Spraying my first app

[HazellLawnCare]

I have always used a granualar product with dimension usually for my first application. What I am wondering is are there any benefits or disadvantages to spraying my first application. I have all the equipment that is necessary and it just sits as I only use it for one round of my program right now. Would I get better results by spraying round 1?

[Shades of Green LService]

I went to your website and saw that you are offering a "Free season of fertilization and weed control if you sign up for a year of mowing" are you really giving away a full season of fert and spray?

[HazellLawnCare]

Yes I am doing that. Everyone is always in shock of that but I am the highiest priced lawn guy in town and I bag everything. What I do is I figure an extra $5 or so on top of the price I usually charge for mowing. So my loss isn't as big as everyone thinks. Then after the first year I still charge more for the mowing and then I charge for the apps too. It works you just have to be good as selling.

[MRMelton]

good marketing hazell

[HazellLawnCare]

Now that we have my marketing out of the way how bout some help on my original topic!

[tgnb]

I have always used a granualar product with dimension usually for my first application. What I am wondering is are there any benefits or disadvantages to spraying my first application. I have all the equipment that is necessary and it just sits as I only use it for one round of my program right now. Would I get better results by spraying round 1?

Pros: Better coverage, better results (IMO), and you'll find that a lot of customers see more perceived value in the technique (since most of what they could purchase to DIY is in granular form... it makes your application a bit "special" since they can't do it that way).

Cons: Spraying a lawn will take you more time than spreading the same lawn. In addition to reeling your hose up after completion, you have to deal with it getting hung up on something every once in a while (juniper, irrigation heads not seated all the way down, yard ornaments, car tires, etc. Whatever it is in the lawn, the hose always seems to find it...) After 1 or 2 spray apps on a property, you should be able to figure out the most efficient way to get it done.

FTR, we spray 6 of 7 rounds. We have lots of centipedegrass, which doesn't like too much N. By spraying, it's a lot easier to apply very low N at a consistent rate.

[HazellLawnCare]

anymore input?

[HazellLawnCare]

wow no one else wants to add any thoughts?

[rcreech]

I can't believe you are giving away all your apps! WOW!

That is a BIG giveaway!


Have you priced fert lately?

[kirk anderson]

we do all liquid and have for .... the last ten years.. there is soluable barricade.. we use the generic version..and it works great...
we also are converting to UFLEXX for our nitrogen base...
Kirk Anderson
firekiller968@hotmail.com

[kirk anderson]

Dont be afraid of the hose and preemergent sprayed in the cracks by sidewalks works much better then granular....
we have gained alot of customer base because granular companies cannot keep crabgrass out of the edges like we can

[HazellLawnCare]

I have priced fert lately guys. I don't know how many times I have to say that this concept works for my business.

[Shades of Green LService]

I have priced fert lately guys. I don't know how many times I have to say that this concept works for my business.

Even if you still have the customer next year, your still not making money on the apps, because of the fact you gave it away the previous season. So thats 2 seasons of work and still NO profit on that side of the business. At least on the accounts that got that great I can't beleive you don't see that,.....as a businessman.

[rcreech]

Around here....most guys don't make much money mowing anyway ($30-40/ac), so if they gave away chem and fert apps they wouldn't last but a couple weeks.


I do have a couple buddies that do well mowing...but most are week to week.

I think the drought thinned out some of them last year!

[HazellLawnCare]

You guys dont understand do you. I charge more for the mowing when I offer this deal than I usually do. That offsets the cost of the apps and then the next year I make serious profit.

[Shades of Green LService]

Around here guys do very well mowing, including myself. I just don't know why anyone would pass up on potentialy thousands of dollars!

[Shades of Green LService]

You guys dont understand do you. I charge more for the mowing when I offer this deal than I usually do. That offsets the cost of the apps and then the next year I make serious profit.

Do you lower the price of the cut the following season?....NO, of coarse not. So that stands to reason that you can get that price with out giving away a very profitable service. So that also means that the customer IS willing to pay for such a service in the first place. The fact that you are a 1 stop shop should be a big seller by itself........Good luck and God Bless.;)

[rcreech]

You guys dont understand do you. I charge more for the mowing when I offer this deal than I usually do. That offsets the cost of the apps and then the next year I make serious profit.

I kinda see where you are coming from....I think????

So say a mowing job costs $40 say you charge $50 that is $10 more/week (which is $40/month).

So then you give them a "free" $40 app that you have already charged them for.

Am I thinking right?

If thats the case...you are breaking even and making them think they are getting a great deal.

Question:

The next year do they catch on that you are overcharging and not doing anymore apps?

[HenryB]

And if they fire you the second year?:confused:

[HazellLawnCare]

Ok guys thanks for busting my chops on my deal that works for me. It works for me and that is all that should matter. My business does VERY well and I don't feel I should have to approve everything with this board before I do it. I asked about a totally different thing and none of you take the time to comment on that.

[grenskpr]

We spray our pre emergents so that we can have clean edges. I love seeing a customers lawn next to a non user and there is a crisp line down the property line pretty impressive.