Learning Center / Choosing a company
What should you expect in your first season with us?
A quick quote, a card on file, a heads-up before every visit and a note when we finish. Here is how the first season works, step by step, including what happens when something isn't right.
- By David Obeid, founder
- Reviewed
- 5 min read
Step by step
How does getting started work?
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You get a quote
Mowing, lawn care and fall leaf cleanup are quoted within minutes by phone or the instant online quote. Cleanups, mulching and trimming within 1 to 2 business days. Larger projects get a walk-through within 2 days.
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You approve it
After you approve your estimate, you receive a credit card authorization form. Only the last four digits of your card are visible to us.
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You go on the schedule
Your first visit is usually within about two weeks of approval, depending on the season.
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We let you know
You get a notice 24 hours before we arrive, and another when the work is done.
Service days
Do you need to be home on service day?
No, you don't need to be home. Just keep dogs inside on your service day, and give us your gate code when you sign up.
We route the same crews to the same properties whenever we can, so they get to know your yard. Weather delays, time off and busy weeks mean a different crew may sometimes cover a visit, and because our crews specialize in one service and are cross-trained, the work stays consistent.
Billing
When and how will you be charged?
Your card on file is charged automatically within 24 hours of each completed service. All services are pay as you go through a secure, PCI-compliant payment system, so you're never billed for work that hasn't happened.
Plans are priced monthly as a rough guide to what a full season costs, and there are no long-term contracts for residential clients. See every starting price.
When something is wrong
What happens if a visit isn't right?
Tell us within 24 hours, and we'll fix the item in question at no charge. Most issues are simple when they're caught early, and a real person answers.
Save (703) 533-5296 in your phone. You can call, text, or email us at info@potomaclawn.com. If it's urgent, calling is the fastest way to reach us.
One honest exception: there is no warranty on perishable products like flowers, sod and grass seed. We'll walk you through how to water and care for them so they get the best start.
Results
How long until the lawn looks better?
A thin or weedy lawn turns around over a season or two, not in one treatment. A well-timed program dramatically reduces weeds and, more importantly, builds a lawn thick enough to keep them out.
If your lawn needs seed, the biggest jump usually comes after fall aeration and overseeding, and the lawn tends to look its best the following spring. We'll tell you honestly what to expect for your yard when we quote it.
The calendar
What does a year with us look like?
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Late March to mid-November: mowing
Weekly mowing through the season. If rain washes out your day, you'll typically be mowed the following week.
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All season: lawn care on schedule
Fertilization and weed control spread across the year and weighted toward fall, with pre-emergent crabgrass control timed to soil temperature and disease prevention from May into September if you have it.
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August to October: aeration and seed
The fall rebuild, if it's part of your plan or you add it.
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Late October into early January: leaf cleanup
Fall leaf cleanup is a separate service you sign up for, with two cleanups and a touch-up.
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Holidays we observe
We're closed on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Related questions
What people also ask
How will I know when you are coming?
Once your card is on file, we place your service on the schedule and notify you 24 hours before we arrive. We let you know when the work is done, too.
How do I pause or cancel service?
Call us. Cancellations must be made by phone, with at least 24 hours' notice before your scheduled service.
Can I skip a visit?
We reserve space on the schedule for you when you book, so skipped services may be charged in full. If a mowing visit is skipped, the following visit is charged at 1.5 times the regular rate.
What if I restart service after canceling?
Restarting after a cancellation may require a new estimate or a start-up fee.
Keep reading
More from the Learning Center
- How do you choose a lawn care company? The questions worth asking any company before you sign up, including us, and how we answer each one. Choosing a company · 6 min read
- Why don't we recommend juggling multiple lawn vendors? When one company mows, another treats and a third does the beds, nobody owns the result. What goes wrong, and why one accountable company works better. Choosing a company · 5 min read
- What should you do for your lawn each season in Northern Virginia? A season-by-season lawn calendar for tall fescue: what happens in winter, spring, summer and fall, and which season matters most. Timing and seasons · 6 min read
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