigation repairs — most lawn crews will report a broken head but not fix it without a separate charge.
- Storm cleanup beyond normal debris.
Irrigation is where most problems start
A brown patch is far more often a watering problem than a mowing problem. Ask who is responsible for checking zones, adjusting the controller for the season, and reporting broken heads — and whether that check happens monthly or only when you complain.
Sarasota County watering restrictions apply here, so a service that quietly increases run times to fix a brown patch is creating a different problem. A good company will say so.
HOA standards in Skye Ranch
Your neighborhood's association sets expectations for lawn condition, edging, and landscape changes, and those standards differ between Cassia, Esplanade, and the Townhomes. Some homes have maintenance included through the association, so check your own documents before hiring privately.
If you plan to change beds, add plantings, or remove anything, confirm whether an architectural review request is required first. That is on the homeowner, not the lawn crew.
Before you sign
- Get the scope in writing, even for a small monthly account — a one-page email is enough.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance and, for chemical treatment, the applicator license.
- Agree how you will be contacted about problems: text, email, or a note at the door.
- Start month to month if you can, then commit once you have seen a full season.
- Leave a review afterward so the next neighbor searching the directory knows what to expect.
Ready to find someone?
Browse the directory or list your own business — free either way. Where good neighbors do great work.