Lawn Care Franchise Ownership Tips - Spring-Green

Congratulations to our Facebook contest winner Cindy B. of Crystal Lake, Illinois who won the grand prize in our Backyard Makeover Sweepstakes on Facebook. Cindy will receive a $1500 gift certificate to Home Depot. Hopefully Cindy’s lawn is already looking good with the help of Spring-Green. While Cindy can use the gift certificate on whatever she wants, we’d like to offer some suggestions on what to buy to have some fun in the backyard this summer.

• Sprinklers. Spring-Green can do a lot to make your lawn lush and green and weed-free but one thing we can’t control is Mother Nature. A sprinkler system can keep your lawn green no matter how dry the summer is.
• Flowers. Who doesn’t love spending time in their yard and looking at beautiful flower displays?
• New patio furniture. What better way to enjoy the backyard landscape than sipping a cool drink on comfy furniture or a hammock.
• Fire pit. Enjoy the outdoors well into the fall or use it to make s’mores.
• Bird feeders. If you can keep the squirrels away, watching hummingbirds feed is a spectacular sight.
• A generator. In Chicago, summer storms = power outages. A new generator might make her the most popular neighbor on her block. 

If you had $1500, what would you buy at Home Depot? Thanks to everyone who entered. Be sure to look for upcoming promotions from Spring-Green Lawn Care.

Spring-Green's Backyard Makeover Sweepstakes

Calling all Chicagoans!

With the rain and mild temperatures we’ve had this spring, your lawn should be looking lush and green. But if you didn’t start a lawn care program in the spring that included fertilizing and weed control, your lawn may be filled with dandelions and mushrooms.

Whether your lawn is the envy of your neighbors or in need of some TLC, there is still time to enter the Spring-Green Backyard Makeover Sweepstakes on Facebook. Eight lucky Facebook fans have been already won $300 worth of lawn care services and the $1,500 grand prize Home Depot gift certificate will be awarded when the contest ends June 6. If Spring-Green is already taking care of your lawn and keeping it beautiful, what would you buy at Home Depot? If you haven’t entered, there is still time!

School’s Out for the Summer

The last day of school is just around the corner, and for parents there’s no better time of year to spend time with their kids. Whether it’s during a family vacation, coaching Little League, swimming at the pool or playing soccer in the backyard everyone enjoys summertime.

Franchise owners, like those at Spring-Green Lawn Care, have the flexibility to do all of these things and more year-round. Our franchisees set their own hours and many take advantage of that flexibility to devote more time to their families. Some choose to rise before the sun to take care of marketing work and others make phone calls to clients after having dinner with their families. Our franchise owners like to fish, hunt, play sports and volunteer and business ownership affords them the flexibility to enjoy their hobbies. Some of our franchise owners just relish being able to do school drop-off and pick-up during the school year.

This summer when you have to miss another baseball game because you can’t leave the office early or have another weekend that is filled with housework instead of family time, think about what it would be like if you didn't spend 8+ hours a day in an office cube. Not only does Spring-Green Lawn Care provide franchise owners with flexibility, it also allows them to work outside in warm weather. If you’re at your desk right now, staring out the window on a beautiful day, think about what your future would look like as a Spring-Green Lawn Care owner.

A Very Happy Memorial Day from Spring-Green to Military Members and Veterans!

Memorial Day is a special time to acknowledge all that United States military members and veterans do for our country – and at Spring-Green, we feel additional gratitude to the many veterans who have contributed to our success throughout the years. They have done so both in corporate leadership positions, like Spring-Green chairman Tom Hofer who is a Navy veteran, as well as Army veteran and business consultant Aaron Gieser.

A large percentage of Spring-Green franchisees who own and operate thriving businesses are military veterans and include Bruce Mohns, Jeff Anderson, Jim Hoelsworth, Kevin Holker, Lenny Geibel, Matt Denney, Mike Bell, Pat Mahoney, Roger Grose and Scott Humphrey.

Spring-Green was recently named one of Victory Media’s 2013 Military Friendly Franchises, and in large part we owe it to our wonderful, dedicated military members and veterans. Happy Memorial Day to all of you!

Spring Lawn Care Tips

Spring is the time when, after months of being confined to the interior of your home, your living space opens up to include your yard as well as amenities like patios and decks. Spring-Green Lawn Care has long been in the business of maximizing outdoor spaces, so we can share the following tips for springtime lawn care that will lay the foundation for a healthy, beautiful lawn throughout the spring and summer. 

Water your lawn according to weather.

When it comes to watering your lawn, there is no one-size-fits-all answer in terms of how much or how often you should do so during the spring season. In most regions, enough natural rainfall is produced in the spring to make watering unnecessary. However, supplemental watering should be done in the event of drought periods – especially if drought conditions are accompanied by warm temperatures. Generally, in this case, it is best to introduce about one inch of water per week.

Reintroduce your lawn to mowing. 

In most instances, all varieties of turf grass should be mowed at 2½ to 3 inches from the spring until early fall. However, if you notice that the grass has turned brown due to winter dormancy, administer a slightly shorter mowing so that the new grass blades are not forced to compete with the old blades. For grass that is healthy, set mowers on the high side initially.

Fertilizing early is imperative.

Ideally, it is best to fertilize your lawn prior to June, as doing so will improve the chances of cultivating a strong, attractive lawn in the summer. If you have not done so yet, do not panic. Focus on fertilizing your lawn as soon as possible, and make sure you use a product that is high in nitrogen, as most plants need an infusion of this nutrient to maintain good color and growth.