INDIANAPOLIS -- In the spring, when the city's attention turns to racing, another segment of the economy also revs up.
It's the start of a busy season for lawn service companies.
The Professional Lawn Care Association of America estimates 24.7 million households used landscaping, lawn care and tree services, spending an estimated $28.9 billion.
Andy Neher of Lawn Pride Inc. divides the lawn service industry into four categories: lawn care, tree and shrub; maintenance (mowing and trimming services); design and building; and irrigation and lighting. Lawn Pride specializes in pest control, design and building.
The difference between lawn care and landscaping is, he said, "Lawn care is fertilization. Landscaping is mowing service."
Norman Mayhin, maintenance department manager at Becker Lawn Service, says business goes into full swing the first of March, when it is time to fertilize and control crab grass.
"A good integrated pest management knows the product," said Neher. "It takes someone who understands the products and the process involved."
Mayhin describes Becker, which has about 80 employees, as a full-service lawn company -- offering spring cleanups, lawn care, tree/shrub care, pond care, mowing, flower installation and flower maintenance. Becker also offers landscaping and maintenance services for businesses.
The workday begins early -- at 7 a.m. -- and stretches to 6 p.m. or later.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates the average wage in 2002 of landscaping and groundkeeping workers is $9.51/hour.
