A Classic Chem lawn moment

[firedude26]

Yesterday going to bid some work i drove by a yard being (or suppose to be) treated by a fine Chem-lawn/ Trugreen employee. As he walked threw the yard just wandering every once in a awhile squeezing the trigger to spray, it reminded me why they get bad mouthed so often. I am positive he wasn't spot spraying because they guy has no weeds, he has a very nice lawn. Don't you think maybe someone could of seen this guy just spraying when ever it came to his mind, and they wonder why they have the reputation like that. Oh well just venting a little. :hammerhead: :dizzy:

[topsites]

I am sure everybody makes mistakes, but lets see...

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Combined with our commercial services business unit, TruGreen LandCare / TruGreen ChemLawn is the world's largest lawn and landscape company serving more than 3.4 million residential and commercial customers across the U.S. with lawn care, tree and shrub care, and landscaping services.

As the current industry leader, we've continued to lead in the development of new technology for lawn care. TruGreen ChemLawn devotes substantial resources to continually evaluate new products and equipment and to develop better methods for taking care of grass, trees, and shrubs. All of our lawn specialists are tenured full-time employees who must complete a rigorous training program before they can be certified by TruGreen.

Additionally, we have taken an active leadership role in both developing and supporting sound environmental practices and regulatory policies. TruGreen is committed to environmentally responsible practices and products, and we have established our own set of environmental stewardship principles.

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[lawnservice]

it does drive me nuts when someone post something like this. Obviously Firedude has no idea what service was being performed (not spot spraying because the lawn has no weeds?? you can see that from the street?? why didnt the lawn have weeds since these guys suck so much??)

i have a chemlawn back ground....long before trugreen... even before ecolab. Now with that being said.... i am not a cheerleader for these guys.

As far as Topsites comments...well he obviously is a cheerleader. All that stuff might look good on a brochure that is given to a potential customer (trugreen certified?? is that anything like Home Depot's certified nursery employees?) but to a seasoned turf/ shrub manager....thats just blowin smoke

[turfsurfer]

OK, now that we've heard from the company rep, let's sort out some facts. First, I agree that TGCL is the industry leader but that doesn't change the fact that they annoy the hell out of customers with there marketing calls, and there program isn't really all that great (fertilizer on cool season grasses around Valentines day in Feb as a Spring Greenup? I thought that is what the late Fall app. was for! Thanks for the new customers though after I educate them a little.)
However, in their defense, you stated that the guy's lawn was weedless and looked good so they must be doing something right. Also there are many times where I will spread granular fert and then spot spray using the hose and tank. If there are only a few weeds, why blanket the whole lawn and stress it unneccesarily?

[Norm Al]

they spot spray the bugs,,,,,nobody could get away with spot spraying fert, it would look like a checkerboard.

[philk17088]

it does drive me nuts when someone post something like this. Obviously Firedude has no idea what service was being performed (not spot spraying because the lawn has no weeds?? you can see that from the street?? why didnt the lawn have weeds since these guys suck so much??)

i have a chemlawn back ground....long before trugreen... even before ecolab. Now with that being said.... i am not a cheerleader for these guys.

As far as Topsites comments...well he obviously is a cheerleader. All that stuff might look good on a brochure that is given to a potential customer (trugreen certified?? is that anything like Home Depot's certified nursery employees?) but to a seasoned turf/ shrub manager....thats just blowin smoke
Were you there back in the day when VanFossen owned it?
When Istarted there in 84 you HAD to have a college/trade degree in hort or agronomy or ag related. Bacj when they sent you to school for 2 weeks. Back when they had their own research department and laboratory?

[lawnservice]

Were you there back in the day when VanFossen owned it?
When Istarted there in 84 you HAD to have a college/trade degree in hort or agronomy or ag related. Bacj when they sent you to school for 2 weeks. Back when they had their own research department and laboratory?
'82 thru '88
when ecolab took over and they took my company truck away from me i decided to jump ship

have to admit though it was a great experience

[Lawn Works]

It doesn't matter how good the company is if the idiot they employ could care less about the job Top Site. My neighbor USED , now my contract, tru-green and I watched the guy show up, ring the bell and knock on the door. When he realized nobody was home he rolled the hose out and began talking on his cell. 10 minutes later he wrote the bogus crap about how the lawn looks better etc. The company may be good but w/o good employees your sunk.:nono:

[Xterminator]

However, in their defense, you stated that the guy's lawn was weedless and looked good so they must be doing something right. Also there are many times where I will spread granular fert and then spot spray using the hose and tank. If there are only a few weeds, why blanket the whole lawn and stress it unneccesarily?
excellent point I do the same thing if its easier to pull the hose out and get them

[vegomatic40]

From firedude26's description, it's sounds like the guy was using a wand-adaptor (available from Westheffer) that simply screws onto the end of the standard gun. Has a small pressure restrictor that inserts in a tube that goes before the gun attaches. I've used them for years and it works great for low-volume apps such as spot spraying weeds. My customers care little how the job is done as long as the lawn's look good. To me, the tech. was likely doing a good job (there are some still out there that care) and should be commended for using IPM.
As far as "the old days", yes I remember it very well. In '81 (Trugreen was a small, Memphis based pimple on Chemlawn's collective behind) a tech. was NOT required to have a degree. Some background in agriculture or turf was desired but certainly not required as the company had a legitimate training program heavily based on sound agronomics and customer service that all employees went through. This also involved riding with a tenured tech. for 2-3 mos. then, taking all necessary company tests and state required certification and/or licensing test(s) before being issued a truck and a route.
While Trugreen's current training program sounds good in theory, it is woefully inadequate in practice. I know for a bonafied FACT that many of their tech's ride with another "senior tech" for as little as 2-3 days prior to being given route responsibility. Afterwards, they are thrown study material to hopefully pass the state minimum required tests for certification then, as a afterthought they take a watered-down company written test that the company tallies branch by branch to determine the many shortfalls. Many branches have been fined and threatened by state regulatory agencies with padlocking the doors until they get at least one licensed applicator on-staff to satisfy minimum requirements. I've heard tales of tech's taking the simplistic cert. test over 10 times before passing. As a former trainer and manager (Chemlawn) I remember taking several new tech's for the tests and all my guys being the first to hand in the tests and with the highest test scores. The pale-imposter that currently owns the rights to Chemlawn has retained the name in a vane attempt to give some level of credibility to the current corporate marketing giant. One other "hairsplitter", while Jack VanFossen was a considerable stockholder when the company went public, he was the president and CEO, NOT the owner. That distinction went to the Duke boys.

[Norm Al]

the problem with trugreen is NOT their training its,,,,,the paying by commission thats the problem!

[firedude26]

Did a little research on this and you will not believe what i was told......

The guy in question takes care of his own lawn and the professional applicator was servicing the wrong lawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a friend that lives a couple doors away and knows the guy and i had to ask, he called me and told me what happened. I am sorry for the remarks on how he was spraying with a lesco gun and watching the birds fly while treating the wrong lawn.:hammerhead:

[Turfman999]

Do You remember the plaques that came from the "Dukes"? They said that if you take great care of your employees, they will take great care of your customers and the profits will definitely come. The original ChemLawn deserved the destinction of a great #1 company. The new TG will try to hold #1 with a flawed plan. "Sell and treat alot of customer lawns, they will produce alot of profit until they cancel in 2 years, replace employees as needed" It is hard to believe TG was ever able to purchase ChemLawn with that mentality! They did understand what alot of money can "buy"

[TurfProSTL]

Chem Lawn was the benchmark in quality customer service when I started in the business.

They sold all of that and their thousands of good employees to the used car salesmen in Memphis.....

[Pauly V]

Unless its their patented water mix...hence no striping...comon...

[Ric]

the problem with trugreen is NOT their training its,,,,,the paying by commission thats the problem!

Scott

Hey with a 5 year old thread I am not sure if you aren't retired now. Are you guys still packaging and selling the Crabgrass control powder. No I won't give away your secret formula that isn't so secret.

Many people got their start with Chem Lawn and we actually have to thank them and True Green for marketing our industry and making it what it is today. How ever just because TG/CL might of given good training, That doesn't mean every Corn farmer that worked for them learned a dam thing except how to high pressure sell and of course Lie to the customer which TG?CL is famous for.

I am not sure if TG/CL salesmen are Liars before they work for TG/CL, Or does TG/CL Training program teaches them to be Liars. From what I have seen some of them are forever getting caught lying, so they are too good at lying.

[hunter140]

I worked for the real chemlawn from 1982 1988 and you were required to have a college degree not nesseraly in ag tech or natural resourece but you did need some degree as a new hire to be a tech. Part timers back wheelers or warm bodys did not need a degree.We used a mirror if they breathed they were hired.Yes it was the dukes that started the company and jack was the ceo. It was a great place to learn the business and they worked us to death. I was young and dumb at the time. Now I think thier antics really hunt the industry and make us all look bad. The old chemlawn motto was take care of the customer and take care of your people and the business will thirve.

[Licensetokill]

It was a great place to learn the business and they worked us to death. I was young and dumb at the time. Now I think thier antics really hunt the industry and make us all look bad. .

I remember those days. A "new hire" lectured to us at a state re-certification conference. All decked out in his suit and tie and fresh out of college he spouted the company line. It was an embarrassment to everyone and zero credibility. Funny how in my 30 or so years this incident stands out. maybe cause its a case of "been there-done that" when I worked for Barefoot Grass for a season:dizzy:

[Pauly V]

Back in 1987 I started an Organic Lawn Care Company and was one of 3 in Connecticut at the time. My main focus was to educate the client as to what was necessary for a sustainable lawn. All the 5-6 steps being pushed at the time were not needed and was simply alot of smoke and mirrors ($$$$). I studied and traveled extensively to garner the knowledge of what it would take ( i thought) to educate my clients. A dynamic eco system is really not difficult to achieve. You had the marketing wizards at Dow, Monsanto, Scotts etc.. buying out the upstart Organic production facilities, and subsequently burying them into the ground. Now they trickle out as much information as they need to control the market. Its just frustrating to see this take 25 years to come to light again as an option to conventional lawn care programs.

[Ric]

Interesting enough in my area.

SCOTTS hires 20 year old kids, I guessing because they can run faster.


TG/CL seems to hire late 30's to early 50's losers with no acquired skills so they look like they know what they are doing.

Occasionally they get a good one who learns enough and passes the test to go out on their own. but for the most part no one seems to stay with these big companies very long.

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

OP, if you are in MI, why is TG even out doing any sort of treatment this time of year? WAY too early.

[CLARK LAWN]

the OP was 6-13-06

[ron mexico75]

Ive seen the TrueGreen office/shop by me. Looked identical to the welfare/unemployment line.

Order of the day was to fuel up and drive like a mainiac to the first job site. Spray whatever "da man" filled the truck up with. Pretty much run through the yard with a spreader or hose depending on product. Leave a little invoice at every house that stated, "we observed some weeds, they were treated in order to give you a full, green lush lawn.".....BAM! drive like a maniac to next home and repeat. Lunch? Nope! You did that you wouldn't finish the route you were assigned and would get in trouble for slacking.


The salesman canvasing neighborhoods around here are relentless. You might have one good guy out of the dozen. Most seemed to be there for a paycheck and nothing else.

[Patriot Services]

OP, if you are in MI, why is TG even out doing any sort of treatment this time of year? WAY too early.

Your 5 YEARS late replying to this one.
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[ted putnam]

Pauly V had to dig this one out of the bottom of the pile for it to see daylight again.:laugh:

[Glenn Lawn Care]

Tru green is terrible! :$
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[Patriot Services]

Yea the crappy part is the OP still rings true. TG- too big to fail. Just thin the mix more and tell the guys to run faster.
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[Pauly V]

ooops.....i didn't look at the date..let my emotions take over...:)

[DA Quality Lawn & YS]

Your 5 YEARS late replying to this one.
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Worse yet, why did someone even pull this old dog up?

[Patriot Services]

Worse yet, why did someone even pull this old dog up?

Sadly its still a revelant point.
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[ted putnam]

Is the Giant stumbling though??? I've noticed and heard several things lately. Telemarketing is a pretty tough gig anymore. I've noticed they aren't in the "buy out" mode as much anymore either.. When you lose 30% + of your customer base each year, there are only so many ways to make up what is lost. Let's face it. You can only pull the wool over someones eyes so many times before they would never have you back on their lawn no matter how many post cards you send them. Speaking of which....I have usually gotten at least 2 of them from them by now. Haven't seen any yet this year. Add to that, they are trimming fat(ditching a money pit) by selling off the Landcare division......I wonder???

[turf hokie]

Is the Giant stumbling though??? I've noticed and heard several things lately. Telemarketing is a pretty tough gig anymore. I've noticed they aren't in the "buy out" mode as much anymore either.. When you lose 30% + of your customer base each year, there are only so many ways to make up what is lost. Let's face it. You can only pull the wool over someones eyes so many times before they would never have you back on their lawn no matter how many post cards you send them. Speaking of which....I have usually gotten at least 2 of them from them by now. Haven't seen any yet this year. Add to that, they are trimming fat(ditching a money pit) by selling off the Landcare division......I wonder???

Around here I dont think the big companies are sending postcards, they are walking neighborhoods and knocking on doors, saw them yesterday.....

[abrightday]

Actually our house received 3 large postcards within the past week, their ads are in the paper also, and I've seen them leaving signs on lawns saying they'll treat for just $29.95 first application, plus door hangers,,,,:dizzy:
www.YourLandscapePro.com

[ted putnam]

Actually our house received 3 large postcards within the past week, their ads are in the paper also, and I've seen them leaving signs on lawns saying they'll treat for just $29.95 first application, plus door hangers,,,,:dizzy:
www.YourLandscapePro.com

That explains it. You're in Florida and I'm in BFE:laugh:

[Patriot Services]

Every time they "visit" my neighbors house I get a doorhanger.
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[Turf Dawg]

Actually our house received 3 large postcards within the past week, their ads are in the paper also, and I've seen them leaving signs on lawns saying they'll treat for just $29.95 first application, plus door hangers,,,,:dizzy:
www.YourLandscapePro.com

DON'T LAUGH

I was sitting on my throne ruling the kingdom and the only thing close was my wife's Redbook magazine. While flipping through the pages I saw the same ad from them. 29.95 up to 5k and also some quotes from their very happy customers.

[mattfromNY]

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/trugreen.html
I keep this in my bookmarks, just to look at once in a while and remind me not to run my business like them!!

[TheBetterDoorhanger]

Actually our house received 3 large postcards within the past week, their ads are in the paper also, and I've seen them leaving signs on lawns saying they'll treat for just $29.95 first application, plus door hangers,,,,:dizzy:
www.YourLandscapePro.com

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