Athletic Fields

[MikeD520]

We were contacted by a youth athletic association to submit a turf care program. The program's requirements are very general... fertilization, weed management, aerating, and overseeding. The mowing and other maintenance work is performed by another contractor.

We have a several athletic field programs from the Penn State Agricultural Extension. The program also includes a lime application, aerate and overseed @ 4lb/1000 sq ft, a single pass aeration (no overseed), and heavy aerate with light overseed.

Would this bid be as an hourly rate or is it bid as a $0.00/1000sqft? If it is bid by area, how much lower of a percentage is this type of work compared to residential rates?

Yes, I'm certified, licensed, insured, educated...

We are in southeastern PA.

Thanks for you help.

[greenoasis]

I think you need to look at both your labor cost on the hourly rate side, as well as your production rate for applying product on a sq ft basis. Once you figure out how long it takes you to apply the product to 1000 sq. ft., you can then multiply that by your labor cost.

[James Cormier]

Mike, I sent you a pm with some of my prices for this type of work

Jim

[LB Landscaping]

I just bid on a private school in the area. They have a full time athletic field employee on their payroll. Just goes to show how important it is for some places to have the field done right and that they are willing to pay good money to do so.

[MikeD520]

Jim, thanks for the pm, but for some reason I have not received it. Would you mind resending it?

Thanks

Mike

[James Cormier]

Jim, thanks for the pm, but for some reason I have not received it. Would you mind resending it?

Thanks

Mike

Mike, for some reason your not signed up for PM's

I will put the info here, but its just between you and I :laugh:

For my fields I do 4 apps of fert at $6.00 per k, one app of Merit at $9.00 per k, and I aerate 5 times a year at $11.00 per K

I over seed 3 times with the core aerations, at 4lbs per K and I charge $3.50 per lb applied.

I use this (http://www.pbase.com/image/57601291) for my aeration and overseeding, its pretty slick and I can do all my fields ( 450k ) in a day, I apply the fert with a PG ultra.

Hope this helps

[turfsolutions]

James,

Do you have problems with crabgrass?

[James Cormier]

James,

Do you have problems with crabgrass?

Believe it or not, I don't.

Its amazing..I know, I know that a thick healthy turf is the best crabgrass control, but I would never chance it on a residential customers lawn.

You got to remember I aerate the crap out if it, seed it 3 times, some years they had me do extra overseedings, and it has its own well so they water alot.

Its a great account for me!

[lawnservice]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]

I over seed 3 times with the core aerations,

just curious...i assume this is a multiple use field (soccer,football,baseball)? so it takes a real beating and thats the reason you overseed 3 times per season?

[MikeD520]

just curious...i assume this is a multiple use field (soccer,football,baseball)? so it takes a real beating and thats the reason you overseed 3 times per season?

Yes it is the reason.

[James Cormier]

just curious...i assume this is a multiple use field (soccer,football,baseball)? so it takes a real beating and thats the reason you overseed 3 times per season?

No my fields are soccer only. They have 2 main " showcase fields " then the rest are practice and other games. We use to rest one of the showcase Fields during a season while the other one got destroyed. Then switch them the following year, but now they don't rest one so both get alot of use.

Spring soccer does the worst damage. I do one general overseeding in spring of all fields ( remember no crab control here ) then right after spring soccer ends I the showcase fields again ( not the whole complex ) Then in the middle of the fall I do the whole complex again. I also will do several spot seedings during the year in the rough spots.

[lawnservice]

No my fields are soccer only. They have 2 main " showcase fields " then the rest are practice and other games. We use to rest one of the showcase Fields during a season while the other one got destroyed. Then switch them the following year, but now they don't rest one so both get alot of use.

Spring soccer does the worst damage. I do one general overseeding in spring of all fields ( remember no crab control here ) then right after spring soccer ends I the showcase fields again ( not the whole complex ) Then in the middle of the fall I do the whole complex again. I also will do several spot seedings during the year in the rough spots.
yeah thats what i figured. either had to be spring soccer or football. our football fields got distroyed last oct. had rain about 15 days in that month. they play regardless of the weather...tough on the turf

[FINN]

Mike,

Not sure if this would be of interest but.........i just got in from seeding and fertilizing some balls fields tonight. It looks like your business is focused on pest control. My business is focused on turf management. I do applications, seeding, overseeding ,aerations etc. I have the equipment and experience. If you would like to sub it out, I'd be interested in talking to you. I am in SE PA. Send me a pm if you like. Either way have a good season.

[MikeD520]

No my fields are soccer only. They have 2 main " showcase fields " then the rest are practice and other games. We use to rest one of the showcase Fields during a season while the other one got destroyed. Then switch them the following year, but now they don't rest one so both get alot of use.

Spring soccer does the worst damage. I do one general overseeding in spring of all fields ( remember no crab control here ) then right after spring soccer ends I the showcase fields again ( not the whole complex ) Then in the middle of the fall I do the whole complex again. I also will do several spot seedings during the year in the rough spots.

Jim,

I'm assuming your fields are owned by a local soccer club, correct? The fields that we are bidding on are owned by the township as a township atlethic association. Do they normally have a sufficient budget to cover the costs associated with sports turf programs?

Btw, I like your aerator/spreader setup. I'm going to set ours up like that.

Mike

[James Cormier]

Jim,

I'm assuming your fields are owned by a local soccer club, correct? The fields that we are bidding on are owned by the township as a township atlethic association. Do they normally have a sufficient budget to cover the costs associated with sports turf programs?

Btw, I like your aerator/spreader setup. I'm going to set ours up like that.

Mike

Yes, Mike it totally privately owned property and they lease the land to the soccer club. This is in a pretty large town, and very affluent. So I been told the fee's to play are much higher then other towns.

Their budget is huge because they also pay for mowing services ( use to be my company but I sold off the landscaping division a few years ago and that account went with it ) I believe there budget for out door services has to be way over 100k

Now thats good because the fields are in great shape and far less injuries. And they look sweet, which makes me look good :p I would assume towns dont spend nearly as much money maintaining their fields

[bamaone]

What type setups do you guys use? I am looking to start the mowing on a 25-30 acre complex with 12 fields (2 championship). They may ask if I can do the aerating and overseeding. I do have a degree in Landscape Contracting and have been doing Residential/Commercial Landscape Management for 5 years but I have not had to deal with this type of size.