Estimate/Charges for bed maintenance

[Lawn-Scapes]

How do you figure your time and charges for routine bed maintenance to include in a seasonal bid?

[MuskTurfKing]

I charge $.50 to make it, another $.50 to tuck it under, and $1.00 for a mint on the pillow...:p

Hank

[Lawn-Scapes]

:)

[MuskTurfKing]

Oh yeah, King size's cost double...:D

[guntruck]

TSG,, the high end residentials that we do got hit with that charge in the middle of this year due to the fact im tired of them waithing till its over grown and then spending hours on end weeding and yanking weeds. I figured it would take me 15 minutes extra every time i was there to do the lawn to pull the weeds. So beings that there is four visits on most months around us i just charged for one man hour at the billing period. Now all that includes is sight pulling the weeds, once the spring clean-up is completed its not difficult if things are kept up. Now the fall clean-ups were gonna be doing get into the tree pruning and cutting back of all perennials and so forth. We are getting ready to evaluate what we have implemented and see how its worked to our advantage. BTW respond to my EMAIL!!!! LOL =)

[Lawn-Scapes]

Rich... I haven't received anything from ya lately. Could be my email account is wacked as usual... Was it important?

[lawnboy82]

Guntruck, wow! that is fast. My high end places that I work at, and have worked at in the past take many man hours to do a good job weeding. When doing bed maintenance agreements, I tell the customer at the beginning of the year; this is how often we will be weeding, this is how much it is going to cost you per hour. By now I know how long it takes, give or take an hour time wise. However they pay by the hour without fail.

[syzer]

Lawnboy:

about 15 minutes <b><i>after</b></i> spring cleanup that will get all of the weeds out. Some of our high ends will take us one to two fulls days to get into shape.

[guntruck]

Hehe lawnboy yes that is fast but as syzer and i think i stated its after the initial clean-up. Actually i did have a specific gardena dn property in mind when i replied to this post so its not going to be that way for all jobs. The one i was talking about doesnt have enormous beds and the beds it does have are filled with pachysandra and ivy along with mad liriope, so there isnt much room for weeds if you know what i mean. Sorry , maybe i should have been a little more specific but that was just a particular experiance. =) TSG, nah not important but i sent it when you replied to my last one.

[Runner]

It used to be a common conception that doing bed maintenance just isn't worth it, because of the time it takes, and the fact that you have equipment sitting on the trailer doing nothing. However, here is where you can make some pretty good money, actually, whether it be commercial or residntial. In the Spring, when you sell them the maintenance program, include keeping the beds weeded as part of the program. Hit them with Snaphot at the beginning of the season, and reap the profits. Your actual weding will be very minimal. For the jobs that will want or require a little more detailed or ellaborate work, such as flower care, and so forth, bill as accordingly to hourly rate.;)

[lawnboy82]

Yes, but Runner. There are a lot of people who don't want those nasty pesticides put down in their gardens and would much rather pay for the weeds to be hand pulled :rolleyes: Also, what do you do if the gardens you are treating are full of perenials located right next to eachother?

[TGCummings]

Estimate the approximate time it will take you to police the beds upon each visit, apply your rate, multiply that by the number of visits per month, and apply that to your monthly bill.

I cleaned a bed of 3-foot tall weeds for one customer last Spring and it took me about 2-3 hours to get them in shape. I then began to police them every week at an additional $40/month. I expected about 10-15 minutes of extra work every week, but rarely even have to spend 10 minutes on them. If you're on top of the weeds on a weekly basis, you rarely allow anything time to really develop.

It's a cash cow. ;)

-TGC

[Runner]

Originally posted by lawnboy82
Also, what do you do if the gardens you are treating are full of perenials located right next to eachother? [/B]

With a preM, they don't matter. You can spread right over top of perennials, shrubs, or whatever. If you're planting annuals, it won't affect them, either. Just as long as you don't have seed down there for something. As far as the "nasty pesticides" in their beds, what's the difference? This is a granular, which is one of the safest forms, and they have stuff sprayed all over their entire lawn twice a season, anyway!

[lawnboy82]

Not some of my customers :rolleyes: they dont want pesticides on their properties period. It takes about 16 man hours to do a thorough weeding job at one place, that is without a lot of weeds. The other place, right next door is the same and takes about another 14 man hours to weed.

[Runner]

Will IPM be suitable for your clientele? If so, try this. This is for the smaller weeds, but it also works on bigger weeds. If you have a spray container or backpack, mix 1 part vinegar and 1 part water. Just soak the veaves lightly, and this will burn the weeds up by the next day. Works great in driveways, too. It's all natural and cheap.