Hickory Leaf Landscape Thread

[93Chevy]

Hi guys, I've been on LS for a while, I've used it as a research tool more or less, but I feel like I haven't been able to use it as its full potential as a networking tool as well. I hope with this thread you can learn a little more about me and hopefully I'll make some new acquaintances. I'll start off with a little about me and then we'll get into what you really care about: pics.:usflag:

The name's Tim, I live north of Pittsburgh. I'm a full time business major and in the summer I work full time for a local LCO. Landscaping is my passion, I've been working with my hands my whole life and I have my family's business spirit in my veins, so last year I decided to start my own company to try it out. This year, I still only work for myself part time, because I want more experience before I go full time on my own in the next few years.

A little about my business...I work 40-50 hours a week for a local LCO, so my time is limited. I have 5 mowing accounts, which is enough for me, and this year I'm swamped with weekend jobs and I'm probably booked for myself till mid-July.

At first glance, I may look like a lowballer, with a truck and 21" in the back, but I cannot justify a larger mower and trailer till maybe next season due to lack of space and money. Hopefully one more year of busting my balls with a 21" will bring me enough to warrant a 36" and trailer.

Truck: 1995 Chevy 2500
Old truck: 1993 Chevy 1500, now sold
Mower: Snapper Commercial 21"
Trimmer: Echo PAS2-260
Blower: Echo PB-755t
Hopefully I'll get everything washed up next weekend when I get back from school.

[93Chevy]

Grass cutting pics from this year so far:

[93Chevy]

Some more for today:

[hitechlm]

looks like you do some fairly large lawns for using a push mower, looks nice though.

[93Chevy]

Yeah, it's a PITA, but one more year till I upgrade.

[DRBLawnBuster]

Those snapper mowers are awsome they are a well built machine. good luck in 09.

[4.3mudder]

Man, that one snapper mower is older than me! Wish they still made equipment like that today.

Not being mean, but your lines are a little off. Great job though

[93Chevy]

Those snapper mowers are awsome they are a well built machine. good luck in 09.

Yeah, I grew up on Snapper, that old one was Dad's till I bought it off of him and started cutting my neighbors a few years back. In my opinion, the disk drive is the best on the market. They work great for me, anyway.

Have a good season.

[93Chevy]

Man, that one snapper mower is older than me! Wish they still made equipment like that today.

Not being mean, but your lines are a little off. Great job though

Yeah, dad bought that...22-25 years ago. Sadly, it was scrapped. Too many carb problems. Dad bought his rider and I bought my commercial, so no need for the old one anymore.

Yeah my lines are a little crooked. I'm still working on making them better. Any tips?

Have a good season. :waving:

[LBLC_LCO]

Pick a point and mow towards it, looking at the point not the ground, that should help.

[4.3mudder]

Pick a point and mow towards it, looking at the point not the ground, that should help.

Bingo, find somewhere and go towards it

[93Chevy]

Pick a point and mow towards it, looking at the point not the ground, that should help.

Thank you. I'll try that and I'll go slower till I get better.

[2brothersyardcare]

looks great and thats a nice truck

[J & D Greens]

Keep up the good work, it will pay off.

[93Chevy]

looks great and thats a nice truck

Thank you. I put a lot of time into keeping the truck clean and maintained. I hope it lasts me a long time.

[93Chevy]

Keep up the good work, it will pay off.

Thank you. I'm far from perfect, but I try to do the best I can, and I have good relationships with my customers, and that's important right now.

[mowerdude777]

Those yards look great

[grassman177]

we used to have the snappers, we had the ones withthe old wisconson robin engines on them, they ran forever and cut really nice!!! we even rebuilt one and painted it with kubota piant. we called it the KUBAPPER!!!! it lived a long life. good luck, and you will be thankful for the upgrade when she comes!!!

[93Chevy]

Those yards look great

Thank you. I look at every week as an opportunity for improvement.

[93Chevy]

we used to have the snappers, we had the ones withthe old wisconson robin engines on them, they ran forever and cut really nice!!! we even rebuilt one and painted it with kubota piant. we called it the KUBAPPER!!!! it lived a long life. good luck, and you will be thankful for the upgrade when she comes!!!

Kubapper, :laugh: I've had the desire before to repaint my equipment to match my truck, but that's money I don't need to spend. Thanks for the kind words, and have a good season.

[THEGOLDPRO]

holy push mowing.

[93Chevy]

Some of the "shop" and equipment.

[DRBLawnBuster]

Looks really good. I think that you tie your 21" mower down better then guys tie down there walkbehinds and z-turns lol. You should really look into a used belt driven mower you cna find them pretty cheap.

[normower]

Hickory where in North Pittsburgh do you work?

[93Chevy]

Looks really good. I think that you tie your 21" mower down better then guys tie down there walkbehinds and z-turns lol. You should really look into a used belt driven mower you cna find them pretty cheap.

Haha, yeah I tie her down good. I've forgotten twice this year so far, but she hasn't moved...there's a ton of stuff behind her, so I guess I'd be okay not tying the mower, but better safe than sorry.

As for a used WB, I'd rather save my money right now. This is only a part time gig for me, so cash is tight. Also with a WB, I'd need a trailer (which I could get for cheap) and a larger storage unit. All of this money I can't justify right now. But you're right, it would be easier.

Hickory where in North Pittsburgh do you work?
normower, I live in the south tip of Butler county, but I do work in N. Allegheny as well. I try to stick to my area while I'm still part time because I don't want the time between jobs to be an issue. Depending on the job that's offered, I probably won't turn it down if the money's right even if it's a bit further though.

[ponyboy]

Not trying to be mean but far from a professional cut. Are you is your company legal or is this your side gig for some quick cash? It looks like the kid next door cut it for $10 Get a 48 inch belt drive, it will fit in the back of a pick up and then take your time and cut straight. I know here in NY trucks need lettering co name phone number, town, lic# dot # I assume you dont have any nor proper insurance ? If you do I am sorry but I doubt you do and this is killing the industry, I do call my local consumer protection and report illegal companies but either way I would fire a company if that is what my lawn looked liked when i got home

[ED'S LAWNCARE]

Not trying to be mean but far from a professional cut. Are you is your company legal or is this your side gig for some quick cash? It looks like the kid next door cut it for $10 Get a 48 inch belt drive, it will fit in the back of a pick up and then take your time and cut straight. I know here in NY trucks need lettering co name phone number, town, lic# dot # I assume you dont have any nor proper insurance ? If you do I am sorry but I doubt you do and this is killing the industry, I do call my local consumer protection and report illegal companies but either way I would fire a company if that is what my lawn looked liked when i got home

Get a grip. It's fine for starting out. I suppose your work was perfect from the get go. As long as his clients are happy that is all that counts. I do agree on being legal thou.

[93Chevy]

Not trying to be mean but far from a professional cut. Are you is your company legal or is this your side gig for some quick cash? It looks like the kid next door cut it for $10 Get a 48 inch belt drive, it will fit in the back of a pick up and then take your time and cut straight. I know here in NY trucks need lettering co name phone number, town, lic# dot # I assume you dont have any nor proper insurance ? If you do I am sorry but I doubt you do and this is killing the industry, I do call my local consumer protection and report illegal companies but either way I would fire a company if that is what my lawn looked liked when i got home

Cool, thanks for the compliments always nice to have somebody on my side admiring my work.

You want my EIN and Ins. policy number? I could fax it to you on company letterhead if you like with my attorney's signature just for the heck of it.

[93Chevy]

Get a grip. It's fine for starting out. I suppose your work was perfect from the get go. As long as his clients are happy that is all that counts. I do agree on being legal thou.

Thank you. I look for every week as an improvement to my work.


I'll admit, my work isn't perfect. But I love doing it and it's the best I can do. I started this thread for some "constructive" criticism. Thanks to all of you who want to help me improve.

[Junior M]

I really dont see whats so wrong with the cut? We all know a 21s cut looks like crap on large pieces of property(atleast I notice that) and like someone else said, we've all got to start somewhere..

I love the truck, keep up the hard work...

[ponyboy]

k well i went and read his profile maybee i should have first it is great you are a full time student and do this part time keep up the hard work. I belive you have insureane etc.. if you say you do then I would but a 48 and a set or ramps for the back of your truck and scrap the 21 espically if you ahve bigger lawns like that and keep up the work..
When I started ou I was a kid 12 or 13 working with my father (i know it was not legal but times were different) and no i was far from perfect but with time i got better but i realized that better equipment helped me get better so that was that

[93Chevy]

I really dont see whats so wrong with the cut? We all know a 21s cut looks like crap on large pieces of property(atleast I notice that) and like someone else said, we've all got to start somewhere..

I love the truck, keep up the hard work...

Thanks man. That truck keeps me better company than my girlfriend, lol.

Yeah, I agree, the 21's look bad on large areas, but I'll be bigger next season.

[93Chevy]

k well i went and read his profile maybee i should have first it is great you are a full time student and do this part time keep up the hard work. I belive you have insureane etc.. if you say you do then I would but a 48 and a set or ramps for the back of your truck and scrap the 21 espically if you ahve bigger lawns like that and keep up the work..
When I started ou I was a kid 12 or 13 working with my father (i know it was not legal but times were different) and no i was far from perfect but with time i got better but i realized that better equipment helped me get better so that was that

Thank man. Bigger mower for next season, I don't have the money right now. That'll make the lawns look better for sure, but I need to be patient and not jump into something I can't afford.

[93Chevy]

Got the business cards done today. Let me know what you think.

Personally, I think they look better in person, it's just not the same on the computer.

[ponyboy]

that i like. is there a back side? i have on mine lic# and insured, but simple and esay to read looks good

[93Chevy]

that i like. is there a back side? i have on mine lic# and insured, but simple and esay to read looks good

Thanks. There is no back side, I wanted to keep it simple and straightforward. I was thinking of putting a list of services on the back, but that opens up too much areas for miscommunication, in my opinion.

[93Chevy]

Mulch job earlier in the week.
Almost finished the first day, but ran out of mulch, had to finish up the next evening. That's why the mulch is different shades in the "after pics"

[normower]

93 Chevy, is that the route 8 storage facility by Shop and Save and Walmart.

[deere615]

looking good man keep up the good work

[93Chevy]

93 Chevy, is that the route 8 storage facility by Shop and Save and Walmart.

No, this is Mars Evans City storage on Mars Evans City Road, less than 2 miles from my house. I know the facility you're referring to, but that one's way too far for me.

[93Chevy]

looking good man keep up the good work

Thanks man. I look at every job as an opportunity for improvement.

[93Chevy]

Mulch job from saturday

[93Chevy]

After pics

[Lawn Freak]

Looks good, I want more mulch work. Its fun

[93Chevy]

Looks good, I want more mulch work. Its fun

Yeah man, it's easy to make everything look better with a good mulch job. I generally don't like red mulch, but it's what the customer wanted, and they're thrilled, so that's all that matters.

[South Florida Lawns]

Hey I like those snappers. They are great machines, I had a really old one just like yours, now I have a commercial 21 and 32" snapper walkbehind thats over 14 years old. All my snappers left a great cut even to this day! Good luck this season!

[93Chevy]

Hey I like those snappers. They are great machines, I had a really old one just like yours, now I have a commercial 21 and 32" snapper walkbehind thats over 14 years old. All my snappers left a great cut even to this day! Good luck this season!

Thanks man, I've never had a problem with mine. Good luck to you too.

[93Chevy]

Here's some from this weekend. Same house from the last pics, did some work around back this weekend. This is an ongoing project, there's really no hurry for me to get done, customer is pretty lax, and likes to save up money and do it in stages, lol.

[93Chevy]

Few more....

[W.L.M.]

Yeah, dad bought that...22-25 years ago. Sadly, it was scrapped. Too many carb problems. Dad bought his rider and I bought my commercial, so no need for the old one anymore.

Yeah my lines are a little crooked. I'm still working on making them better. Any tips?

Have a good season. :waving:

I mow some large areas with a 21 including slopes and uneven terrain and I found that the key is to keep your grip light and let the mower go where it is going it sometimes doesn't feel like it is going straight but when you turn at the end of the line it ends up perfect. Unless of course you wheels aren't aligned. For short areas make sure your rear wheels are on the right line when you start the pass. Other than that let the mower do the work.

Best of luck to you this year.

[93Chevy]

I mow some large areas with a 21 including slopes and uneven terrain and I found that the key is to keep your grip light and let the mower go where it is going it sometimes doesn't feel like it is going straight but when you turn at the end of the line it ends up perfect. Unless of course you wheels aren't aligned. For short areas make sure your rear wheels are on the right line when you start the pass. Other than that let the mower do the work.

Best of luck to you this year.

I'll give that trick a shot tomorrow evening on one of my longer lawns. One problem I've noticed that I have is when I pick a spot in the distance, it's not aligned with where I'm starting, so the line isn't perfect to start with.

Still working on it though, I did run a 52" Lazer a few weeks ago for my fulltime boss and I kept it a lot straighter than my 21."

[Supper Grassy]

nice equipment

[93Chevy]

Mulch and install job from before the 4th.

[93Chevy]

More pics from same job...

[J & D Greens]

Tim your work looks nice, I sure wish I had a lot of extra time to devote to the odd jobs that some customers have for me. Not to mention all the work I need around my own home. Keep up the good work and you will have more work than you can handle in the near future!!!!!! Take care, David

[93Chevy]

Thank you for the kind words David. I love doing what I do. I don't think of my work as landscaping, I think of it serving customers. My skill set just happens to be landscaping.

[J & D Greens]

Thank you for the kind words David. I love doing what I do. I don't think of my work as landscaping, I think of it serving customers. My skill set just happens to be landscaping.

Exactly, some on this site don't see the profit of doing the extra work. I don't make as much when I do it but if the time allows it is to enhance my lawns work and makes the customer happy. The extra money isn't bad but as a SOLO guy I find I make much more doing their lawns than any other work, Well I got to sign off because I am sharpening my hedge trimmer and maintenance my equipment for tomorrow. Chow, David

[93Chevy]

I've actually found the opposite to be true for me. Mowing grass and trimming shrubs pays my bills, and I can come out even or ahead. The install jobs and tear out jobs are what land me the money to buy new equipment.

I guess it really depends on what you consider your niche to be. I would like to get into big design and install jobs, after I take some classes. In my opinion, the maintenance accounts in my area will always be there. They're steady money. But I want to pull my skills ahead of just maintenance and get into the hardscaping and design side of things in the next few years.

[Cuttinitclose]

Looks Good!

[93Chevy]

Thanks guy.

[Cuttinitclose]

You can call me Ian.

[deere615]

I've actually found the opposite to be true for me. Mowing grass and trimming shrubs pays my bills, and I can come out even or ahead. The install jobs and tear out jobs are what land me the money to buy new equipment.

I guess it really depends on what you consider your niche to be. I would like to get into big design and install jobs, after I take some classes. In my opinion, the maintenance accounts in my area will always be there. They're steady money. But I want to pull my skills ahead of just maintenance and get into the hardscaping and design side of things in the next few years.

Totally agree!

[93Chevy]

You can call me Ian.

Okay Ian.

I've picked up the bad habit of calling people guy or boss.

[J & D Greens]

I've actually found the opposite to be true for me. Mowing grass and trimming shrubs pays my bills, and I can come out even or ahead. The install jobs and tear out jobs are what land me the money to buy new equipment.

I guess it really depends on what you consider your niche to be. I would like to get into big design and install jobs, after I take some classes. In my opinion, the maintenance accounts in my area will always be there. They're steady money. But I want to pull my skills ahead of just maintenance and get into the hardscaping and design side of things in the next few years.
I'm back, what you say is very true, each person in this biz. has something they are striving for. Whether it's as much money as one can grab, or a good income in something that you just love to do. Everyone has something to offer. I love to make the yard look as good as I can each week. But what really sets one off is the landscape, that is what makes both come together to catch the eye of it's beauty. I have some accounts that are colorful gardens all summer long. Very small yard to mow but wall to wall flowers, shrubs and trees, they are done very well. A landscape architect provided them with a plan. That is a field that you have a zeal for. Some day going to college is something I would like to do just to enhance my biz. in anyway it might help me. But for now I just need to keep plugging away at what I do best. Mow the grass.

[newjerseylandscaping]

Pick a point and mow towards it, looking at the point not the ground, that should help.



What if there is a rabbit on the ground, i wouldnt want t mow a rabbit. would you?:confused:

[93Chevy]

What if there is a rabbit on the ground, i wouldnt want t mow a rabbit. would you?:confused:

Then just stop mowing until it moves...

[newjerseylandscaping]

HAHA would you see it if you were lookig at a fixed point

[93Chevy]

HAHA would you see it if you were lookig at a fixed point

Unless you're wearing blinders or have terrible vision, your peripheral vision should take care of it.

[newjerseylandscaping]

HAHA blinders can you imagine.