Look, I get it. You’re busy, you’ve got a million things on your plate, and the last thing you want to think about is what exactly you’re paying for when you hire someone to take care of your garden. Been there. So let’s break this down real quick – no fluff, just the straight goods on what you should expect from a decent garden maintenance package. ## **The Basics (What Everyone Should Include)** First off, if they’re not doing these things, find someone else: – **Lawn mowing** – Obviously. But I mean proper mowing, not just running over your grass like they’re racing to finish – **Edging** – Those clean lines along your driveway and garden beds? Yeah, that’s what separates the pros from your neighbor’s teenager – **Blowing/cleanup** – Nobody wants grass clippings all over their paths. A good service cleans up after themselves That’s your bare minimum. If that’s all they’re offering, you’re basically just getting a lawn cut. ## **The Stuff That Actually Makes a Difference** Here’s where good services earn their keep: **Weeding** – Not just the obvious ones. I’m talking about getting in there and pulling out those sneaky little devils before they take over your garden beds. **Hedge trimming** – Keeps everything looking sharp and stops your place from looking like an abandoned house from a horror movie **Fertilizing** – Your grass needs food. Simple as that. Regular fertilizing means the difference between “nice lawn” and “wow, what do you DO to your grass?” **Pruning** – Dead branches, overgrown shrubs… someone who knows what they’re doing can transform your garden just by knowing what to cut and when ## **The Premium Stuff (That’s Actually Worth It)** Now, not everyone needs these, but if you want that next-level garden: – **Pest and disease control** – Catch problems before they destroy your plants – **Mulching** – Looks good, keeps weeds down, helps your soil. Win-win-win – **Seasonal planting** – Fresh flowers and plants that actually suit Sydney’s climate – **Irrigation checks** – Making sure your sprinklers aren’t watering your driveway instead of your lawn ## **What About Frequency?** Here’s the thing – anyone promising to “maintain” your garden with just monthly visits is kidding themselves. And you. In Sydney’s climate? You’re looking at: – Mowing: Every 1-2 weeks in summer, maybe 3-4 in winter – General maintenance: At least fortnightly – Big jobs (pruning, mulching): Seasonally ## **Red Flags to Watch For** Quick word of warning… If someone’s package doesn’t spell out EXACTLY what they’re doing, run. “Garden maintenance” means different things to different people. You want it in writing. Also, if they’re not licensed and insured? Hard pass. One accident and guess who’s liable? ## **The Bottom Line** A good garden maintenance package should cover enough that you literally don’t have to think about your garden except to enjoy it. You’re not just paying for someone to push a mower around. You’re paying for knowledge, consistency, and time. Time you can spend doing… literally anything

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you about lawn care budgets because nobody likes surprises when it comes to money. Especially not when you’re trying to keep your yard looking decent without breaking the bank. ## **The Real Deal on Lawn Care Costs** Here’s what most people don’t tell you – lawn care pricing is all over the place. I’ve seen folks pay anywhere from $50 to $200+ per visit. Why such a huge range? Well… It depends on a bunch of stuff: – How big your lawn is (obviously) – What condition it’s in right now – What services you actually need – How often you want someone coming by – Where you live in Sydney ## **Breaking Down the Numbers** For a typical suburban Sydney lawn, you’re probably looking at: **Basic mowing and edging:** $60-$100 per visit **Add in weeding and tidying:** $80-$130 per visit **Full service (fertilizing, pest control, the works):** $120-$200+ per visit Most people get their lawns done every 2-4 weeks during growing season. So do the math – that’s roughly $120-$400 per month if you’re going basic, or up to $800 if you want the full treatment. ## **The Seasonal Thing Nobody Mentions** Here’s what catches people off guard. Summer? Your grass grows like crazy. You might need weekly cuts. Winter? Maybe once a month if you’re lucky. So your annual budget might look like: – **Summer (Dec-Feb):** $300-$600 per month – **Autumn/Spring:** $200-$400 per month – **Winter:** $60-$200 per month That’s anywhere from $2,400 to $6,000+ per year. Yeah, I know. It adds up. ## **Ways to Keep Costs Down** You don’t have to sell a kidney to maintain your lawn. Here’s what smart people do: **Lock in a regular schedule.** Most lawn care pros (like the guys at Mr Lawn Man) give better rates to regular customers. Makes sense – they can plan their routes better. **Be realistic about what you need.** Maybe you don’t need the full spa treatment for your grass. Just keeping it neat might be enough. **Time it right.** Don’t wait until your lawn looks like a jungle. Overgrown lawns take longer to fix = cost more. **Bundle services.** Need your hedges trimmed too? Garden beds cleaned up? Do it all at once. Usually cheaper than separate visits. ## **The DIY vs Professional Debate** Look, I get it. You’re thinking “I could just buy a mower for $500 and do it myself.” Sure, you could. But consider: – Your time (what’s 2-3 hours of your weekend worth?) – Equipment maintenance and fuel – The physical effort (especially in Sydney heat) – Getting it to actually look professional For a lot of folks, paying $100 every couple weeks is worth getting their Saturdays back. ## **Red Flags to Watch For** Quick warning – if someone quotes you $30 for a full lawn service, run. They’re either: – Cutting corners (pun intended) – Not insured – Planning to upsell you hard – All of the above Good lawn care isn’t

Look, I’ve been in this game long enough to see trends come and go. But organic lawn care? That’s not going away anytime soon. And honestly… it shouldn’t. When Mr Lawn Man asked me to share my thoughts on organic lawn care, I jumped at the chance. Because here’s the thing – I’ve watched too many homeowners poison their little patch of paradise thinking they’re doing the right thing. Let me break it down for you. ## **Your Kids (and Pets) Actually Matter** You know what drives me crazy? Watching families keep their kids inside for 48 hours after a lawn treatment. That’s not normal. That’s not how it should be. With organic lawn care, your yard becomes what it’s supposed to be – a playground. Not a chemical wasteland. Your dog can roll around right after treatment. Your toddler can have their afternoon snack on the grass. No waiting periods. No warning signs. I remember this one family in Bondi… they switched to organic after their retriever got sick from traditional chemicals. Never looked back. ## **It’s Not Just About Today** Here’s what most people miss – synthetic fertilizers are like junk food for your lawn. Sure, it looks great for a few weeks. Then what? You need another hit. And another. Organic care builds soil that actually works. It’s like… teaching your lawn to fish instead of just throwing it fish sticks. The microbes, the earthworms, all that underground magic – it starts working FOR you instead of depending on the next chemical dump. Mr Lawn Man gets this. They’ve seen lawns transform from chemical junkies to self-sustaining ecosystems. Takes a bit longer? Maybe. But man, the results stick around. ## **Your Water Bill Will Thank You** This one’s huge for Sydney homeowners. Organic lawns develop deeper roots. Deeper roots = less watering. It’s that simple. I’ve tracked this stuff. Properly managed organic lawns can cut water usage by 30-50%. In a place where water restrictions hit every other summer? That’s not just smart. It’s necessary. ## **The Long Game Saves Money** Yeah, I know. Everyone thinks organic = expensive. Wrong. First year? Sure, might cost a bit more. But by year three? You’re spending less. Way less. Because healthy soil doesn’t need constant interventions. Strong grass naturally fights off weeds. Beneficial insects handle the pests. It’s like buying quality boots instead of replacing cheap ones every season. ## **You’re Not Killing The Good Guys** Bees. Butterflies. Those little ground beetles that eat grubs. Chemical treatments don’t discriminate – they nuke everything. Organic care keeps the ecosystem intact. And trust me, you WANT those beneficial insects around. They’re doing free pest control work 24/7. ## **It Just Looks Better (Eventually)** This is the part where lawn care purists get mad at me. But it’s true. A well-maintained organic lawn has this… thickness to it. This resilience. It’s not that fake bright green that screams “I just got chemically enhanced.” It’s real. It’s healthy. And it handles stress better

Look, I’m gonna be straight with you about this whole watering debate. After 20+ years watching Sydney lawns go from lush to crispy (and back again), I’ve got some pretty strong opinions on this. ## The Morning Wins. No Contest. Here’s the thing – watering in the morning is just **better**. Period. And I’m not saying that because some gardening textbook told me so. I’m saying it because I’ve seen what happens when people water at night, and mate… it’s not pretty. ## Why Morning Watering Actually Works So you drag yourself out of bed at 6am, coffee in one hand, hose in the other. Yeah it’s early. But here’s what’s happening: – Your grass gets a full day to dry out – The water actually gets down to the roots before the sun goes mental – You’re not creating a fungus paradise (more on that in a sec) – Your lawn uses that water throughout the day when it actually needs it Best time? Between **5am and 9am**. Earlier the better in summer. ## The Evening Watering Trap Look I get it. You come home from work, it’s still light out, perfect time to water right? Wrong. Evening watering is like leaving wet towels on your bathroom floor. Sure, seems harmless enough. But give it a few days and suddenly you’ve got problems. Big, smelly, fungus-y problems. When you water at night: – Grass stays wet for 10+ hours – Fungal diseases throw a party – Slugs and snails think you’ve opened a buffet – Half your water just sits there doing nothing ## What About Those 40-Degree Days? Okay okay, sometimes morning watering isn’t gonna happen. Life gets in the way. If you absolutely HAVE to water later, here’s the deal: **Second best option:** Late afternoon (like 4-6pm). Gives the grass some time to dry before dark. **Absolute worst time:** Middle of the day. You’re basically just watching water evaporate. Might as well throw money in the air. ## The Bottom Line for Sydney Lawns Here in Sydney, we cop some serious heat in summer. And our clay soils? They’re either rock hard or waterlogged – no in between. Morning watering helps you work with these conditions, not against them. Set your sprinklers for early morning. Your lawn (and your water bill) will thank you. Trust me on this one – I’ve seen enough brown patches and fungus outbreaks to know what I’m talking about. And hey, if you’re not keen on the whole 5am wake up call, that’s what automatic sprinkler systems are for. Or you know… give the team at Mr Lawn Man a shout. We’re already up anyway. ## Quick Morning Watering Checklist – **Water deep, not often** (2-3 times a week max) – **Check the weather** (no point watering before rain) – **Watch for runoff** (if water’s pooling, you’re overdoing it) – **Different areas need different amounts** (shady spots need way less) Seriously though – morning watering isn’t just some old wives tale. It’s

Look, I get it. choosing a lawn care company feels like it should be simple but then you start googling and suddenly there’s 47 different options and they all claim to be “the best”. Been there. So let me break this down for you the way I wish someone had done for me years ago. ## **Start With The Basics (But Don’t Stop There)** First things first – are they actually legit? I’m talking: – Do they have insurance? (trust me on this one) – Are they licensed if your area requires it? – Can they give you real references, not just their cousin Steve? But here’s the thing… every decent company checks these boxes. It’s like saying a restaurant has plates. Important? Yes. Enough to make a decision? Nope. ## **The Real Questions You Should Be Asking** Here’s what actually matters: **How do they handle communication?** If they take 3 days to return your initial call, guess how long they’ll take when there’s an actual problem. A good company gets back to you same day, maybe next morning at the latest. **Do they show up when they say they will?** Sounds basic but you’d be surprised. Ask them straight up – “what happens if you can’t make it?” The good ones have a system. They’ll text you, call you, whatever. They don’t just… not show up. **What’s their actual experience with YOUR type of lawn?** Not all grass is created equal. Buffalo grass isn’t couch grass isn’t kikuyu. If they can’t tell you specifically how they handle your lawn type, that’s a red flag. ## **The Price Thing (Let’s Be Real About It)** Cheapest isn’t best. Most expensive isn’t best either. Here’s my rule: get three quotes. Throw out the highest and lowest. The one in the middle? That’s probably your sweet spot. But also… – Ask what’s included. Some companies charge extra for edging. Others include it – Find out if they have regular service discounts – Check if they’ll match a competitor’s price (many will) ## **Red Flags That Should Make You Run** – They want full payment upfront for ongoing service – They can’t (or won’t) show you their insurance – Their equipment looks like it hasn’t been maintained since 1987 – They pressure you to sign a long contract immediately – Zero online presence or reviews (it’s 2024, come on) ## **The Secret Nobody Talks About** You know what really matters? Whether they actually care about your lawn or if they’re just trying to mow and go. The best lawn care people? They’ll stop and tell you “hey, noticed you’ve got some grubs starting over here” or “that section’s looking a bit dry, might want to adjust your sprinklers.” They’re not just cutting grass. They’re taking care of your property. ## **How To Actually Make The Decision** Okay so you’ve got your shortlist. Here’s what you do: 1. **Call them.** Not email. Call. See how they handle it 2. **Ask for a quote IN PERSON.**

Look, nobody wants to deal with a sick lawn. Trust me, I’ve seen enough brown patches and weird spots to last a lifetime. Here in Sydney, our lawns cop a beating from the weather – one day it’s scorching hot, the next we’re drowning in rain. Perfect recipe for lawn diseases if you ask me. ## **The Usual Suspects** Let me break down what’s probably attacking your grass right now. And yeah, I say probably because if you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already noticed something’s not quite right with your lawn. ### **Brown Patch (The Classic)** This one’s a real pain. You wake up one morning and boom – circular patches of brown, dead grass. Usually shows up when it’s humid and warm, which is basically half the year here. The patches start small, maybe the size of a dinner plate, but can spread to a couple meters wide if you ignore them. What to look for: – Circular or irregular brown patches – A dark “smoke ring” around the edges (especially in the morning) – Grass blades that pull out easy – too easy ### **Dollar Spot** Don’t let the name fool you. These spots might start dollar-sized but they’ll merge into bigger problems real quick. Love attacking lawns that are a bit stressed – maybe you’ve been forgetting to water, or the soil’s not quite right. You’ll know it when: – Small, round patches appear (about the size of a 50 cent coin) – The grass looks bleached or straw-colored – Morning dew shows white, cottony growth ### **Fairy Ring** Okay this one’s got a cute name but it’s annoying as hell. You get these dark green circles or arcs in your lawn. Sometimes mushrooms pop up too. The fungi that cause this actually help break down organic matter, but they also make your lawn look like a Target logo. Signs include: – Dark green rings or arcs – Dead grass inside or outside the rings – Mushrooms (sometimes) – Soil that repels water like it’s waterproof ## **The Sydney Specials** Now, living in Sydney brings its own set of problems. Our climate’s perfect for some diseases that other places don’t see as much. ### **Pythium Blight** This one loves our humid nights. Spreads faster than gossip at a BBQ. One day your lawn’s fine, three days later you’ve got slimy, matted patches everywhere. Watch out for: – Greasy, slimy patches – White, cottony growth in the morning – Grass that looks water-soaked – Patches that follow water drainage patterns ### **Spring Dead Spot** Guess when this shows up? Yep, spring. Your couch grass is coming back to life after winter and… surprise! Dead circles everywhere. Been dealing with this one a lot lately. What you’ll see: – Circular dead patches in spring – Patches that don’t recover as grass grows – Usually affects couch and buffalo grass – Same spots tend to return each year ## **Why Your Lawn Gets Sick** Look, lawns are like people.