Hydro-seeding help.

[horizonmowing]

I got a call today and I guy wants me to hydro seed about 7 acres. I dont have the equipment, but it can be rented for $220.00 per day. How long will it take, where do I get the mix, what do I charge? Or am I getting in over my head on this one? Let me hear your thoughts. Thanks.

[MMLawn]

I know the answer to them all.....and to the most important one of all......and would nearly always help out with those answers......but seeing as how I am a retired Cop and you hate cops and stated so in your thread you started on "I hate Cops" I'm sure you'd never want advise from a scumbag like a cop.....so.........you figure it out kid. ;)

Also ask the company if they rent directly to high school KIDS under 18.......you won't like that answer either....

[lawnspecialties]

I know the answer to them all.....and to the most important one of all......and would nearly always help out with those answers......but seeing as how I am a retired Cop and you hate cops and stated so in your thread you started on "I hate Cops" I'm sure you'd never want advise from a scumbag like a cop.....so.........you figure it out kid. ;)

Also ask the company if they rent directly to high school KIDS under 18.......you won't like that answer either....

BOOM!:dizzy: :dizzy:

[SodKing]

I like your answer Mike!

[Potomac Lawns Inc.]

Well lets see to do the job you will need around 10,000 in materials, hydromulch 1200-2000lbs per acre plus fert plus seed, plus lime, then you will need a water supply such as a pond and if there is not one there you will need a water meter from the county, I would figure on 2 days for the machine because by the price you are saying for the rental, it is from sunbelt and should be a 500 gallon machine. I would say pass it on to someone who has done larger jobs before.

[mdvaden]

On one like this, if somebody can't figure it out themselves, they can't be ready.

The specs are available for the equipment.

Anybody qualified, will be able to calculate the needed seed and product totals.

It doesn't sound like you are ready for this level of professional hydroseeding yet.

[Mike33]

I know the answer to them all.....and to the most important one of all......and would nearly always help out with those answers......but seeing as how I am a retired Cop and you hate cops and stated so in your thread you started on "I hate Cops" I'm sure you'd never want advise from a scumbag like a cop.....so.........you figure it out kid. ;)

Also ask the company if they rent directly to high school KIDS under 18.......you won't like that answer either....
I love your answer also, i happen to own a hydo-seeder and would pay admission to watch this kid pull this off.
Mike

[Dirty Water]

Sub it out.

[AintNoFun]

i can assure you a 7 acre job will bring all the largest hydroseeders in your area to bid on the job...

[muddstopper]

I dont totally agree with everything said here, but do agree that if you have never hydroseeded before you will be getting in way over your head. The answers are not as simple as some would have you believe. When you talk about renting a machine, what kind are you renting, jet, mechanical? It stands to reason if the rental company rents the machine, they also should have the materials. I doubt that you can do the job in two days with a 500 gal rental machine. The math just dont work out right.
My suggestion if you want to get into hydroseeding is start with a few small lawns until you get a feel for what you are doing. The money isnt as great as it sounds and a 7 acre job will probably go for a fraction of what a few adverge size lawns will. I regulary pass on large jobs simply because I can make more money with less work and materials on smaller jobs.

[mdvaden]

I dont totally agree with everything said here, but do agree that if you have never hydroseeded before you will be getting in way over your head. The answers are not as simple as some would have you believe. When you talk about renting a machine, what kind are you renting, jet, mechanical? It stands to reason if the rental company rents the machine, they also should have the materials. I doubt that you can do the job in two days with a 500 gal rental machine. The math just dont work out right.
My suggestion if you want to get into hydroseeding is start with a few small lawns until you get a feel for what you are doing. The money isnt as great as it sounds and a 7 acre job will probably go for a fraction of what a few adverge size lawns will. I regulary pass on large jobs simply because I can make more money with less work and materials on smaller jobs.


The practice aspect that you mentioned - at small projects first - is sensible.

It takes a while to get the feel of a machine and how it applies. The rate, how far it throws, how to move it, how often to refill it, etc..

A lot of product could be wasted on too large of a project without the know-how.

[SodKing]

Think of it this way...a 7 acre job would require you to reload the (500gal) machine 33 times. the larger hydroseeders would have to reload around 5 times or less...there is no way you could make money on the project...

[muddstopper]

probably closer to refilling 49 times than 33, depending on the mulch rates of course.

[Mike33]

Depending on soil conditions it would take me around 56 times with my 500 gal. turf-maker
Mike

[horizonmowing]

Well lets see to do the job you will need around 10,000 in materials, hydromulch 1200-2000lbs per acre plus fert plus seed, plus lime, then you will need a water supply such as a pond and if there is not one there you will need a water meter from the county, I would figure on 2 days for the machine because by the price you are saying for the rental, it is from sunbelt and should be a 500 gallon machine. I would say pass it on to someone who has done larger jobs before.

Yeah. Any one want this job? Other then MMLawn, This client seems nice, wouldnt want him to have to deal with you.

Thanks for actually helping Potomac....

[SodKing]

You're welcome.

[Dirty Water]

Call up whoever hydroseeds the highway medians for your county and sub it to them.

They should have a hydroseeder like this that will do nicely:

http://www.durasoil.com/Images/Photos/Application_Equipment/Dust_Control_Hydroseeder.jpg

[Potomac Lawns Inc.]

No problem, I would say that we could do it but thats a bit far for me. I do have a 1200 gallon machine

[impactlandscaping]

Well lets see to do the job you will need around 10,000 in materials, hydromulch 1200-2000lbs per acre plus fert plus seed, plus lime, then you will need a water supply such as a pond and if there is not one there you will need a water meter from the county, I would figure on 2 days for the machine because by the price you are saying for the rental, it is from sunbelt and should be a 500 gallon machine. I would say pass it on to someone who has done larger jobs before.


As he'll see, there will be guys who will bid that job at just over materials(4-6K) costs alone. Like Mudd said, move into it a little at a time. We make more money shooting residential jobs than we do on larger commercial sites. The commercials are usually long term, warranting a little price break , but larger one time jobs can get too lenghty and $$$. We only do larger acreage shoots when necessary. I don't go out looking for them, but when they find us, we will gladly accomodate them.:)

[Potomac Lawns Inc.]

As Impact said they do want it as cheap as possable, the largest we have done is a little over 14 acres, however we had a pond on sight.

[impactlandscaping]

Isn't it nice when you have a very close by water source and you are shooting wide open area?? Two minutes beats the heck out of waiting for 45 minutes to fill from a muni water tap.:laugh: