Lawn Care & Landscaping in Skye Ranch

Lawns in Southwest Florida

• Grass grows fastest in the warm, wet months, so many services mow more often in summer than in winter.
• Sarasota County restricts fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus during the summer rainy season (June 1 to September 30). A good company plans its schedule around it.
• UF/IFAS publishes fertilizer and irrigation guidance for Florida turf. It's useful when comparing what different companies recommend.

Mowing, edging and recurring upkeep

• A typical visit is mowing, edging, string-trimming and blowing off hard surfaces. Bed weeding and shrub trimming may cost extra.
• Ask how visits change with the seasons and whether the price changes too.
• Fertilizer, weed control and lawn-pest treatment are often separate services, sometimes done by a different licensed company.

Irrigation, drainage and landscape work

• Irrigation repairs and controller programming aren't always included in mowing service. Ask who adjusts or fixes sprinkler heads and zones.
• Landscape installation (new beds, plants, sod or rock) is project work, quoted separately from maintenance.
• Pooling water or soggy areas after rain can point to irrigation or grading problems. Describe them when you ask for a quote.
• Large-tree pruning and removal is specialized work. Many homeowners hire a tree service or certified arborist for it.

Choosing a company for recurring or project work

• Get a written scope: services per visit, frequency, what costs extra and how to cancel.
• Anyone applying pesticides commercially in Florida must hold an FDACS license. Ask who applies treatments.
• Ask whether they carry liability insurance and how they handle damage to sprinkler heads or screens.

Before changing exterior landscaping

• Check your HOA's current architectural guidelines before replacing sod, removing plants or adding beds, rock or trees. Approval may be required.
• Ask the company whether they'll help prepare plans or plant lists for an HOA application.

Common questions

What's normally included in recurring lawn maintenance?

Usually mowing, edging, trimming and blowing. Bed care, shrub trimming, fertilizer, weed control and irrigation checks vary by company, so ask for a written list.

Does a landscaper also manage irrigation?

Some do and some don't. Ask whether irrigation checks and repairs are included, billed per visit or referred to an irrigation company.

How do I compare maintenance contracts?

Compare visit frequency by season, what each visit covers, what costs extra, who applies fertilizer and pesticides (and whether they're licensed) and the cancellation terms.

What should I check before changing exterior landscaping?

Your HOA's current architectural guidelines and approval process. Don't start work until you know whether approval is needed.

Who should handle specialized tree work?

Large-tree pruning, removal and work near power lines is usually handled by a dedicated tree service or certified arborist with insurance for that work.

Related services

• Pest control
• Pressure washing
• Handyman
• Landscape lighting

Related Skye Ranch guides

• Moving to Skye Ranch
• Lawn service contract checklist
• Skye Ranch HOA and CDD guide