Keeping my costs down [Archive] - LawnSite.com™ - Lawn Care & Landscaping Business Forum

Max23

05-05-2010, 02:54 PM

Hello

I havent posted much but here goes. This is my second season and I have gone through progreen as a supplier for everything. I started out last year mixing 46-0-0 Uflex with triplet to do some apps because that is what progreen told me guys were running. Ive put down 19-0-0 Anderson with .103 dimension for my first. I was planning on running a round of triplet as a blanket on 4 residential lots. My ultimate question Progreen has told me that there is not a soluble potash that I can add to the mix? If I am mixing my own to try and save money what do you guys recommend and or how can I get it?? Im looking to get to a 22-0-6 or so?? I saw alot of yellowing of the grass underneath by spraying the Uflex. I know I am new to this and I only am spraying my cutting clients for them I am not looking to branch any of this out cuz I really dont make any $$$ with it after I look at my costs.

VARMIT COMMISSION

05-05-2010, 04:37 PM

http://www.mahafeedwsf.net/watersoluble-potash-fertilizer.html

Never tried it or use it in the tank but here is one, so the answer would be yes it is avaliable. I just did a quick search for it.

indyturf

05-05-2010, 09:32 PM

You can get murate or sulfate of potash in 50lb bags that are spray-able. its been a few years since I have used it but if I remember right the murate mixed better but you can get both in a very fine granular almost like sand. you should be able to find it at any fert supplier.

Max23

05-07-2010, 08:36 AM

Thanks for the info I actually went back to progreen yesterday and talked to em about it. They can get if for me now. I guess the only other question I have is you guys must be spraying a product that already has the potash in the mix then? I know they told me I could get like 22-0-6 in a 5 gallon concentrated bucket or so to mix it up but it was a bit more espensive. If that would work alot better would you recommend I start doing that. I think he told me it would roughly cover an acre and it was $55 or so.

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 08:42 AM

If you're just going to spray fert just use 46-0-0 and forget about the rest in my opinion.

You wont notice a difference and this business is about color, and killing weeds.

Nothin more. Nothin less.

The wanna be agronomists here will disagree with me but that's the truth.

VARMIT COMMISSION

05-07-2010, 09:33 AM

You wont notice a difference and this business is about color, and killing weeds.

Nothin more. Nothin less.

The wanna be agronomists here will disagree with me but that's the truth.

I would have to agree with ya big time on this one SeedPro!

Max23

05-07-2010, 09:39 AM

Thats funny. I know I might be looking too hard at it. I know your right but with spraying the Umaxx 46-0-0 in itself I noticed some yellowing underneath that I didnt like. I guess just lookin for something better but still reasonable with cost to apply

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 09:50 AM

Lower your rate and add some chelated iron.

If you want to get savvy look for some fluff or formelene or some slow release Nitrogen.

You have to be very careful with 46-0-0 especially on stressed lawns, in heat and in shade.

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 09:54 AM

If you're just going to spray fert just use 46-0-0 and forget about the rest in my opinion.

Why does this response not surprise me? But, I suppose it only makes sense that SeedPro's low-ball know-how is sufficient to defy science and the laws of nature...

1grnlwn

05-07-2010, 09:58 AM

Yea the yellow you see could be the start of N burn. After doing Iron tests in my own yard I never paid for it again. It is funny over hearing the new guys discussing it though.

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 09:59 AM

Why does this response not surprise me? But, I suppose it only makes sense that SeedPro's low-ball know-how is sufficient to defy science and the laws of nature...

^^^ Wanna be agronomist alert!!!^^^^

Told ya they would come out of the woodwork.

The threads about doing a decent job for the client and cutting costs. If the wanna be agronomists with their months of experience want to kiss the lawn and make it better that's great.

But the customer just want's the lawn green and the weeds dead.

Period.

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 10:13 AM

The threads about doing a decent job for the client and cutting costs. If the wanna be agronomists with their months of experience want to kiss the lawn and make it better that's great.

But the customer just want's the lawn green and the weeds dead.

That's like being a dentist who only does whitenings. That's all the customer wants. Looks good and is cheaper than doing what's right and needful.

Or at least that's what my 16 years in chemical applications thinks...

Max23

05-07-2010, 10:15 AM

Alright I think I got my questions answered. Ultimately I know doing soil tests all around would be a good idea too. Thank you all for the information. Add a little potash if needed and Iron would be a good idea.

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 10:18 AM

Get over yourself.

Sure maybe from an agronomist standpoint and viewpoint the lawn and plants need more. (Maybe) But the client want's two things.

Good color and no weeds.

Period end of story.

The kid asked how to apply a decent deal at a decent price and I told him. Hell it was the mix of choice for every lawn care company on the planet that mattered for 25 years.

Urea, water and three way.

It's basically the mix Tru Green still uses today.

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 10:26 AM

Get over yourself.
Ahahahahaha! :laugh:

That's rich coming from you, Mr. I-Do-Everything-Right-And-Anyone-Who-Disagrees-Is-An-Idiot .

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 10:29 AM

Max:
If you want to do right by your customers, take a little time and research the consumption needs of grass. Learn a little about what 'fuel' grass consumes to be healthy (not merely "green") and how fast the grass consumes it.

Not only will you learn something about your trade and be smarter for it, but you can apply with greater integrity - knowing you're doing people right and giving them quality results... not just making a fast buck.

Max23

05-07-2010, 10:43 AM

Im not trying to make a fast buck at all. I am only doing this for a handful of my cutting clients and a couple of subdivisions that require it. I do want it to be healthy and look good. Im actaully trying to accomplish that by keeping my cost and my costomers cost as low as possible. I have done research on what lawns around here need. Really just trying to keep the costs down when applying to 11 acres of turf in one sub alone.

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 11:14 AM

Ahahahahaha! :laugh:

That's rich coming from you, Mr. I-Do-Everything-Right-And-Anyone-Who-Disagrees-Is-An-Idiot .

I never said anyone was an idiot. I say you guys think too much and try to do too much and make this very difficult when it's not, and I have even come on here and posted about mistakes I make and have made.

Like I say. Go ahead and tell the guy that calls you because his lawn is nothing but weeds and tell him he needs a soil test all you want tell him he has a need for micro nutrients and don't listen to what the customer is asking for.

By the time you get that done someone else will have killed the weeds, satisfied the clients needs and wants and cashed the check already.

:shrugs:

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 11:18 AM

Max, Learn all you can about Lawn Care, but at the end of the day "Listen to what your client says and what he is asking for" and don't let people tell you that applying fertilizer and weed control makes you some hack low baller looking for a fast buck, because that's what we all do and the clients are for the most part very pleased with that and will be with your performance as well.

RigglePLC

05-07-2010, 01:07 PM

Max,
Maybe--just maybe--Seedpro is right. For years when I worked at Tru Green we applied a mix of about 5 bags of urea and one bag of potash (muriate 0-0-62). In hot weather we omitted the potash and used less urea, with whatever weed killer was on sale that year. Managers wanted to reduce the fert level, because we (I) burned so many lawns in the early years.
Do a few soil tests. May I suggest you add about 7 pounds of Potash (0-0-62) with each bag of urea. Weigh it once and mark the level on a bucket.
And be sure to reduce the fert levels when using the mixture in hot weather. The risk of burn doubles at temps over 80.

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 01:19 PM

I never said anyone was an idiot.

Okay, you declare people liars who charge more than you, are so proud of your never-raise-prices scheme, etc.

You sound like you're in the one-and-done application game. Most of us recognize the need to provide lasting, quality results; not a quick fix bandaid.

To each their own. Given your lowball pricing, I don't know that you could afford to do anything but skimp.

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 01:22 PM

Maybe--just maybe--Seedpro is right.

Et tu Brute? :laugh: :waving:

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 04:15 PM

Okay, you declare people liars who charge more than you, are so proud of your never-raise-prices scheme, etc.

You sound like you're in the one-and-done application game. Most of us recognize the need to provide lasting, quality results; not a quick fix bandaid.

To each their own. Given your lowball pricing, I don't know that you could afford to do anything but skimp.

My market bares the prices we charge here. I am one of if not the most expensive in my area.

When you are doing acres for 125-140 for ever because that's what the market will bare, it is easy to assume there's some exaggerations going on when guys in other markets claim to get 300 to 450 an acre.

I still don't really believe it.

I run a full on deal with 6 applications and grub control, and my retention rate is on average 95%. I won't even bother with one off's at this point unless they are family, friends or a referral.

Max23

05-07-2010, 04:19 PM

I didnt mean to start a war on here but I think I got what I was looking for thanks for the advise.

SeedPro

05-07-2010, 04:22 PM

:laugh:

:weightlifter:

whoopassonthebluegrass

05-07-2010, 11:49 PM

I didnt mean to start a war on here but I think I got what I was looking for thanks for the advise.

You must be new.

We don't quit on threads. That would mean we were done here and would have to go do lawn care for a living.

Ace26

06-11-2010, 02:52 PM

You must be new.

We don't quit on threads. That would mean we were done here and would have to go do lawn care for a living.

LMFAO :laugh:

DuWayne

07-07-2010, 06:11 PM

americanlawn

07-07-2010, 06:44 PM

Now THAT'S funny! You can't beat FREE entertainment. Beer brats on the grill now & a few cold ones waiting for me. Life is good. :usflag::canadaflag:

You must be new.

We don't quit on threads. That would mean we were done here and would have to go do lawn care for a living.

LMFAO :laugh:

p.s. Has anybody noticed my new signature? (I'm an E-Body Mopar nut)