FAQ

Q. Who will work on my property?
A. I will always be on site for each job to ensure the work being done is top notch.

Q. Are you a licensed Landscaper?
A. Yes, I hold all the necessary licenses and insurance to operate a business.

Q. What type of license do you have?
A. I hold a Class C license. This license is restricted to contracts/projects that are less than $10,000, with the total amount of all contracts/projects performed in a twelve month period remaining below $150,000. As New Earth grows, so will the contract license.

Q. Are you insured?
A. Yes. I carry workers compensation, liability and motor vehicle insurance.

Q. What type of insurance do you have?
A. I carry a $1,000,000 policy for liability, casualty, and property damage, along with workers compensation.

Q. What is the best day to have my property maintained?
A. I have based this answer on 20 years of experience. The best days to have your property maintained are Tuesday- Fridays for homeowners. Why Tuesday? Well, except for approximately 6-8 weeks in the Spring when turf is at its peak growth, there is very little difference in cut appearance come the weekend. With 99% certainty, I will never have to show up on Saturday to provide service due to 1, 2 or 3 days of rain earlier in the week.

Q. Do you catch or recycle the clippings?
A. I prefer to recycle the clippings back to the turf as mulched grass blades (along with fall leaves) because they are 80% water and nutrients. These mulchings are the very best compost for building long-term highly organic soil. I only catch when an area is too small or may get too many clippings in gardens. If I choose not to catch your grass clippings, be assured that even if I have to do a double cut based on a 7-day mowing cycle, there will be no extra charge to you, and you will always have a high quality appearance.

Q. I have to have my property cut on Friday. Can you accommodate me?
A. I understand the want for a manicured home every Saturday morning, but I try to be fair to everyone, and also want you to be completely satisfied. If you must have Friday, there may be an added cost if it does not fit the existing route, just as next day air will cost you extra with UPS.

Q. I’m having an event or party, can you pay special attention at my property?
A. Please let me know 7-10 days ahead and I will provide weekly service the day before your party. With 14 days notification I can also provide a detail crew to additional maintenance services, such as touch up mulch, pruning and seasonal color so that your property will look its best before your big day!

Q. How much water does my lawn need in the summer?
A. In Virginia, healthy requires approximately 1″ of water from your sprinkler, irrigation system or Mother Nature or a combination per week.

Q. What size mowers do you use?
A. The size of the mower used is based on the size of each given area of lawn. I have several different size mowers with deck sizes from 21″ to 52″ or larger. The right machine is as important as the qualifications of its operators.

Q. At what height do you cut the lawn?
A. From late April to late November I use a 3.5″-4″ mowing height. This is when your lawn is most actively growing. It is also in the recommended range of height of cut by Virginia Tech University, one of the worlds leading turf research Universities in the world. During early Spring and late Fall I will lower the height of cut to 2.5″ – 3″.

Q. Why is mowing at the right height and alternating patterns of cut so important?
A. The right height will cause less damage to the blade of grass so the plant is under less stress. This in turn will allow for better vigor which in itself will help shade, fend off weeds and protect against insect damage. I do alternate mows so as not to create worn grass patterns.

Q. How often do you sharpen your mower blades?
A. I sharpen the blades daily, and carry additional blades with me. I always check the blades each visit to make sure they will give you the proper cut for the health of your turf..

Q. Do you provide shrub pruning?
A. Yes, I do. It is one of the most sought after services that are offered, as I choose to hand prune. Unless it is a formal shrub that can withstand shearing, hand pruning is better for the plants health.

Q. Do you provide commercial grounds maintenance service?
A. No. I only do residential. It is better to do one thing well, than many things second rate!

Q. What types of maintenance plans do you offer?
A. I cater each price and plan to your specific goals. I will always suggest what is best for the aesthetics of your property and the health and life of the plants!

Q. Do you provide seasonal color?
A. Yes, I can provide this. Color plans are available through consultation.

Q. How can a well-landscaped home help to sell my home?
A. According to appraisers and realtors, a beautifully landscaped home will sell fast and for more money.

Q. How do plants and trees help?
A. Plants and trees absorb ozone-damaging pollutants, produce oxygen and help keep temperatures down and according to the Plants for Clean Air Council, efficient landscaping can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%.

Q. How is a lawn helpful to the environment?
A. A turf area 50′ x 50′ can absorb enough carbon dioxide and hydrogen fluoride and convert it into enough oxygen to suport a family of four

Q. How much will it cost me to hire your company?
A. This all depends on the services you desire. I am a legitimate maintenance company and am trained and fully insured. As a business, I do wish to recover my overhead, labor and equipment costs, plus add a fair professional profit.

Q. When and how should my shrubs be pruned?
A. I hand prune on each visit. When present, damaged or diseased shrub-limbs and branches will be removed. Most flowering shrubs and ornamental trees, should be pruned after blooming and before the next year’s buds set. I prune as needed for plant health and to keep the natural shape of the plant. Some ornamentals and vines require dormant pruning in late winter. I highly recommend hand pruning over shearing.

Q. Why should I have mulch on my property?
A. Mulch provides the following benefits for planting when done correctly: For shrubs and ornamental trees, a mulch base of 2″-3″ is recommended. It helps to keep weeds in check, retains moisture in the soil and adds organic matter to the soil as it decays. Woody, ornamental and evergreen trees do not need or want their soil cultivated around their roots.

Q. How about mulching annuals or perennials?
A. Mulch should be limited to 1″-2″. Ideally a mulch compost mix would be a better choice. Unlike ornamentals, annuals and perennials like loose, tillable soil, so too much is not good.

Q. What type of mulch do you sell and install and what is the cost?
A. I use organic leaf mulch, double shredded hardwood, and soybean oil dyed mulch. Pricing is based on what type is choosen and quantity. Bed preparation is part of the mulching service.

Q. What type of program do you offer for fertilization and control of weeds?
A. As different people have different expectations of how they want their lawn to look and also what they want to spend, I offer several programs.

Q. Do you provide designs and estimates?
A. Yes. I am certified in CAD design, and depending on the size of the project will do for free, or for a minimal cost. Estimates are always free.

Q. If you design my landscape, how will I maintain and care for it?
A. Any designed or installed work I install can be maintained or serviced by New Earth. This includes full landscape planting, sod or seed, or pond installations.

Q. What is the warranty on installations?
A. I give a full 2 year warranty on all plant material if maintained by New Earth, and a 1 year warranty if not, provided it was properly maintained.

Q. What can I expect to spend landscaping my entire property?
A. Assuming your asking for all key components, a realistic range is 10%-15% of your home’s value. This can be higher or lower based on site conditions, access, plant selection, etc. and what type of maintenance program you desire.