It may be the middle of winter but in Middle Tennessee that means springtime conditions are mere weeks away. And while the calendar indicates that winter soon will be loosening its grip, it also serves as a sobering reminder that yardwork is right around
the corner as well.
Of the many tasks on your outdoor to-do list, getting your lawn in top condition is probably near the top. When it comes roaring back to life, will it make your neighbors green with envy? Or will it be in “full bloom,” and the talk of the neighborhood for an entirely different reason?
Franklin residents Dave Kmita and Todd Baker can answer those questions. Four years ago, they founded a new business together called LawnValue and they’ve been servicing homeowners’ lawns across Williamson County ever since. “Early February is the time for pre-emergent applications to prevent germination of those pesky spring and summer weeds,” says Kmita. “It’s also the time to get beds cleaned up with mulching. Then as soon as March comes, everyone wants landscaping. So if that’s something you want to do, this is also the time to start thinking and planning so you can get on the list early.”
Even if you’ve neglected your lawn for a year or more, this is the best time to start treatment as lawns, and unfortunately weeds, are just about to emerge from dormancy. “By starting now, and by keeping up with routine maintenance like treatments and mowing, your lawn will become noticeably healthier and able to withstand the summertime heat,” says Baker. “It will take a year of treatments to make a full recovery, but this is the best time to start attacking weeds at the source.”
Still some homeowners are reluctant to retain the services of a lawn treatment company due to the chemical applications. Baker acknowledges those concerns but says there is no reason to worry. “It’s natural to have a lot of weeds in Tennessee, especially crabgrass and clover,” he says. “But chemical weed treatments have been thoroughly tested and approved for residential lawns. They’re safe to the touch and completely harmless when dry, which is mere minutes after application.”
Kmita, 39, and Baker, 36, go back a long way. They both attended Tennessee Tech University where they earned degrees in mechanical engineering. Both are former athletes as well, with Baker playing baseball at Tech and Kmita playing basketball at
Page High School. Later they crossed paths professionally when they worked together for several years as engineering managers at Nissan.
“We left the corporate world to do this,” says Kmita. “We chose to open LawnValue because we found an industry that needed help on the management side. That means running the business efficiently and with an emphasis on customer service.”
LawnValue offers subscription services to keep your lawn looking its best throughout the year. A subscription service includes lawn treatments, irrigation maintenance, landscape trimming, bed weeding and mowing. Most of the visits are for mowing but you’ll see
Lawn Value team members about 60-70 times annually.
LawnValue’s line of services go far beyond the lawn. Landscaping comprises about 50 percent of the company’s business, hardscapes and covered additions account for another 30 percent with the balance covered by mowing and many other outdoor
services.
Specifically, LawnValue will tackle just about any outdoor project. Custom-designed landscaping, hardscapes and outdoor living transformations are a specialty. If you need tree or shrub removal, or you’re in the market for a new fence or deck, installation of a
driveway or patio, even an outdoor kitchen, LawnValue is a good place to call. Best of all, LawnValue is locally owned and operated, not a franchise.
“Our goal is to be your source for everything outside the home,” says Kmita. “A great day is when we respond to a customer’s unique needs and our team is out in the field delivering.” And even though we’re still in the vice-grip of winter, there’s no better time than now to get started. LawnValue.com