Lawn care red flags

Spraying without a license

• A crew offers moss or weed treatment and cannot name a WSDA license number.
• "It's only a backpack sprayer," or "only this once." WSDA says a landscape maintenance company needs a Commercial Applicator license for any pesticide it applies to a customer's property: once, by hand, by backpack or spreader, part-time or full-time. (WSDA AGR PUB 702-556)
• They call weed-and-feed "fertilizer." WSDA counts weed-and-feed and moss control products as pesticides. (WSDA)

Under state law, each unlicensed application can count as a separate incident against the company. (WSDA) Hire that crew for mowing only.

Money up front

• The full season, paid before the first mow.
• Cash only, or a check to a personal name that differs from the business name.
• A quote that never says how many visits you get.

Building work from a mowing crew

Mowing and pruning need no L&I registration, but landscape construction does. (L&I F625-084-000) Watch for these on a patio, wall or other build:

• No L&I registration number, or one that comes back inactive on L&I Verify. Verify also shows bond, insurance and violations. (L&I)
• They ask you to pull the building permit, push a "sign today" price, or skip a written bid. L&I lists all three as warning signs. (L&I)
• A home job of $1,000 or more starts without the signed Notice to Customer, which lists the registration number and bond. (RCW 18.27.114)

Service warning signs

• No set day, and no call when they skip one.
• A different crew each week, and nobody knows your gate or dog rules.
• A treatment line on your invoice that you never agreed to.

Next

Ask the sign-up questions before you commit, and read the weed and moss license rules.