The City of Oaks is bursting with greenery, so it’s no wonder Raleighites enjoy their time outdoors. But how can you enjoy your own Raleigh yard when it’s plagued with mosquitoes and patchy turf? Let’s see if TruGreen has the services (and expertise) to bring your lawn goals to life.
We navigated TruGreen’s online ordering system and gathered local customer reviews so you can make the best decision for your outdoor space. LawnStarter has an affiliate relationship with TruGreen, but we’ve prepared a fair and unbiased overview of TruGreen in Raleigh.
TruGreen is a nationwide company with multiple branches in the Raleigh metro area. It focuses on greening up your lawn with fertilization, overseeding, aeration, and weed control. TruGreen also controls outdoor pests, including mosquitoes and fire ants.
We prepared the following review to help you decide whether TruGreen is right for you and your turf. Let’s take a closer look at what the company has to offer.
Table of Contents:
- Overview
- Treatment Plans
- How it Works
- Other Services
- How to Order
- Customer Reviews
- Benefits of Lawn Care Services
- Highlights
- Final Word on TruGreen Raleigh
- Buyer’s Guide to Choosing a Lawn Care Company
- FAQ About Lawn Care
- DIY Lawn Care
TruGreen Raleigh At a Glance
If you’re in a rush and need to know what lawn services TruGreen offers, you’re in the right place. Take a quick look at some popular services the company performs and those it doesn’t.
| Basic Lawn Treatments | |
| Fertilization | ✓ |
| Soil amendments | ✓ |
| Weed control | ✓ |
| Aeration | ✓ |
| Overseeding | ✓ |
| Planting grass seed for a new lawn | ✗ |
| Sod installation | ✗ |
| Mulching | ✗ |
| Lawn mowing | ✗ |
| FAQ | |
| Does TruGreen offer eco-friendly options? | ✓ |
| Does TruGreen serve commercial properties? | ✓ |
| Does TruGreen give instant quotes online? | ✓ |
| Does TruGreen have an online portal for scheduling, billing, etc.? | ✓ |
TruGreen Lawn Care Plans
Lawn care isn’t a one-and-done process. TruGreen specializes in treatment plans to provide regular service when your lawn needs it most. Though the various plan options have different costs and application frequencies, all plans come with:
- Healthy Lawn Analysis: A TruGreen technician will evaluate lawn usage, climate, soil type, and grass type to customize the treatment plan to your lawn’s individual needs.
- Healthy Lawn Guarantee: Not satisfied with the treatment you just received? Call back, and TruGreen will correct the issue at no extra charge.
- TruExpert Certified Specialists: TruGreen-certified specialists are trained to understand the science behind their work so they can care for your lawn with confidence.
We researched TruGreen’s lawn care plans in Raleigh by entering local addresses into the company’s online quote system. TruGreen recommended the following plans for Raleigh lawns, and we’ve listed them below from most expensive to least expensive. Your first application will be 50% percent off, and you can choose to pay for the whole year at once or one treatment at a time.
- TruNatural Lawn Care Plan
- TruComplete Lawn Care Plan
- TruHealth Lawn Care Plan
- TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan
Don’t see the lawn plan you’re looking for? Contact your local TruGreen to discuss your options.
TruNatural Lawn Care Plan
Want to have a minimal impact on the environment? TruGreen’s TruNatural Lawn Care Plan uses 100% natural fertilizer with seven applications a year. If you need traditional weed control, your TruGreen expert will provide it upon request at no extra cost.
TruComplete Lawn Care Plan
Are there soggy puddles on your lawn after every irrigation or rainfall? Does your turf have a thick layer of debris between it and the soil? It may be time to aerate your lawn to improve drainage and remove the debris layer (aka thatch).
The TruComplete Lawn Care Plan is the only TruGreen plan that covers aeration services. After the aeration treatment, your technician will determine whether your lawn would benefit from new grass seed.
- One aeration (plus overseeding if needed)
- Fertilization
- Lime soil amendment
- Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
Note: Overseeding services may not be available for all grass types. When we called, TruGreen Raleigh’s representatives told us they could overseed with cool-season grass and bermudagrass. Please contact the branch you’re planning to hire for more information.
TruHealth Lawn Care Plan
Your soil may not need aeration, but it might still need some work. The TruHealth Lawn Care Plan prioritizes healthy soil through fertilization and soil amendments. It includes:
- Fertilization
- Lime soil amendment
- Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan
Want something simple? The TruMaintenance Lawn Care Plan provides the nutrients and weed protection your turf needs without extra bells or whistles. It’s also the most affordable TruGreen treatment plan.
- Fertilization
- Pre-emergent and targeted weed control
| Service | TruNatural | TruComplete | TruHealth | TruMaintenance |
| Healthy Lawn Guarantee | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Healthy Lawn Analysis | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| TruGreen Certified Specialist | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fertilization | ✓(Organic) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aeration | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Overseeding | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Lime Amendments | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Weed Control | ✓(Available upon request) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Day of Lawn Care: What to Expect
Once you sign up for a lawn care plan with TruGreen, a technician will schedule your first service. You’ll receive notifications the day before and the day of the appointment through email, text, and push notifications if you have the mobile app. You’re not required to be home, but if you’d like to be, let TruGreen know ahead of time so the technician can schedule accordingly.
Before your first treatment:
- Download the TruGreen app to track the driver in real-time.
- Unlock your gates.
- Bring pets and children inside.
When the technician arrives, they will:
- Perform one or more treatments depending on the plan(s) you’re signed up for.
After the appointment is over:
- Your technician will leave a service summary at your door or send it via text or email. It’s also available on TruGreen’s website and mobile app.
- Your technician will plant a TruGreen sign on your lawn.
- Wait an hour or two for liquid treatments to dry before letting your family and pets into the treated area.
- Water your lawn with one inch of water within 48 hours of the treatment to deliver nutrients to the roots.
- Complete a survey on the website or app to give feedback on your service and service provider.
Other TruGreen Services
Your grass isn’t the only part of your yard. The soil, trees, shrubs, and critters living there are all part of the bigger picture. TruGreen has plans to cover your other outdoor concerns as well.
Grub Control
TruGreen’s grub prevention and control services will help rescue your lawn if you’re grumbling over grubs in your soil. Your TruGreen technician will apply treatment before the egg hatching season and monitor for these larvae throughout the year.
Not sure if you have grubs? These pests eat grass roots, so if you can easily pull out chunks of your turf, grubs may be the culprit. Look carefully at the dirt underneath for small, white, curled beetle larvae. If there are more than six grubs per square foot, it’s time to get rid of them.
Mosquito Control
Tired of slapping and scratching your arms every time you step into your backyard? A TruGreen technician will spray areas where mosquitoes hide and reduce their populations within 24 hours. TruGreen’s yearly plan includes treatments once a month during mosquito season. Keep people and pets out of treated areas for about an hour until the product dries.
Tree and Shrub Care
Have a beloved oak tree in your yard? Raleigh has many beautiful native trees, but even they need a little help to stay healthy. TruGreen’s tree and shrub services include:
- Seven applications
- Fertilization
- Insect and mite control
- Disease control
- Horticultural oil treatments
Note: This plan doesn’t cover all plants and pests, such as hybrid tea roses, fruit trees, vegetables, and garden plants. Contact your local TruGreen location if you have any questions or concerns about specific plants.
Soil Amendment and Analysis Services
Sometimes your soil needs a little help to nurture your turf. TruGreen will analyze your soil and amend its pH using lime treatments. The right balance of alkalinity and acidity will allow your grass to absorb nutrients better and withstand diseases and pests.
Fire Ant Control
Fire ants are among the worst stinging pests in Raleigh. Wouldn’t it be nice not to worry about them anymore? TruGreen’s fire ant control includes targeted mound treatment and broadcast bait treatment to eliminate and prevent these painful pests.
How to Get an Instant Quote and Order Service Online
Curious how much these plans will cost you? Get a free quote and order services online using these steps.
Step 1: Click “see pricing” in the top right corner of the TruGreen.com home page.
Step 2: Select all lawn, tree, shrub, and pest services you’re interested in.
Step 3: Enter your address so TruGreen can calculate your yard size. Enter your name, phone number, and email address. Remember that providing your contact information gives TruGreen permission to call and email you.
Step 4: View your options in the shopping cart and select all the services you want.
Don’t see the service you’re looking for in your cart? Contact the nearest location to see if TruGreen Raleigh can help.
TruGreen Raleigh North
300 Dominion Drive, Suite 300
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 863-4001
TruGreen Raleigh South
240 James Jackson Ave
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 467-0660
Step 5: Pay using a credit card, debit card, or bank account.
Note: If TruGreen can’t calculate your lawn size, it will prompt an aerial tool to measure your lawn using satellite imaging. Follow the instructions to outline your front yard, back yard, and side yards. Only outline treatable areas.
TruGreen Raleigh Customer Reviews
You can see nationwide TruGreen reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) page, but you want to know about the specific branch you’d be hiring. We gathered Google and Yelp reviews for the closest two TruGreen locations to give you a better idea of what locals have to say about this company.
TruGreen Raleigh North
Positive Review: “I had to give TruGreen 5 stars! By far, the best results for mosquito control. I wasn’t due for my 2nd treatment until next Wednesday, May 15, but I saw my first mosquito Monday. I called today, and they will be out Monday to retreat (no charge) and will have someone call to reschedule regular treatment for a later date! They’re true to their promise!” – Annette B. (Yelp)
Positive Review: “I have used this company off and on for the past three years. I did experience some issues, but for the past year, they have been on point. Sometimes it may take a while for the technician to know your lawn and problem areas. That is why communication and knowledge are so important.” – Beverly G. (Google Reviews)
Negative Review: “If I could give them a zero review, I would. My yard was scheduled for a month, and no one ever showed up. They kept telling me a person came, but they never did. Run from this business. They are not reliable.” – Sonja T. (Yelp)
TruGreen Raleigh South
Positive Review: “This crew is good. They work with you and customize your lawn care to your needs. They’re not miracle workers. It took us two years to get the lawn we wanted and required us to have several discussions with their techs to tweak what we wanted. So work with these men and women, be patient, and creative, and you’ll accomplish your goals with your lawn.” – Richard W. (Google Reviews)
Neutral Review: “This TruGreen company is a hit and miss, which depends on the employee you get to do your lawn care services. They can sometimes be on point while others tend to take shortcuts. My lawn is generally green when everyone else’s is yellow or dead; however, when everyone else’s lawn is green, my lawn is yellow or dead.” – Derrick S. (Google Reviews)
Negative Review: “The rates to get you to ‘sign up’ are very good. The service after the sale is quite poor. The ‘field technician’ is unresponsive to issues you may have with your lawn between applications. They attempt to put you in for additional lawn treatments that were not previously agreed upon. I was just glad I did not prepay and was not bound by a contract.” – G. D. (Yelp)
Benefits of Lawn Care Services
What’s the point of all these TruGreen lawn care services? Your lawn needs help to live a healthy lifestyle. While we may eat well, exercise, and visit the doctor to feel our best, grass needs the proper nutrients, air, overseeding, and weed control to thrive. Here’s how each lawn maintenance step provides a healthy foundation for your turf.
Benefits of Fertilization
Fertilizer keeps your lawn healthy by providing essential nutrients. It’s not just about appearances; healthy turf can withstand disease, pests, and drought much more effectively than malnourished grass.
Benefits of Aeration
Over time, the soil in your lawn compacts, making it difficult for your turf’s roots to receive water, air, and nutrients. Core aeration removes plugs of soil from the ground to relieve compaction and allow the good stuff to reach the roots.
Aeration also helps to:
- Improve root growth
- Reduce thatch, the buildup of organic plant matter over the soil. Too much thatch blocks air, water, and nutrients from reaching the soil and invites pests and diseases.
- Improve drainage
- Prepare the soil for overseeding
Benefits of Soil Amendments
The pH of your soil refers to its acidity or alkalinity. Your grass will struggle to grow if the soil pH is less than 5.5 (acidic) or above 7.0 (alkaline) because the roots will struggle to absorb the available nutrients. Soil amendments fix these issues and provide a base for a healthy lawn. Sulfur makes soil less alkaline, and lime makes soil less acidic.
Benefits of Weed Control
Though there are some beautiful weeds in Raleigh, weeds of any kind spell trouble for your turf. Not only do they ruin your lawn’s appearance, but they can also choke out your grass and steal the water and nutrients it needs to survive. Control weeds before they happen and as they appear to give your lawn relief.
Benefits of Overseeding
Overseeding thickens up thin or patchy lawns. If your grass has been stressed recently by drought, pests, or diseases, add more grass seed to bring it back to its former glory. Don’t forget to address the original problem first–seeds can’t cure your lawn on their own.
Does your grass turn brown every winter? This is normal for warm-season grasses. However, you can lengthen your lawn’s green period by overseeding using cool-season grass like annual ryegrass.
TruGreen Highlights
There are plenty of outdoor service companies here in Raleigh that will serve your lawn. But what about TruGreen makes it stand out?
Decades of Experience
This company was founded in 1973 under the name ChemLawn before changing to TruGreen in 1979. From there, it’s grown into a nationwide company serving homeowners and businesses. Its agronomists have had four decades to craft lawn care plans and hone TruGreen’s science-based approach.
Recurring Plans
Are you the forgetful type who can’t remember what treatment you need to perform at what time of year? With TruGreen’s treatment plans, you won’t have to mark “fertilize lawn” or “aerate lawn” in your calendar. Choose a plan that covers everything you want, and TruGreen will get it done at the ideal time.
Giving Back
TruGreen has donated more than $600,000 to charities, including the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Regional TruGreen teams with the most quarterly customer growth can donate $2,000 to a charity of their choice. If you support these organizations, signing up for TruGreen could be another way to contribute while you get a greener lawn.
Final Word on TruGreen Raleigh
Ready to enjoy some refreshing Cheerwine in a beautiful yard free of mosquitoes and fire ants? TruGreen Raleigh works to get you there with its fertilization, aeration, tree and shrub care, weed control, and pest control services. If you’d like mowing taken off your plate, our LawnStarter pros will handle the job.
Buyer’s Guide to Choosing a Lawn Care Company
Everyone has their criteria for picking service companies to work with. If you’re struggling to decide on a company, here are some factors to consider.
Services Offered
Have you ever returned from the grocery store and realized you forgot a crucial ingredient? Don’t let that happen for lawn care services. Create a shopping list of everything your lawn needs and check which companies in your area provide them all.
Price
Good lawn care doesn’t have to break the bank. Companies like TruGreen offer treatments at various price points, but even then, you can shop around for the best deals. But buyer beware: the lowest price won’t always be the best (nor will the most expensive). Weigh both reviews and cost to get the most bang for your buck.
Company Size
Big companies usually have a wide range of services and service areas. Their large employee base means more availability and little to no customer waiting lists. However, some customers don’t like talking to a different person every time they call or not recognizing the service worker treating their yard.
A small business may suit you better if you want a more personal touch. You can be proud of supporting a local lawn care company while getting to know someone else in the community–you might even know them already! Remember that the smaller the business, the more limited its resources likely are. They may not be able to cover all the services you need or schedule you immediately.
FAQ About Lawn Care
Our city’s mild climate can support both warm-season and cool-season grasses. Raleigh falls in the piedmont region of North Carolina, so NC State University recommends the following grass types:
Warm-Season: Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, St. Augustine, and carpetgrass
Cool-Season: Tall fescue, fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass
When Should I Fertilize My Lawn?
It depends on your grass type, but fertilizer works best when your grass is actively growing. Submit a soil sample for laboratory soil testing to see which nutrients your lawn is missing–there’s no need to fertilize if all the nutrients are already there.
Fertilize warm-season grasses about two weeks after they green up in mid-spring or early summer. Cool-season grasses benefit most from fertilizer in fall.
Suppose you want to know when and how to fertilize a specific grass species. In that case, NC State University has a calendar outlining the amounts needed and which months are best. But remember, it’s always a good idea to refer to your soil test results first.
It depends on the grass type and season, but mowing once or twice a week usually does the trick. Bermudagrass, Kentucky bluegrass, St. Augustine grass, tall fescue, and fine fescue need more frequent mowing than zoysiagrass and centipedegrass.
The height of your grass and the amount you cut off is crucial. Never cut off more than one-third of the leaf blade to avoid damaging your lawn. For example, if your grass is 3 inches tall, don’t cut off more than one inch.
DIY Lawn Care
Like getting your hands dirty? Taking care of your lawn can be rewarding but has plenty of challenges. Get to know your grass and soil. Provide the nutrients it needs using fertilizer or compost. Since North Carolina has clay soils prone to compacting, you may need to aerate once a year. You’ll also have to adjust your lawn care practices for winter, spring, summer, and fall.
If you’re frustrated with the workload or the results you’re getting, it’s time to call a pro. TruGreen is there to cover your fertilizing, aeration, weed control, and pest control needs. Our LawnStarter pros are here if you need mowing, trimming, and edging.
Main Photo by Phil Goodwin on Unsplash with Text Overlay
