Showing employee on how to trim right....

[eggy]

I have a new guy that is slow on learning how to trim....he has caught on to the ztr ok..but is awful on the trimmer...any suggestions???

[MikeLT1Z28]

what exactly is he doing that is bad? the advice that 65hoss gave me was to keep both of my arms straight so the head of the trimmer is level. that gives a clean across trim and prevents one side from digging in. i am sure others will have some good ideas too.

[Runner]

The best way to teach is by example. You'll just have to show him. Teach him how to plan out a pattern first- starting point and finishing point. What direction to go, counterclockwise around the islands of grass, clockwise around trees and objects, etc. first. You may even want to draw this out on paper using a few different yard layouts, then see if he understands it by asking HIM where he would start and finish. This is of course reviewed again out in the field as well. THEN work on the technique - tapering, feathering, etc. I wrote an extensive post on this once, that's somewhere in here. I mentioned the words "trimming 101", so if you or someone would like to do a search and bring a link to this one up, I think it would be useful. I would do it, but I don't know how you guys post your search results links in the reply.

[Barkleymut]

Maybe buy him his own trimmer so he will take pride in his new equipment and work. I would go with a 25 cc minimum (commercial) trimmer.

[Eric ELM]

Maybe he isn't good at it since he might not like doing trimming. I would have him walk along with you and have him watch exactly how you do it. Then half way through the trimming, hand it to him and have him try it. If he messes up, show him again til he gets it down pat. Good Luck :)

[eggy]

I will try those tips..he is left handed..do you think this is causing a problem?

[MikeLT1Z28]

actually that may even be better for him since he is a lefty, won't have to walk backwards when trimming. are you right handed? may make showing him a little harder.

[Craig Turf Management]

Practice, practice, practice.
Bill Craig

[little green guy]

I've only had like one or two guys that where acually efficiant at trimming, they all figure out how to use the trimmer ok. Theses guys sit there and waste time trimming tree lines agianst the woods that your about to hit with the mower but all the grass near the house or in the middle of the lawn is still there, it gets sooo aggravating, and no matter how many times you tell them, show them, beat them, they still don't get it. ok I'm done.

[stslawncare]

i think eggy's trimming school sounds good, practice with him, work with him on a yard where it wont loose u money if a mess up here and there (your own? his)

[eggy]

Thanks, guys..I will keep working with him...good help is priceless....I try to go back to whn I started years ago..and think of how I learned and yep..practice and patience....

[gene gls]

Your man has learned its easier to ride a mower than use a trimmer. I had a guy that would not use the WB because he didn't want to walk as fast as the mower but he would trim all day. Drove me crazy,he trimmed in no set patteren and I could not get him to establish one for him self.

By the way, I may be Polish when it comes to trimming.How do you hold a trimmer to be right handed???? I switch hands all the time, one is as good as the other.

Gene

[Evan528]

for some unknown reason trimmin is the kind of thing that I have found to either come natural from the begining or they will never do it just right. I have had many guys help me in my day. I can tell emediatly if they are going to be able to trim after 10 seconds of wathcing them. My brother worked for me for almost 2 years doing mostly trimming. He was one that it didnt come natural for, even after 2 years of trimming he was good but still did not have the speed and accuracy that I had form the begining.

[eggy]

Well, right hand on trigger...left on handle....I never switch..hmmm

[Fine Lines Lawn]

no matter how many times you tell them, show them, beat them, they still don't get it. ok I'm done.


What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!! :D
THE BEATINGS START TOMORROW

[eggy]

Finelines...maybe you just need to move a hour south to Seymour, and work for me you sound rather stressed...ohh yea a freind of mine owns a window tinting buisness called fineline...(not sure what that has to do with anything )

[Runner]

Originally posted by little green guy
[Theses guys sit there and waste time trimming tree lines agianst the woods that your about to hit with the mower but all the grass near the house or in the middle of the lawn is still there,[/B]

This is too funny! Reminds me of that DR Trimmer mower commercial where the wifey is pushing this stupid thing trimming along the weeds of the field line while hubby is relaxing on the John Deere. I've had some of my brain surgeon guys do the same kind of things!

[Ground Pounder]

I need to show my dad how to drive a W/B. He ran my Metro into a tree under full power. Bent the OPC and the gear selector when the mower stopped and he kept going.

[65hoss]

He is probably thinking just like an hourly employee. It would probably help to tie pay into performance for him. Patience is a virtue, but most of us forget about it. Think back to when you started. No matter how good you thought you were, your much much faster now.

Give him pointers as you see whats going on. Try to take the fear factor out. A lot of guys are afraid on digging in to far with the power of a commercial trimmer. Tell him to take his time and do it right, then as he starts building confidence start to speed him up.

[KD'sLawns]

Set about five empty coke cans down in some tall grass and tell him that you will give him a buck for every can he can trim around without denting or throwing the can. Also, tell him that the trim must be level. Mow around the cans so that he can have a measuring point. It's amazing how well one can trim if they have something to gain. Easy money, 5 bucks in about 2 minutes. If he does good, tell him that you expect that type of performance everytime he gets on the trimmer.

[eggy]

Thats not a bad idea KD! thanks......

[Gtotoy]

Awesome idea KD , im gonna try that tomorrow,,,, well see what happens,, i have never found anyone who can trim as fast and as good as me,, i dont know whats up?,,, even when i was with other companys, i always was the one to trim the nice lawns,, but oh well, my king of wack will show up someday i guess!!!!~````

[gogetter]

Boy, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that can't trim! I'm terrible.
Can you say "scalp!"? I hit down to the dirt more then grass it seems. Really need to improve on this. Hopefully it will come with time.
Think I'll do a search for more tips and tricks on how to trim.
I don't get that thing that was said about "counter clockwise around islands of grass and clockwise around trees and objects"?!?!?.
Thanks guys!

[grassyfras]

This is waht you do you wait til you have alot of free time then just trim large areas with the trimmmer edge your on side walk constantly you just have to have an areaa you dont care about if you mess up so really jsut practice

but i like this can idea

[Acute Cut]

----OHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM---- Ohmmmmmmmmmm----- Be at peace my son. Be one with your trimmer----------- OHmmmmmmmmm----- Be as the waves against the coast. Conform......... ----- OHMMMMMMMM---------- Gravel needs not be trimmed--------- OHMMMMMMMMMM------ The oak does not have grass growing INSIDE of it, so dont try to trim INTO the tree to get at it.------ OHMmmmmmmmmmm----- Stop trimming when a good looking woman walks by or else you will mess up the lawn----------- ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm---------

Sounds funny, but that is what my old boss taught me. Use the trimmer as an extension and be at one with it. DONT fight the machine. Conform to the hills.

[MikeLT1Z28]

Originally posted by gotgetter
I don't get that thing that was said about "counter clockwise around islands of grass and clockwise around trees and objects"?!?!?.
Thanks guys!

i assume it's due to the counterclockwise rotation of the trimmer head thus kicking the debris out to the left. i know if i am trimming along a fence or house i start on the right side and work to the left. another thing 65hoss taught me. i am not the best trimmer in the world either, but i am gettin' better!

[BufalinoLand]

Ive noticed that running a string trimmer is most of the time a genetic trait. Kinda like catching a football, some people never look good doing it