Tending to the plants in your front lawn can seem like a pretty big job, especially if you, like so many of us, don't have much free time to spare. This is probably the biggest reason to hire someone for shrub service in Pittsburgh, or in just about any major city in the U.S., for that matter. If you're looking to hire someone to help you with your trees, shrubs, and plants, or if you're just starting to test your green thumb, there are several things to consider.
Benefits of Pittsburgh Shrub Service
Most people will tell you that a home's front yard makes a huge impression on the property as a whole. If you've got a nice green lawn and a few well kept shrubs, hedges, or trees, the overall appearance of the house is greatly complimented. On the other side of the coin, you can have the finest interior anyone's ever seen, or the best paint job or siding money can buy, but if your front yard looks neglected, it will drag the appearance of the rest of the house down.
Those who don't have too much flora to tend to might enjoy the hour or so every week that it needs to look its best. For anyone who's got a significant amount of plant life around their house, however, it is often necessary to spend a surprising amount of time keeping them moderately managed. In Pittsburgh, shrub service is especially helpful for those homes surrounded by exotic plants or by hedges that need to be trimmed often. These tasks don't do themselves, and if you don't have the time to spend several hours every week tending to your more needy species, there's a good chance that the whole yard will suffer in the long run.
For anyone who's just starting out, a little pre-planting planning can go a long way. Opt for species that are native to Pittsburgh; shrub service will be less intensive and they are much more likely to thrive and be healthy.
The Shrub Dichotomy
In a sense, a shrub is simultaneously the best and worst of both the tree and plant worlds. Like a tree, a shrub is big enough to notice when something is awry from a fair distance, but more like a pepper plant, a shrub can require some pretty regular maintenance to look its best. Big enough to notice, but small enough to be easily affected, shrubs can be a real hassle at times. On the upside they're large enough to make a significant difference in the landscape, and are also petite enough to be very versatile in their placement and combination.
Trees usually don't need to be watered and rarely need to be trimmed once they are mature, but it is not uncommon for a shrub to wither without that kind of attention. While watering and pruning a single shrub isn't that big of a job, most homes don't have just one. Additionally, when a shrub becomes diseased or is stricken with an insect problem, unlike a small plant, it's not just a simple matter of pulling out the affected one.
Available Pittsburgh Shrub Services
In most cases, hiring a company for shrub service can be paired in a package with other lawn needs like mowing the grass or raking leaves. You can hire someone to come weekly, or you can call whenever you just don't have enough time to do it yourself. Trimming, watering, and general maintenance will be covered by this kind of service. If your shrubs become diseased or infested with insects, you might have to call for an arborist (tree specialist), or even hire a pest management company.
Pittsburgh Prices for Shrub Service
For basic lawn and shrub service, Pittsburgh residents should expect to pay about $30 (for an average amount of work) per visit for weekly care. One time visits cost more and special tasks like putting in a new shrub or digging an old one up are often priced by the hour (rates vary, but don't expect much under $50 per). If you're planning a trip, many companies also offer a package for shrub and lawn care that will only last as long as you're away. 
Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement.