BushHogBoy

[summitgroundskeeping]

I don't understand...

"None of these lawns use chemicals or fertilizers, and just look how green they are! That's the advantage to hiring me - a better looking lawn that doesn't cost any more than the other guys (who will usually pour on tons of fertilizer and bill you for it because they don't know how to do it correctly, and it still doesn't look right!)"

That makes little sence if any.

Elaborate how my fellow LCOs don't know what they are doing.

sorry for picking on you, but that isn't something that you should be saying.

[joshua]

summit, i have to no clue what you're talking about, but from what it sounds like is what i go through with most of the companies in my area. funny thing is is that i can use cheap, and i mean cheap fert. and my yards look better than everyone else's. and i know what to put down and why i'm doing it unlike most of these other companies.

[summitgroundskeeping]

Check it out on his website

[Mowingman]

I checked out the website and have never, until reading the website, heard anyone state that mulching leaves and leaving them on the ground is bad for grass. Now I can understand that it might be bad if the mulched leaves were piled 6" deep, but to state that leaf mulch is bad for your yard is just nuts. I would like to see some scientific evidence to back up that claim.:)

[Scag48]

That's BS if you ask me. Without chemicals, our lawns would be screwed, or at least most of them. I suppose that dandelions just go away from lawns you mow? I'll just take some magical 2-4D and put on there. Oh, guess what? The dandelions went away! How did that happen? Don't knock fertilizing or anything like that. It's not like apples or orchards where you can grow stuff without chemicals. And even if you do grow and orchard organically, the quality usually isn't as good. And believe me on that, I grow apples. I agree with Summit, don't go around saying stuff like that. It's just not a legit thing to do.

[darryl gesner]

Regardless of what his web site says, I don't think you should be posting his user name as a topic like this. Maybe you could have just emailed him instead?

[Mykster]

I agree with Darryl.

[darryl gesner]

Mykster - Maybe Summit doesn't realize that BushHogBoy is only 15. Personally, I think it's great that at 15 he's not only got his own business but his own web site. I must admit that his statements on his web site are unprofessional and possibly inaccurate, but to me that's no reason for a public lynching.

I'd be careful critisizing any 15 year old who makes lawns look as good as he does with a garden tractor and homemade mowers. I think he's off to a great start!

[FrankenScagMachines]

OK, OK! I'll change it, now get off my back!!!!
Lay off!
Why are you picking on me anyhow? I will change it some, but around here not alot of people fertilize and those that do usually don't do it correctly, and usually it doesn't need done in those situations anyway. If a lawn is nice or OK when I get it, I can keep it pretty good looking or improve it a bit just by my mowing heights and techniques. Admittedly my site isn't very good yet, but I'm still working on it and it's new and not really advertised. If you mulch too many leaves, it will choke the lawn. I do mulch alittle when they first come down, just scattered, but when they come down thick you can't mulch them once a week, you have to use a catcher on them. At least around here you do. I do good work and have good prices and am 'worth my wages' so I don't think you should be kicking me for that. I know of several cases where they mulch all the leaves (and they have a ton of trees) and the lawn looks crappy because it's choked with leaves and can't get water, air, etc to the grass's roots. It WILL choke the lawn after alittle while. I have seen many lawns that were mowed too short and had the wrong fert. put on them and they do not look as good as some of my lawns that don't use anything, and are alittle higher but look alot better. I think that using the wrong mixes can even be harmful to the grass. I'm not trying to start an arguement on fertilizers, but I'm saying I don't think that you need to use all that stuff in all cases. I will change my webpage but so far I am the only one that knows about it but then I put it on my signature so that you guys can see the pics. I know I need to change it now thanks for the lynching summit!

[Cutting_Edge_Lawns]

BushHogBoy,

I have read many of your posts, and very few would illustrate that it is a 15 year old behind the keyboard. Don't let a little constructive criticism bother you, it will only make you better, but I had to commend you for being more articulate than many people almost twice your age. You are off to a great start in business and life, so keep up whatever you are doing!!


Shawn

[yardmonkey]

Hey man, you're on the right track. Just mulch mowing may be enough to keep many lawns healthy and looking great. If they need some fertilizer, there are many "non-chemical" fertilizers available. Top-dressing with compost is super. Milorganite is an excellent organic fertilizer. There are now many organic products available and many more on the way. Fish Emulsion may be a very special thing. Corn gluten meal may be a natural pre-emergent. Healthy grass keeps out weeds. Healthy soil makes healthy grass. Yes too much organic matter can choke the grass, and some leaves may contribute to acidic soil, but in general I think mulching leaves is good for the lawn. Probably in many cases people don't get them chopped up fine enough or they may be too wet for the mower to lift up and mulch. And although mulch-mowing is usually the "right thing to do", I suspect many are too lazy to rake leaves or bag grass when it may be appropriate. Even well-chopped stuff can be bad if it accumulates too much. One thing that leads to too much organic matter accumulating is the use of chemicals which kill the life (micro-organisms) in the soil and slow down the decomposition. I'm just starting to learn about all of this but I'm getting very interested in the concept of "organic lawn care". This will be a BIG thing in the future (which starts now).

Some resources:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com
http://www.milorganite.org
http://www.hu-more.com
http://www.acresusa.com

Building a Healthy Lawn - Stuart Franklin
Down-To-Earth Natural Lawn Care - Dick Raymond
The Chemical-Free Lawn - Warren Schultz
The Lawn - A History of An American Obsession - Virginia Scott Jenkins


Just say no to poisons.

[Runner]

Proper mowing is the #1 thing you can do to promote a healthy lawn. I don't care what kind of ferts you use on it, it can be the most expensive golf course grade material in the world, and if it isn't mowed and cared for properly it won't do it a bit of good. I remember SEVERAL people asking Eric what kind of fert went down on some of his yards to make them look like that, and I know there is atLEAST one in particular, that never GOT fertilizer. I think he always gave credit to the geese on that one. :angel:

[SLS]

Runnere:

Yeah, I remember Eric mentioning (and posting pics of) the 'goose poop' fertilized lawn...and it was beautiful!

He also had another one that looked awesome that he said was irrigated by a pump from the pond that was next to it...he said it must be the 'fish poop' that kept that one looking so good.

Something to be said about those 'organics' huh??? :)

I miss Eric's wit and wisdom. :(

[FrankenScagMachines]

When we had an indoor ten gallon fish tank, Mom always used the dirty water (full of **** when you clean the rocks weekly!) to water her flowers and they always do real good. We got rid of the fish - too much bother.
I have noticed a vast difference on my own yard just from mowing the right height and the right techniques. No weeds like before -dandelions have receded, there is some broadleaf and clover, but nothing drastic. The broadleaf is only on one spot where no one sees it anyway. Around here most people have one or both of these weeds and no one really cares. It blends with the grass good enough so they don't mind too bad.
Eric

[johnhenry]

Eric for being 15 years you are off to a great start. You do better than most landscapers in my area.The most important part of this business is learning and digesting everything you learn.Half what you will hear will benefit you and the other half wont. Listen to what people have to say and take for what its worth. Dont be bitter or argue. Its better to be silent than to be thought of as a fool at times