It's officially spring in Ohio! Well, at least that's what I keep telling myself during these cold March days. However, soon enough we'll all be turning our attention to enjoying our lawns and landscapes and the outdoor activities and barbecues that we've been waiting all winter for. But before we fire-up the grill and invite the neighbors over, you'll need to get that lawn looking great. If you're looking to hire a professional lawn care company to help you with that task, here are 3 common scams, or bamboozles, to look out for.

1. "Our PhD's Will Analyze and Evaluate Your Lawn" - Frankly this one makes me laugh out loud. A nameless national lawn care company states all over their website that they have PhD's on staff that will analyze and evaluate your lawn, recommending a program built specifically for your needs. This is quite laughable, and after a quick few clicks of your mouse, you can very easily see that there are 3 PhDs on staff for the ENTIRE NATIONAL COMPANY. Digging deeper, you'll find that these PhDs have simply recommended a nationally fit-all-sizes program that a salesperson will attempt to trick you into believing was made just for you.

What You SHOULD Look For - Instead of focusing on some PhD credential listed on the website of a person you'll never meet or talk to, ask to learn a little more about the technician that will be caring for your lawn. Is he certified? Does he have an applicators license? Will I get to meet and talk with him?

2. The Famous $29.99 Application - This offer is the staple of our industry. A national chain came up with this advertising hook thirty years ago, and the industry has never looked back. Every year I see people fall all over themselves, believing that their lawn care applications will only cost them $29.99. However after further evaluation, or by the time the bill comes around, people realize that the offer of $29.99 is only good for those who have a lawn of under 5,000 square feet (not many homeowners do) and only the first application is discounted. (Read more about this scam here)

What You SHOULD Look For - When comparing lawn care costs, you should get a prepared quote for your lawn, listing all the applications with their exact costs and a total price for the season. NEVER base a price off a mailer that you received until you see a prepared estimate in your hands from the specific lawn care company.

(Read more about the Pros and Cons of hiring a lawn care company)

3. "Liquid is Better than Granular" - If any company insists that liquid fertilizer is better for your lawn, they are just trying to make you believe that because it happens to be the fertilizer type that they use. The TRUTH of the matter is that granular AND liquid both are perfectly acceptable types of fertilizer.

What You SHOULD Look For - While both are perfectly acceptable forms of fertilizer, the difference in quality lies with the Technician that is applying it. Each type of fertilizer requires a certain level of knowledge, and technicians that are licensed and trained will be able to apply it correctly.

Hiring the RIGHT Lawn Care Company and Technician

So we've reviewed three different ways that a lawn care company might try to out-smart you and trick you into signing up for a program that isn't what it seems to be. Educating yourself on the hiring process is the best defense against shady advertisements that can fool you into a bad relationship with the wrong company. That's why we put together the Ultimate Lawn Care Hiring Guide to help you step-by-step through the process. This guide helps you ask the questions you need to know the answers to when searching for a lawn care professional. This guide is yours, ABSOLUTELY FREE by clicking on the button below.