Choosing a lawn-care service should be done with thought and care. Too much of a good thing can be bad, even for grass that likes to gobble up the endless nitrogen it needs to stay green.

Here are some questions to ask and points to consider when selecting a lawn-care service:

* Get outlines of the treatments and cost estimates from two or three companies. The cheapest or the most expensive is not always the best. Ask the companies to explain what each treatment will do. If you don't understand the information, talk with your local extension office.

* Will the company do a soil test to first see what your lawn needs? What will it cost? Will the company send you the results of the soil test and explain what it means? Soil should be tested every three or four years, and nutrients need to be applied accordingly. The pH, or acidity, in the soil around here is usually a major factor to consider.

* Do any of your neighbors have a lawn service? If so, ask them for recommendations. Do you like the looks of their lawn? What has it cost them?

* Ask the company about certification among the people who will service your lawn. Virginia requires licenses for applicators of restricted-use pesticides. You want to know what fertilizers and pesticides will be applied to your lawn. Do you have children, pets or wildlife that may be affected by some of these treatments?

* Does the company dump chemicals and fertilizer on your lawn every few weeks or is the program administered in a manner that's healthy? For instance, aeration, seeding and major fertilization on cool-season fescue lawns should be done in the fall. A light spring feeding and seeding of bare spots is OK.

* How does the company handle its billing? Usually the tree-and-shrub program is priced separately from the turf program. Do you have to pay each time the treatment truck heads your way or can you pay monthly or quarterly for whatever treatments you have done?

* Are there price breaks for a year's contract? You may pay for a year's treatment upfront to get the price break and then sell your home before the year is up. If so, do you get a refund?

* What happens if your lawn doesn't respond to the weed treatments? Pre-emergence for crabgrass is applied late February or early March. What if you are still crawling with crabgrass in April and May?

A reputable lawn-care company will be glad to answer any questions you have and allow you to pick and choose the services you need. For instance, if you need just your lawn aerated this fall, they should be willing to do that one-time service for you.