Fertilizer & Weed Control Service - FAQ's

Our turf health program starts mid March and goes through October.

We are unique with our turf health program.  We have continual steps that go throughout the season.  This is an alternative to weed control and fertilizer applications, whereas other companies tend to mix the two products together.  By separating the products we are able to control the effectiveness of our products.  This program is designed to make the grass greener and weed free.

No, we do not offer just one or the other.  If we perform a weed treatment for you in March, in July you may have new weeds that have grown.  This is because weeds sprout at different times of the year.  The weeds you see in your lawn this year is a result of any weeds in your lawn last year that had seeded.

Most of our fertilizers are granular.

Liquid Fertilizer – This is safe immediately, however, it can stain your shoes, so we recommend that you wait until the product has dried.

Granular Fertilizer – This is safe to go on the grass and let pets or kids out right away.

Weed Control – This requires staying off the grass until the product is dry, a minimum of 3 hours.  Dogs can be let out to do their business but bring them in right away.  If the dog is a grass eater, we recommend putting them on a leash so that you can keep an eye on them.  If you wait 24 hours, you can water the lawn and wait for it to dry and then you will be ok.

This varies; you will start to see the results of our fertilizer within 10 days after watering or after your first rainstorm.  After weed control applications you should expect to see results in 3-7 days, the hotter (80 degrees) it is the quicker it will happen, the colder (below 60 degrees) it is it will take longer.

When Spring comes around next year you will really notice the results of our applications from this year.

This depends on your lawn.  The 1st application is typically the whole lawn unless the area is isolated.  Once your lawn is established we are able to just spray where the weeds are there.  As we see your lawn improve, you will see your weeds naturally decrease, this is because as your grass gets thicker, it will start to choke out the weeds so that they cannot grow.  Then we will spot spray, and then we will apply only products to improve your lawn such as fertilizer or seaweed extract.  The seaweed extract helps out during droughts, it will hold moisture in the soil, help build micronutrients and help condition and bring the soil alive.

You are welcome to cancel at any point, however, we cannot guarantee that your lawn will be weed free and green if you don’t complete all the steps.

Yes, after your services we train our crews to walk the property and close any gate we opened during the service.

Of course not! There is no need for you to wait at home for our crews to come to mow your lawn. Our goal at Elite Lawn Care is to simplify your life, by showing up and taking care of your lawn service for you. So go to work, drop your kids off at school, enjoy your time, while we take care of your yard work. Be sure if you have a locked gate, our crews have access to your lawn and that your pets are safe inside.

Some services are available for automatic email notifications to inform you when your home is on an upcoming route. Please ask our office how to sign up for service notifications.

For your convenience, when you sign up, you will put a credit card on your account file. Any service we perform will be auto-charged to your card. You are also welcome to call or log in to your online portal to update any payment information.

Our Fertilization & Weed Control Service areas include:

• Crystal Lake, IL 60014
• The village of Lakewood, IL 60014
• Lake In The Hills, IL 60156
• Algonquin, IL 60102
• Huntley, IL 60142
• Cary, IL 60013
• Oakwood Hills, IL 60013

Our weed pulling service is performed at an hourly rate plus the cost of debris, but of course, pricing for your request is based on the estimated amount of time that will take our team to complete your job. Things that will affect the estimated amount of time include property size, property layout, current landscaping condition, the complexity of the landscaping, and your requested scope of work. If you would like a flat rate quote, we are able to provide that after one of our experts has reviewed your property’s current condition. Give our office a call to schedule your weed pulling or get more information on getting a flat rate quote!

We ask that when you schedule our services, that you let us do the work for you. You are welcome to be home and explain what you would like done to the crew, but working too close to the crew can actually slow down the productiveness and pose a safety risk near our machinery and equipment.

While it is not necessary, you are welcome to stay home the day the crew is on your property. If your job has specific details and areas that you would like taken care of, those details need to be noted with the office prior to scheduling the work so that a supervisor can oversee that your requests are fulfilled. Nevertheless, we encourage you to send photos or schedule a supervisor to walk the property with you to allow for the crew to work as efficiently as they can while at your property.

Every home is different. You can expect a base charge, depending on your bed size – just like vacuuming, no matter how much or little debris is on the floor there is still time spent to go over the entire area. There is a minimum amount of time it takes our crew to walk your property and find any weed infested areas that need attention. The more weeds they find, the more time it will take, and therefore will increase the cost of service. You can expect to see an increase in your weed pulling costs during rainy and warm seasons and a drop off during the dry and colder temperatures, but it really depends on how many weeds are on your property at the time of services and how large your property is.

For special requests. please contact our office to make a note on your account. We have many ways we can indicate to our crews that you have certain plants you would not like our crews to touch. One of these ways includes you sending in photos that the office can attach to your job showing those specific plants. Another way is by marking the plants prior to service with a ribbon. Finally, if needed we can schedule a supervisor to walk the property beforehand so that he/she is able to communicate with the crew on the day of your scheduled service.

We have separate crews that specialize in different services that are done on different days with different tools and equipment. It is possible that you could have your weeds pulled on the day you get mowed as well, but it is not guaranteed those services will be performed on the same day. You could also sign up for one of our landscape maintenance packages, which includes routine weed pulling and mowing.

The definition of a weed is any unwanted plant or flower that has grown. Our crews carry over 20 years experience and are very knowledgeable in the world of weed vs. flower/perennial. Sometimes it can be very difficult to tell because a typically desirable plant can germinate randomly in an area that was not intentional. Some perennials can also look very much like weeds. In situations where the crew is uncertain, they will leave that plant untouched unless told otherwise. The simplest test to determine if a plant is a weed is if the owner of the property asks him/herself is this a desirable plant in a desirable location. If the answer is no, it is considered a weed.

Of course! We highly recommend this throughout the season, especially in the Spring, when the weeds are germinating and growing at a fast rate. Our reoccurring weed pulling services are available with any of our landscape maintenance packages.

Yes, we do offer one-time weed pulling services, however, weed seeds are always spreading throughout neighborhoods, and can sprout anytime throughout the season. Our landscape maintenance packages included a seasonal weed pulling program to take care of your weed problem the entire year.

Weeds larger than 4 inches in size are pulled out or dug out by hand. We typically use a non-selective herbicide to take care of smaller weeds which are too tedious and time-consuming to do by hand.

Although our crews may fully remove all of the weeds on your property, mother nature is always spreading new weed seeds which may germinate within two weeks.

Some services are available for automatic email notifications to inform you when your home is on an upcoming route. Please ask our office how to sign up for service notifications.

Yes, after your services we train our crews to walk the property and close any gate we opened during the service.

For your convenience, when you sign up, you will put a credit card on your account file. Any service we perform will be auto-charged to your card. You are also welcome to call or log in to your online portal to update any payment information.

Our overseeding service areas include:

• Crystal Lake, IL 60014
• The village of Lakewood, IL 60014
• Lake In The Hills, IL 60156
• Algonquin, IL 60102
• Huntley, IL 60142
• Cary, IL 60013
• Oakwood Hills, IL 60013