The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

Lawn problems rank among the top three horticultural concerns brought to Colorado State University Extension offices in most urban and suburban counties. Begun in 2006 using an Extension-funded venture capital grant, Lawncheck is a fee-based ($75 per visit), on-site, lawn consultation and diagnostic service offered by six urban Front Range Colorado counties. Because agents and specialists participating in the CSU Lawncheck program have no vested interest in marketing products, equipment, or lawn services, customers can confidently verify the cause of lawn problems (and solutions), knowing it comes from a trusted and unbiased information source. A survey of 198 Lawncheck customers (49% return rate) showed that 92% of respondents felt they “received their money’s worth,” and 99% said they would recommend the service to someone else; 61% said they saved money as a result of their Lawncheck visit. Notable survey results include: 60% changed their lawn watering practices, adjusted sprinklers (37%), and reduced the amount of water applied to the lawn (22%) as a result of the visit. Forty percent adjusted the amount of fertilizer applied to their lawn and 19% reduced pesticide use on their lawns. The CSU Lawncheck program has become a significant generator of user fees for the six counties that offer this service. The URL of the CSU Lawncheck website is: http://www.colostate.edu/orgs/lawncheck/index.html