Charge x-tra fro pick up fruit?

[coldlake]

A lot of customers don't want to pick up their fallen oranges, plums, peaches etc, from the ground in the front or back yards.
I dont really have the time to stop and pick it up, it just gets mashed down. Some even don't prune back the grapes. Should I charge extra to do this? The mower will pick up most walnuts etc, but they also propel quite a few. It isn't cost effective to pick the fruit before it falls, and even if we did pick it, what would we do with it?

[bubble boy]

i really try not to pick up fruit from the ground, but if one or two cuts goes by and the fruit is still there i give in. it does look really bad when the lawn is all nicely cut except for one area of mashed peaches.
spending ten minutes picking up won't kill your day but will keep the customer happy. somebody once told me thats important
;)

[racerdave]

A Stihl powerbroom would be great for that.

[Fantasy Lawns]

got a few orange trees over there ????.....yep gotta love a 5-7 day rotten squishy, half eaten fruit on a nice soft .... moist lawn or bug packed dirt ......yum -yum

we mow right over em .... great fertilzer .... on premiums pick em up ...... use their garbage cans ..... and .... you bet charge for it ..... not by the hour by the piece

they'll let you mow over em after that bill hit's em ...... we have one yard with over 20 orange n grape fruit trees on it .....that's alot of trash n heavy ........

[mowerman90]

I love the smell of mulched Oranges in the morning!

[Keith]

Fun to trim around too. That spray of rotten fruit all over you....drives the flies crazy.

BTW, agreed, mulch em.

[Fine Lines Lawn]

Keep up the beatings and charge extra for lawn clean-up.

[Freetime]

A new service to provide= fresh made MO_JAM " yes ma'am just hold your toast right thier and I'll sling you some peach jelly in just a second"

"yes we can give your dog a treat"


As far charging, yes if it is exessive to the point of spending time
getting trash bags full. One, two, five, ten peaches per trip not to much problem.

Think about it this way, the customer without the fruit tree(s) is not going to pay for the time spent on those with, so who pay if the customer dona geet charge, you got it yous does.

Charge nasty fruit pickup fee
:D :blob3:

[smburgess]

You're providing a service, I would charge for it. If the client doesn't want to pay for the service, then let the fruit lay.

[Got Grass?]

You could always bring a bag, pick up the good stuff leave the bad and let your family enjoy. Maby get your wife to make you a pie. Or have your kids set up a fruit stand for something to do. Give some to your other customers in form of a fruit basket.
And best of all pick some and let your employees enjoy between jobs. Used to time a couple with Apple/Pear/Grapes right before lunch.
Unfortuantly most are prolly in bad shape as the owner dosnt care for them. I say just make applesause on the lawn, or bag arround the trees.

[SLS]

Use the situation to your advantage.

Install one of those metal grass catcher boxes on your mower and set up a Fruit Salad stand on the side of the road..yum! :D

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by SLS
Install one of those metal grass catcher boxes on your mower and set up a Fruit Salad stand on the side of the road..yum! :D

Just make sure that the trees are not close to any buildings or vehicles. These catchers have holes in the tops that sends the fruits flying thru like a play-doh factory!!

We charge what our hourly premium is for raking them off the ground prior to mowing the property. Afterall, how can you advertise for a meticulously manicured look if you have friut scrapple all over the place.

Just my .02
Kris