How do you explain to a customer ...

[horselady]

that it's not to late to treat her lawn in December since only fertilizer was applied and what the benefits will be?

Any wording you use on your Invoices?

Thanks!

[TURF DOCTOR]

Is this a 1 time treatment or a yearly application.

[horselady]

This is the 6th application of our yearly program.

[teeca]

with the cold temps and weather we've had here in indy, i probly question a december app also past the 8th anyway. but i would explain that the grass (i hope it was still green) will take in the urea and help it build carb's in the root system for a healthy lawn next year. and also reasure them that it will NOT cause a over growth problm next spring.

[teeca]

i also fell behind in my apps and finished just after turkey-day. but i missed a few HUGE deep-root feedings and will have to finish them this spring, like i don't already have evough to do that time of year:cry:

[GreenUtah]

I generally explain that turf goes dormant, not dead. During that dormancy, the turf still continues to use small amounts of nutrients and so you are applying a sloooooooow release fertilizer to carry it through the winter months. The benefit will be a healthier lawn come spring that will snap out of dormancy sooner, often greening up weeks before it would otherwise. That's how we put it to overcome winterizer app resistance. Head start in the spring. Little bit of fact worked with a little hype, that's why they call it marketing.

[Ric]

This is the 6th application of our yearly program.


Keep It Simple.

"Fertilizer for early spring green up has been applied to your Lawn in November. Thank You Please pay"

[jajwrigh]

You were a little late....

[indyturf]

when did you make the application? I have about 30 yards I wasnt able to get done this fall. becuse the last 3 weeks we have had ice or snow on the ground although I did see scotts and tgcl out doing apps when we had ice coating the grass blades. I didnt think it would be a good idea to leave wheel marks and footprints that will probablly still be there next spring! better to skip the app and save the customer.

[horselady]

We have 45 + lawns that need the winterizer. Although we have done some applications, we are waiting on the weather to break, if possible. There is a chance of 40s later this week. Depending on the temps and conditions of the lawns will determine if they get the winterizer. We will be push spreading this application. We haven't given up yet!!

I saw Scotts and TGCL just last week.:blob4:

[Grassmechanic]

If it was me, I would not apply this late in the year to cool season grass. Late nitrogen application, followed by a blanket of snow will promote snow mold problems. you are better off to wait until spring.

[indyturf]

I dont think it giong to warm up enough to melt the snow we have on the ground. if it does you can bet TG will be out, but I think its too late to be benifical to the customer this year with the early winter weather. I usually dont finish up untill around 2nd week of Dec. and the weather is usually not too bad, but not this year. I wouldnt want to take a chance of losing customers or future customers (neighbors) that see you make an application now. maybe we will have a early spring! since winter started about a month early this year.

[ns400r]

I dont think it giong to warm up enough to melt the snow we have on the ground. if it does you can bet TG will be out, but I think its too late to be benifical to the customer this year with the early winter weather. I usually dont finish up untill around 2nd week of Dec. and the weather is usually not too bad, but not this year. I wouldnt want to take a chance of losing customers or future customers (neighbors) that see you make an application now. maybe we will have a early spring! since winter started about a month early this year.

I agree with indy, sometimes you gotta make decisions that is better for customer relations then agronomics or financial reasons.

We always struggled with getting treatments done on time, this was the first year all apps where done by Dec 2nd.

[DiscoveryLawn]

I lost $10,000.00 in winterizer apps. and I really needed that money. We had a freezing rain a few days after Thanksgiving that stayed on the turf until it snowed about a week later and there has been snow covered turf ever since. We are going to have temps in the 40's next week but my season is over.

I am sure I will see the other guys out there doing apps next week. If so, I will be following them writing down the addresses of MY new clients.

[ns400r]

I lost $10,000.00 in winterizer apps. and I really needed that money. We had a freezing rain a few days after Thanksgiving that stayed on the turf until it snowed about a week later and there has been snow covered turf ever since. We are going to have temps in the 40's next week but my season is over.

I am sure I will see the other guys out there doing apps next week. If so, I will be following them writing down the addresses of MY new clients.

Once they see that Pink truck going down the road, you will have them lock up!

just teasing ya

Call me sometime I like to talk while plowing :p

[grassguy_]

I think Discoverylawn will be going to a leaner meaner production unit next year so that there's no money left on the table at year end, if i know him, he'll get it all done! payup

[turfsurfer]

I agree that the season is over for me in central Ohio. At this point after the weather we've had, even if there WAS SOME benefit to another treatment, the risk is much greater that you would look like an A** pushing a spreader around a yard. Lot's of explaining and lots of negative perception for your business. Not worth it in my opinion.

[ant]

i had about 50 left.
never missed an application in the past.
i had it all rapped up before leaf drop in the past years.
were we went wrong ?
well i did more aerations this season then i ever did, we picked up two z puggers and went to town and it brought me into my last round of applications and we kept going with the aerations.i needed to push before the sprinklers got winterized.
next thing you know they were tracking two storms a week apart.
that tuesday before the first weekend storm i knocked out about 25 lawns and wednesday 13 more...
only have 12 left or so...i am going to scratch the 12..
ant

[greenngrow]

Finished up last week...

Started Nov 30. Took about 20 days to get all 165 accounts done.
The last couple of weeks had to wait until the frost went off the grass. But here in KY it was not all that bad.

[foley1015]

Coming form TGCL having over 15 years in with them I can honestly say that they apply late applications in the year not for the clients, but for the bottom line. You should never, ever apply materials to a turf where there is frozen ground. Client perseption is everything. You dont want your clients to say, "they are just like TGCL" They must be a marketing company who happens to be marketing lawn care.

[stumper1620]

Between late leaves falling and covering the turf, then being caught by the cold frosty days at the beginning of November then snow that came and stayed since the week before thanksgiving I just gave up, I'm not about to put fert on frozen ground, I'll just hit them in the spring.
I don't see why you guys would push to get an app on this late in the season.
I'm sitting on a lot of winter fert that I really don't like having sit around with all the money wrapped up in it but, I'm not about to make a late app.