How do you...reseed?

[Howie's Lawn Care]

Hey guys,
I been doing strictly lawn care and would like to offer some more services next year. I will have to rent larger equipment, but I need to get some experience doing bigger jobs if this is what I want to do for a career. I have a few questions for you guys offering full service.

1. What equipment is need to do reseeding and what is the actual process from start to finish? I have no idea how to do it, but I have to learn somehow.

2. What are the major pieces of equipment? Are they just skid steers and utility tractors? What all major tasks are each used for?

3. What exactly is hydroseeding and what equipment is needed?

4. How is sod layed and what procedures are required to get it growing well?

5. When you guys do a mulch job, and the old stuff needs to come up, what is the most efficient way to get it out of the beds?

6. What is the best way to go with fertilizer, granular or chemical?

How did you guys get started doing the 'big' jobs? I would really appreciate any of the help you guys can offer me.

-Nick Howard

[Adam3669]

Excellent post...I logged on this morning planning on asking the exact same questions.

Any help guys?

[Lumberjack]

1. you mean over seeding? that is just a quick rake and then spread the seed. size of rake and spreader depend on the area to be done. If you mean tearing up all the old grass and then seeding it your talking a bit more work which depends a lot on how fast you want it done and how deep the customers wallet is.

2. a shovel is a major piece of equipment.... what your doing determines the equipment. Assuming you know the basics of driving the equipment in question renting can be a good choice to help determine what works for you.

3. Hydroseeding is simply a fast way to spread seed that has been mixed with fertilizer.

4. sod is simply unrolled and then gone over with a heavy roller to press it down to the lower soil. prep all depends on the soil but a lot of guys just throw it down and run like heck.

6. get a licence.......