Help! If it just rained, should I still cut?

[green-pa]

Got my first schedualed mowing today but it rained for like the last 3 hours prior. I'm not sure if it's going to rain anymore soon but it's not sunny. Will it hurt my mower if I cut the grass when it's wet like this, or the line trimmer? If I don't do it today, I may have to wait 2-3 days cause it's a lotta rain in the near forcast. Should I wait or go ahead and cut it while it's wet?

[Raven386]

its not really going to hurt anything. its not going to be fun to clean up the clumps that your going to leave behind. does it absolutley need to be cut? or can it wait the 2-3 days?

[green-pa]

its not really going to hurt anything. its not going to be fun to clean up the clumps that your going to leave behind. does it absolutley need to be cut? or can it wait the 2-3 days?

THey may be willing to wait 2-3 days, but I don't want to loose them as a customer as it's my first one. I don't mind doing a little extra work the first time but just don't want to hurt my new mower and trimmer.

[Raven386]

what kind of mower are you using?

[Raven386]

call them and explain to them, either i can cut it today and it may not look as nice, or you can wait until it stops raining and you will be out as soon as it dry enough for you to cut. give them the choice, im sure they will understand.

[Raven386]

your not going to break your trimmer because the grass is wet, just be careful around the house because your going to end up throwing crap all over it, the same with the mower.

[green-pa]

It's a Troy Built w/ Honda Engine, brand new. It's not commercial and i know commercial is better, but they are like twice as much and I couldn't afford it to start with. I have an old back up in case this one goes out, but I'll upgrade when I can. So far this one starts right up and is one of Lowes better 21's. I spend all I had on my account to get the 3 start up pieces.

I just called the people too. I told her that it may be better to wait a few hours at least for the moisture to settle in so that the grass wouldn't be so wet, that way I'd avoid clumps. She didn't mind and all and told me to come when I can. Will it matter much in a few hours or will the blades of grass still be too wet? If it clumps, I can just rake em up or go over em again right? I've done this on my own yard, I just want to be professional about it as this is my first year in the biz:confused:

[green-pa]

call them and explain to them, either i can cut it today and it may not look as nice, or you can wait until it stops raining and you will be out as soon as it dry enough for you to cut. give them the choice, im sure they will understand.

THanks Raven for your quick response! I may try to cut it in a few hours or re-sched. They are very old but very understanding it appears! :)

[Raven386]

THanks Raven for your quick response! I may try to cut it in a few hours or re-sched. They are very old but very understanding it appears! :)

most people are understanding. i say most because eventually you will run into the PITA customers, but dont worry about that. thats what being an LCO is all about! IMO id wait until it was dry out, especially using a 21" you will be out there all day. you can wait a few hours if you want and try and get out there, but if they are alright with you waiting a few days...

[Raven386]

Good Luck !!!

[Wells]

Your not going to damage any of your equipment by getting it wet. The full-timers don't have the luxury of re-scheduling our appointments so we are out mowing everyday rain or shine.

Our equipment is rain soaked most of April & May but it's never been damaged due to the weather.

[green-pa]

Good Luck !!!

Ok and thanks again! I think I better try and get'er done today if possible as it may be worse in the next few days! I just read a long thread on cutting "In" the rain, so cutting after it's rained doesn't seem near as bad.
As I'm learning u just have to learn to deal with the rain cause when u have a lot of accounts u can't afford to skip

[Raven386]

pretty much... just be careful not to shoot grass all over the house!

[AllGreen Landscaping]

21"...hope it's not 2 acres...lol...good luck

[unit28]

Well, either you get paid or ya don't.

I always had trouble in the summer with clients leaving on the automatic sprinklers, even a few weekend warriors would have the water hose going on their scheduled mowing day.

At the beginiing of the summer, I'd send out a letter saying, I will be there on your scheduled mowing day and please leave off the water sprinklers.

No matter how many times I sent the request, some people disregarded.

So, I shut them off myself at the valve and then I just get the job done.

I figured if they want me to mow when they water, then I'll mow when it's raining. And I do, except during a storm where I'll sit out in my truck and wait it out.

I asked my tax guy about reimbursement if I can't work because of the rain,
he just gave me one of these looks......;)

I use an old military poncho for these particular days.

[Patriot Services]

Although you are just starting and aren't filled up with accounts yet. DON'T let your customers dictate when you come. When you start promising day and time these people will set their watch and mark their calender. Five minutes late and they will be calling. All my contracts state grass will be cut between 5 and 10 days depending on weather, growth and MY schedule. This helps when you start doing projects that may take a couple of days. If it rains I don't have to worry about calling 15-20 customers and discussing why I am not there for obvious reasons. What you are aiming for is customers that see your work and you don't have to see them unless there is a problem with payment. As you grow get away from the weekly payers, put them on monthly agreements. Less face time and you don't have to wait on them to be home to hand you a check and eat up your valuable time.:usflag: :usflag: :usflag:

[fiveoboy01]

You can alleviate a little of this problem by adding something to your agreement that states in the event of inclement weather, services will be scheduled on the next available business day. That will take some of the steam out of their argument if they're complaining about delays in service due to rain.

[AllGreen Landscaping]

you guys have a copy or sample contract?