---
title: Why Lawn Care Subscription Boxes Don’t Compare to Professional Lawn Care Providers
description: Discover why professional lawn care providers in Northern VA outperform subscription boxes for lush, healthy lawns - without the guesswork of DIY solutions.
image: https://www.kingstownelawn.com/hubfs/2025%20Fall%20Photoshoot/maintenance%20crew%20team%20lawn%20care%20fertilizer%20spreader%202.jpg
---
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# Why Lawn Care Subscription Boxes Don’t Compare to Professional Lawn Care Providers
These days, subscriptions are all the rage. You can get subscription services for your favorite coffee, beauty products, meals, pet supplies, and much more. So, it’s no surprise that lawn care subscription service offerings have come onto the scene.
Scotts and Sunday Lawn Care are two of the popular lawn care subscriptions that we’ve seen. But there are others as well. These typically involve getting a box in the mail with literature and products. Then, you have to apply them yourself.
Do these lawn care subscriptions really work? Can you grow a healthy, green lawn with a lawn care subscription instead of hiring a professional?
## **Jump to Section**
- [Do Lawn Care Subscription Services Actually Work?](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-care-subscription-boxes-vs-professional-lawn-care-arlington-va#work)
- [Are Lawn Care Subscriptions Worth It?](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-care-subscription-boxes-vs-professional-lawn-care-arlington-va#worthit)
- [Can Lawn Care Subscriptions Grow New Grass?](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-care-subscription-boxes-vs-professional-lawn-care-arlington-va#newgrass)
- [Does DIY Lawn Care Work as Well as Professional Lawn Care?](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-care-subscription-boxes-vs-professional-lawn-care-arlington-va#diypro)
- [Choosing Professional Lawn Care in Northern VA](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-care-subscription-boxes-vs-professional-lawn-care-arlington-va#cta)
In this article, we’ll answer some of your commonly asked questions about using a lawn care subscription.
We spoke to our [Director of Lawn Care, Grant Osvalds](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/meet-grant-osvalds-lawn-landscaping-career-opportunities), for his honest take so that you can make the choice that is best for you. Grant has worked with clients who started with a lawn care subscription service before switching to Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape, so he has seen the results and heard their experiences firsthand.
### Do Lawn Care Subscription Services Actually Work?
Yes, the products in a lawn care subscription box do actually work. Just like you could go to the hardware store and pick up your own fertilizer and weed control and see some success, you can get effective results from a lawn care subscription.
But Grant says the big caveat is that there’s more to great lawn care than just the products being used. You also have to know how to apply them properly.
“You can get a good product through some of these lawn care subscription services, but that does not automatically mean you’re applying it correctly,” Grant says.
“Over-application or under-applications are still very possible. One of the biggest differences between using a lawn care subscription and a professional is that with a pro, you’re hiring someone who is registered and applies lawn care products consistently. You’re also paying for that expertise.”
A lawn care subscription also lacks what Grant calls the “cornerstone of the Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape program”: [lawn aeration and overseeding](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-aeration-seeding-topdressing-everything-need-to-know).
Grant says that aeration and overseeding are two of the best things you can do for your lawn, and they help fertilization and weed control work better by improving soil structure and alleviating compaction.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4157509/7d37f33f-7122-47f3-84d6-308735236707)
So, even if you have some success with a lawn care subscription, your lawn might not be as thick and healthy as it could be without aeration and overseeding.
### Are Lawn Care Subscriptions Worth It?
This is a very different question from whether a lawn care subscription works. While it’s true that boxed lawn care products can be effective, whether they are actually worth your time and money is a bit more personal.
Grant says that of the clients he’s worked with who previously used “lawn care in a box,” one of the biggest gripes is that they didn’t end up truly having the time to invest in it that they thought they would.
“They might have gotten through the first two applications, but by the time the third rolled around, they were getting very busy and didn’t have the time to go out and work on their lawn that they thought they’d have,” he explained.
Having to perform the work yourself often ends up being more of a downside than people initially realize.
Here are some other considerations that Grant suggests keeping in mind if you are considering a lawn care subscription.
- **You won’t have an “expert eye” on your property: **In addition to having someone who knows *how *to apply lawn care products correctly, a lawn care technician is also bringing an expert eye to your lawn. That means they’re constantly scouting for signs of trouble. Problems like lawn pests and [lawn diseases](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/lawn-fungus-in-northern-va-turf-disease) can wreak havoc, but might go undetected in the early stages by an untrained individual. This is potentially detrimental as treating problems early is crucial.
- **You don’t have the support you might desire: **If you’re a client of a professional lawn care company, you should be able to call them up when questions or concerns arise. And you’re able to get local people who are already familiar with your lawn available for help. You just don’t have that same support system with lawn care in a box!
- **You can’t add on additional services: **As we mentioned previously, one of the most important lawn care services for your lawn is aeration and overseeding. And you may want to add other important services to your lawn care routine to get the best results.
### Can Lawn Care Subscriptions Grow New Grass?
A lawn care subscription can grow new grass if the subscription includes grass seed. We have seen that some of these services offer grass seed as a potential add-on.
But the big problem is that seeding the lawn without first aerating it is far less effective.
Aeration and overseeding go hand in hand, as aeration prepares the soil for optimal germination. When the lawn is aerated, holes are created. The seeds then fall into those holes, providing the optimal seed-to-soil contact required for germination to begin.
When soil is compacted, and seeding is performed, much of that seed will just sit atop the soil and dry out in the sun (or become expensive birdseed in the process).
You might also question the [quality of the grass seed](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/grass-seed-myths-gimmicks-best-lawn-care-tips-for-northern-va) that you’re getting through a subscription service.
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that “grass seed is grass seed.” But when it comes to planting grass, picking up any old bag of seed simply won’t do. Not all grass seed is created equal, and a poor choice could end up giving you more hassles than you started with.
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4157509/3edc73dc-5eb1-4d55-9832-040075175ac4)
You want to make sure you are getting high-quality grass seed to achieve the best results.
## Does DIY Lawn Care Work as Well as Professional Lawn Care?
We know that lots of people want to tackle lawn care on their own. There are plenty of DIY lawn care websites and YouTube videos that show people how to do this. And there are certainly DIYers who have a lot of success.
But at the end of the day, most of the people who turn to a pro find that it’s simply not worth their time and money to try and handle lawn care on their own. For one, there are many [DIY lawn care mistakes](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/diy-lawn-care-mistakes-hire-professional-care-lawn-services) that can be costly and frustrating, and many people just don’t want to deal with that hassle. Plus, a pro will generally use higher-quality products and be trained to produce superior results.
And the truth is, a lot of people just don’t have the time they need to invest to get the best lawn.
Even homeowners who have started doing their own lawn care often realize it’s [more work than they thought it would be](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/common-hassles-diy-lawn-care-why-hire-a-professional). Getting your yard into the shape you’d like it to be can require a big investment of time.
Often, people are drawn to lawn care subscriptions because they make it seem so easy. We all want to simplify our busy lives, and lawn care subscription services prey on that desire.
But once people get started, they often realize it’s not quite as “simple” as it all seemed to be. If your goal is to simplify your life, hiring a lawn care professional can provide peace of mind and relieve your worries. Instead of having to worry about finding time to go out and apply lawn care products, you’ll know it’s just being taken care of for you.
## Choosing Professional Lawn Care in Northern VA
As you consider possibly choosing a DIY lawn care subscription, you might be sucked in by some of the reviews. The lawn care subscription reviews for Sunday Lawn Care, for instance, seem to boast many very happy clients. And Grant says he’s met people who say the products worked well.
The problem is, a lot of people get tired of doing lawn care themselves. And the first time a concern or issue arises, they often wish they had someone local to turn to for help.
That’s why we feel that these subscription services are likely not all they’re cracked up to be - at least for most people. We want you to be truly happy with your lawn care results, and we don’t believe you can get that in a box.
At the end of the day, as simple as a “kit” might seem, it’s likely going to fall short of your wants and needs. Plus, you’ll still be stuck with figuring out what needs to be done.
Instead, [you can hand your lawn care worries over to a pro](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/maintenance-services) and know that your lawn is getting everything it needs. We believe that will make your life simpler.
**Are you ready to have the best-looking lawn in your neighborhood without the worries or the work? **[**Request your quote**](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/request-a-maintenance-quote)**, choose from our **[**3 lawn care package options**](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/lawn-care-pricing-packages)**, and relax as you get the royal treatment.**
[](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4157509/ea7bcd9e-7fa9-477c-bae6-386a5ba53ba9)
## Krisjan Berzins - Owner, CEO
Since its founding, Krisjan has led Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape with a straightforward philosophy: treat every customer like the “only” customer. His passionate pursuit of excellent customer service has led to 28 successful years and a thriving company with over 85 employees. Since 1997, Kingstowne has helped thousands of homeowners in the Alexandria, Arlington, and Springfield, VA area get what they want - a worry-free property they can be proud of.
### [6 Ornamental Trees That are Safe to Plant Near Your Home's Foundation](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/ornamental-trees-safe-to-plant-near-home-foundation)
Krisjan Berzins - Owner, CEO
~4 mins
### [How to Kill Weeds in Landscape Beds Without Harming Your Plants](https://www.kingstownelawn.com/blog/how-to-kill-weeds-landscape-beds-without-harming-plants)
Krisjan Berzins - Owner, CEO
~4 mins
Let's Get Lawn Care That Works
We can't wait to hear from you.
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Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape
6461 Stephenson Way
Alexandria, VA 22312
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