FWIW, the fastest growing nich in landscape care in our area are 'green'
lawncare companies. Many companies are finally 'getting it' with regard to
protecting the Chesepeake Bay against nutrient runoff and are applying a
MUCH more sensible program to their clientele.

Dave

"animaux" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 08 Aug 2003 13:40:08 -0000, Gary M (xx=ry)
wrote:

I am in my first year in a new home and I am beginning to learn about the
trials and tribulations of lawn care. I opted for a lawn service because
of my lack of understanding and a desire to not lose the lawn in the
first year.

Before reading this thread I have come to the realization that
professional lawncare is a tread mill (I stop short of calling it a scam,
due to limited experience, but I will say I am very doubtful of the
methods and process).

EUREKA! Intelligent life as a novice gardener! Congratulations on having
an
open mind and using the brains.


The guy has come twice now and done his step 2 of a 5 step program.

Oh, they're doing 5 steps now? Wow. I remember when they started with
this lie
and how the marketeers sold it across the nation. I can tell you without
any
problem at all that, this 5 step crap is a scam.

Everywhere he fertilized has brown patch, which tells me he may have done
something wrong and upset the balance (it also has been wet and humid for
a few weeks now, so I could be off base). In any case, the cracks in my
faux peace of mind are beginning. I have a 6 month old daughter. I want
her to play on the lawn as I did when I was a kid and I am just worried
about those little colored pellets that lie around on the thatch. I would
love to understand how I can organically maintain my lawn. If organic is
the wrong word, then I simply do not want to dump sacks of godknows on my
lawn for godknowwhy reasons.

I don't know where yo alive or what kind of grass you have, but I am more
than
willing to give you a step by step method of taking care of turf which
will
rival any other method the lawn jockeys can come up with. Where do you
live,
what kind of grass? Start there.

Can you maintain a beautiful lawn (forget beautiful, let's leave it at
"lawn") sans Scott's 4 step program?

Gary

Oh for goodness sake YES! The key points in management of turf is that
you
water properly, aerate properly, mow properly and fertilize properly.

The moment you tell us where you live (no not the address!) I guarantee
myself
and ten other people can easily tell you how to do it.

V