Texas Roll Call

[PlantscapeSolutions]

There is a FL forum section on here and I thought it would be nice to be able to talk with Texas members who deal with similar local issues. Chime in with some info about who you are, what your company does, your head count, and annual sales. I'm sure this thread will generate some useful info if we can get some decent participation.

[KrayzKajun]

David, can I join in? Not many Louisiana guys for me to chat with.
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[PlantscapeSolutions]

Your close enough we'll let you in. We'll take pity on you :rolleyes:

[SNAPPER MAN]

I'm in Houston, tx so count me in.
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[terryslandscape]

I am in Katy TX, count me in......
Think we will get a freeze this year like the last two leading to a PVB crisis.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I am in Katy TX, count me in......
Think we will get a freeze this year like the last two leading to a PVB crisis.

I go through your area every now and then when I go to Altex in Alvin. Jay used to be the primo source for for Meds. and Pindo's. His wife died and the drought and economy took a bite out of his business. He's also a bamboo guy as well but I rarely use bamboo.

Groundworks in Alvin has diversified into all sizes of Meds and Pindo's and may be my next source of palms if Jay doesn't have what I need. These places both have very good prices.

[drenchedlawn]

Hey guys, Frisco Texas (North Dallas) and I'm in also. Lookin forward to it.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Hey guys, Frisco Texas (North Dallas) and I'm in also. Lookin forward to it.

Did your area ever have water restrictions last year? When I went to the TNLA Expo in August I was amazed at how perfectly green some of the places were in Dallas. We went to once a week in September and will go to every two weeks in the spring the way things are looking. At 100 F it's not going to matter if it's a 7 or 14 day watering cycle because all the lawns will turn brown.

[southtx]

San Antonio is on the list...its about time texas is put on the list.

[KrayzKajun]

Your close enough we'll let you in. We'll take pity on you :rolleyes:

Well thank you. I was in Texas from May-Aug of 2004 at Fort Hood, preparing to deploy to Iraq. The many drunken nights in Kileen, TX.
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[PlantscapeSolutions]

San Antonio is on the list...its about time texas is put on the list.

I go to Mortellaros, Peerless, and Aldridge every now and then. I think Aldridge and Peerless have gotten beaten up badly by the drought and economy. Peerless has new owners and it will be interesting to see if they can make a comeback.

Your in a tough market when it comes to water restrictions. SA seems to have restrictions on a regular basis. Pulling the plug on building a large reservoir years back was not a smart decision by the voters who moth balled it.

All that nice Zoysia from 2010 that was replaced in the medians in northwest SA is probably dead all over again. There must have been several miles of medians that were reworked after the 2009 drought.

How have you managed to do in SA the last few years?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Well thank you. I was in Texas from May-Aug of 2004 at Fort Hood, preparing to deploy to Iraq. The many drunken nights in Kileen, TX.
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I was stationed at Fort Hood from 1993-1994. Fort Hood never sent me to LA but I went next door to MS to Camp Shelby. The National Guard filled up my Hummer with mogas. I would be scared as hell to deploy with any Guard unit. In Desert Storm the Guard guys stood out like a sore thumb.

[FoghornLeghorn]

I'm in Austin, TX. Add me to the roll

[FireFighterMowing]

Im in! Surely there are enough of us to keep up with the gator state.

[ffemt1271]

I'm pretty close, bout 20 miles from the Tx line
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[retrodog]

Paris, TX here, I am a new dealer, this is my 5th season in it. Was an lco before and mowed a lot of big properties like cemeteries, apartments, 5 acre plus country yards, and housing authorities. I started selling bad boys after buying one, liking it, then it fell off my trailer and the factory fixed it for me after seeing it happen online. I tried Dixon until huska buy out, now sell bbs, trying out hustler this year, but love what bb has. Got to see company grow with me over the past 4 seasons by leaps and bounds. I built a new shop in the middle of last season, very knowledgeable in most brands, and always willing to answer questions and help you guys out...
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[KrayzKajun]

Anyone near Irving,TX? I may be heading up there for 5days at the end of November for an Arborist Climbing & Rigging class.
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[PlantscapeSolutions]

If we can get a decent handful of people subscribed I was even thinking about putting everyone in my email address book. We could hit reply all and BS back and forth off the radar of some of the folks on here who just don't understand the Texas ways.

You try to talk about your hard working south of the border workforce and someone always want to chime in about how your stealing a job away from an American. Blah, blah, blah... Way too many people are totally ignorant and don't understand 99% of Americans don't want to pick crops, mow lawns in our heat, or do construction work. Their either bums or they have higher goals in life which is a good thing.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

You guys are not going to believe this. As you know the laws have changed and it is supposed to be impossible to get a DL without proper papers in TX now. Well, my foremen who I thought was a few weeks from having an expired DL and no job has a new DL good until 2018.

I can't give you the details of which DMV location did this but I would suggest if any Espanol foremen are still out there with a soon to expire DL they should head to podunk towns to try to renew. The country folk are not battle hardened like the city DMV people are.

I lost a foremen last year to an expired DL and thought for sure I was going to lose this guy as well. My foremen is one lucky SOB. I still can't believe it. Now if I can only make it rain.

[BeeCreekLawns]

I am in Spicewood. Count me in.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I am in Spicewood. Count me in.

Do you cover the Spicewood/Bee Caves/Lakeway area mostly?

[BeeCreekLawns]

I really haven't gotten much in Bee Cave, but I do work there. I would say I am about half Lakeway and half Spicewood. This is my third year, so I am still learning a bit. It seems Lakeway is the mecca for landscapers. Have you ever advertised in there phonebook?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I really haven't gotten much in Bee Cave, but I do work there. I would say I am about half Lakeway and half Spicewood. This is my third year, so I am still learning a bit. It seems Lakeway is the mecca for landscapers. Have you ever advertised in there phonebook?

Phone books used to work out well but not anymore. I've switched to direct mail and I'm going over my Lakeway address's right now to delete the lesser homes I don't want to target.

[BeeCreekLawns]

I have been told the $350 or whatever they charge is easily made back from their phonebook. I know what you mean though. I think everyone just googles now. How long did you run solo?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I have been told the $350 or whatever they charge is easily made back from their phonebook. I know what you mean though. I think everyone just googles now. How long did you run solo?

I was solo for about two years and got extra help as needed.

[BeeCreekLawns]

That is where I am at. With the drought and water restrictions, I may have to ride out another year by myself. I saw some perennials (lantana, plumbago, indigo spires) already coming out today. Its gonna be really bad this summer if we don't start getting some rain.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Anybody thinking about going to the Southeast Texas Landscape Show in Conroe? I think I may take a road trip and check it out tomorrow. The Houston area has more growers then any other area of the state. You apt to find a lot of growers who go to the small local shows but not the TNLA show because of the high cost.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I need to bring this dormant thread to life. If anyone else wants to post up on here go right ahead.

I'd thought I would share with you guys the spring info I sent my customers. Below is the info I sent. Is anyone else this analytical of horticulture and what's going on around them?

I wanted to give everyone a spring horticultural outlook since this warm winter is causing a lot of plants and insects to be effected in ways that differ from the norm considerably. There are benefits and drawback to the warm winter.

The warm weather has allowed grub worms to stay active all winter and the first hatch out has already occurred. The moths your seeing around your lights at night are adult male June Bugs and Masked Chafers. We really shouldn’t be seeing these moths for at least another 6-8 weeks. The moths are going to be mating here shortly and starting another grub life cycle in your flower beds and lawns. If you have had any digging going in the yard recently it was caused by armadillos eating the grubs just before they would have become moths.

If we are able to keep up this wet winter/spring it will actually help minimize grasshopper populations. There is a fungal infection that tends keep the populations low when we have wet springs.

For people who have Live Oaks this may be a banner year for web worms. The web worms over winter in the bark on the tree’s and cold winters tend to keep the population in check. Every time we have a bad web worm year it tends to follow a mild winter and this may be a record setting mild winter the way things are looking. The Texas Mountain Laurels are effected by a different type of web worm but are also likely to have above average infestations. We use a nontoxic biological control called Conserve SC to treat the Mountain Laurels if they get infested.

The warm winter has allowed many lawns to continue growing slowly just below the surface of the turf. We will be fertilizing two weeks early this spring to try to take advantage of the warm winter and to get many lawns in regeneration mode to help repair damaged areas. Getting lawns growing earlier will help crowd out weeds as well. The wet spring is going to cause above average weeds problems. If you have a lawn that was damaged by last years water restrictions you may have major weed issues that are becoming apparent or will become apparent in the near future.

For any of my customers who dabble in yard care please ignore the Scoot’s Bonus S weed’n & feed wave of advertising that starts this time of year. There is never a need to treat an entire lawn for weeds with the Atrazine contained in Bonus S. Spot treating of weeds is all that should ever be done. Many herbicides break down in the soil very rapidly and become harmless. Atrazine is not one of these harmless herbicides and lingers in our soil and water supply for many years. All of our drinking water in central Texas and across the south contains small amounts of Atrazine and Scott’s Bonus S product is the number one reason.

Lets hope this wet weather pattern continues and more of the rain falls in the Lake Travis watershed and the aquifer recharge zone. The big storm we had dropped 6” at my house but only about an inch around the lake.

[BeeCreekLawns]

That is some awesome information. I bet your customers appreciate that info. I have been seeing the lots of holes in beds and yards lately. I was wondering if a grub product should be put down this early. I went with your advice and cut down some near perfect bi-color iris today. When are you planning to put down fertilizer this year? Where do you recommend I should by my fert from. I have been buying Lesco from Home Depot because I haven't been able to figure out a wholesale fert place in austin.

I am supposed to meet a lady tomorrow that got a bid for $9,000 for 26 pallets of Tif Bermuda. Does that sound about right?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

That is some awesome information. I bet your customers appreciate that info. I have been seeing the lots of holes in beds and yards lately. I was wondering if a grub product should be put down this early. I went with your advice and cut down some near perfect bi-color iris today. When are you planning to put down fertilizer this year? Where do you recommend I should by my fert from. I have been buying Lesco from Home Depot because I haven't been able to figure out a wholesale fert place in austin.

I am supposed to meet a lady tomorrow that got a bid for $9,000 for 26 pallets of Tif Bermuda. Does that sound about right?

For the grubs I don't think there is much we can do at this point. I think a lot of them are now adult moths or in cocoons not actively feeding where insecticides will have little effect.

My normal applications for grubs are Allectus in mid May and Dylox in mid July. I may move both my applications back two weeks earlier this year. I am going to do my fert/pre m application in mid Feb about two weeks early. I fertilized my own yard today to see what results I get.

John Deere/Lesco is where I buy most fert. I have also used BWI, and Winfield Solutions. For chemicals Winfield or BWI will usually beat John Deere.

For your Tif it all depends on the job and if dirt work is included. I hate doing grass installs. Grass is the least profitable aspect aspect of landscaping. At $9K that's $346.15 per pallet installed. For a resod that probably wouldn't be a bad price. I think you need to have at least $300 per pallet for a resod.

[BeeCreekLawns]

Thanks for the info man. I will have to go check the john deere landscapes place out. It looks like all the rain is east of Austin again. Its gonna be bad out in my area if that lake don't fill up.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I got 2" at my house last night and 6" on the prior rain vent. Williamson County got the big 6" hit this time. If all this rain had fallen to the west the lake would be up ten feet. Here is a link that shows how large of an area feeds into the Colorado River http://hydromet.lcra.org/full.aspx.

We may be getting some luck this winter with La Nina. Occasionally, La Nina will actually bring a wetter then normal winter after a dry summer. KXAN was speculating that we maybe in one of those rare wet winters. Lets just hope the rain keeps coming and it shifts to the west 100 miles.

[Turf Dawg]

Well I can BS with the best of them, so go ahead and sign me up also.
April will start my 17th year in the biz. I do maintenance, installs, small water features and licensed by the TDA for T&O. I am a small operation in a small town. I started out solo then added people and then went back to solo in 2008. Now my son is helping me now while he is going to our small college.

I would like it if y'all would post some pictures of yourselves here. I like going to the TTA and TNLA shows when they are close and attend some of the dealer open houses at times. I know some of you also attended some of these, so it would be nice to see what each other looks like so maybe we can say "howdy" to each other. I do not know how to re post pics, but if you will go to this thread I have some pics of the family and myself on the first two pages.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=366967

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Here's my goofy picture. I'm in Buda next to Austin. I'm 41 and try to workout and not let myself go to hell. Back when I was 25 and had been out of the Army for about a year I could bench 325. I went to hell a little bit a few times since then but I'm on a decent workout kick right now. I'm hoping to bench 300 again in the near future. If you stay in shape your chance of hurting your back or getting some other career ending injury is a lot less.

[FoghornLeghorn]

You're really cute, David. I'll hire you to take care of my acre if you promise to mow shirtless...
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[JSW Development]

Satx here. Woot! Grass is already growing at some of my accounts, thanks to all this rain. Cross your fingers for a better year than the last one.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I've got to thank Turf Dog for correcting me with a PM. The moths we tend to see are Sod, Pecan, Fall, and Oak leaf Rollers as far as pesky moths. I've got to make sure I limit my late night posts when there are a few empty beers bottle on my desk so I don't go awry.

Attached is a picture of the Masked Chafer which is the adult stage of our more wide spread grub you will find. The picture was taken at my house last year. Last year was hell with grub issues and this year may be worse. Luckily only the male June Bugs and Masked Chafers are dumb enough to be attracted to light so you will not find higher concentrations of grubs near lights. The female is smart enough to hide in the lawn and beds and let the male be bait for the geckos.

Last year the soil in native areas was hard like a parking lot and there were few tender roots for grubs to eat. As a result Chafers and June Bugs were drawn to irrigated landscapes like a magnet to lay eggs. To make matters worse the armadillos were starving to death and were drawn to urban landscapes in a huge way to feed.

I saw an area of one of my customers lawns in late January that was torn to hell by Armadillos and that just doesn't happen this time of year usually. I may bring some Allectus with me when I fertilize tomorrow. I was going to wait another ten days to fertilize but I'm going to go ahead and do it tomorrow. I'm thinking weekly mowing may be required as soon as mid March.

[Turf Dawg]

This is a link to some random pics off of my phone. I need to go through my computer and post some more but they need re sized and I will admit I am not very good at doing stuff like that.

The one thing I regret in my years of business is lack of pictures. I really need to start taking before and after pics. Now that I have a phone that takes pictures there is no reason for me not to, but I still find myself forgetting.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=366842

[Rainger001]

I live in Forney, servicing, Rockwal, garland, rowlett, heath, wylie.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Well I can BS with the best of them, so go ahead and sign me up also.
April will start my 17th year in the biz. I do maintenance, installs, small water features and licensed by the TDA for T&O. I am a small operation in a small town. I started out solo then added people and then went back to solo in 2008. Now my son is helping me now while he is going to our small college.

I would like it if y'all would post some pictures of yourselves here. I like going to the TTA and TNLA shows when they are close and attend some of the dealer open houses at times. I know some of you also attended some of these, so it would be nice to see what each other looks like so maybe we can say "howdy" to each other. I do not know how to re post pics, but if you will go to this thread I have some pics of the family and myself on the first two pages.

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=366967

If you take a picture already posted on Lawnsite you can resize it a tiny bit, rename it, and then repost it.

[Turf Dawg]

How come gas had to go up again the last few days? Well, I think it is because I had to go to Longview and back yesterday and will be driving to Keller today - Monday to take the irrigation training course. I hope after I complete the course I do not have to wait very long to take the license exam.
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[Coumbe]

We are North of Houston.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

We are North of Houston.

Have the two lakes Houston gets water from improved at all with the recent rain?

[StihlMechanic]

Count me in, from Denton Texas. I currently only offer lawn service and landscape maintenance and small installs. Had plans to become a licenced irrigator this winter but plans have changed. Also changing my target demographic from large high end properties to higher volume interior lots (zero lot line to 1/3 acre).

Last year was awful with the drought but helpful at the same time, learned some lessons about clients. I now hope to only offer weekly service to irrigated properties only, but we'll see how that goes. Oh and I'm a solo operator currently.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Count me in, from Denton Texas. I currently only offer lawn service and landscape maintenance and small installs. Had plans to become a licenced irrigator this winter but plans have changed. Also changing my target demographic from large high end properties to higher volume interior lots (zero lot line to 1/3 acre).

Last year was awful with the drought but helpful at the same time, learned some lessons about clients. I now hope to only offer weekly service to irrigated properties only, but we'll see how that goes. Oh and I'm a solo operator currently.

When I started I mowed some crappy yards because the money was always green even if the yard wasn't. As you grow moving into irrigated only yards is the way to go. Hard to pay those bill s with inconsistent cash flow.

The larger high end yards are great but you really need help or you end up getting over whelmed.

I've had good clients go bad after being out of work and running out of money. I had one of my new customers in a nice million dollar home recently run up a $2000 bill. I just finally got a partial payment of $800 after getting the checks in the mail BS for almost a month.

[StihlMechanic]

When I started I mowed some crappy yards because the money was always green even if the yard wasn't. As you grow moving into irrigated only yards is the way to go. Hard to pay those bill s with inconsistent cash flow.

The larger high end yards are great but you really need help or you end up getting over whelmed.

I've had good clients go bad after being out of work and running out of money. I had one of my new customers in a nice million dollar home recently run up a $2000 bill. I just finally got a partial payment of $800 after getting the checks in the mail BS for almost a month.

The downside to me being picky is the lack of worth while work this time of year. I get calls for lawn service this month but these arent the clients I want. If their grass is green this month and isnt rye, then its just a weed lawn that will not become a fruitfull client during the season when SA and bermuda are active. My goal is to acheive weekly service to irrigated properties only AND upsell rye overseedings in the fall to keep some cashflow through the winter. It will be a challenge that I hope to acheive one day.

[StihlMechanic]

So has anyone hit the streets with doorhangers yet? I am hoping to hit at the best time for my area which I assume is last week of Feb to mid-March. Any comments?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

So has anyone hit the streets with doorhangers yet? I am hoping to hit at the best time for my area which I assume is last week of Feb to mid-March. Any comments?

I have 5000 direct mail post cards hitting the Austin area this week.

[whaler's Mow-Town]

Post Corpus up there in the smarter than the grass club....

We have rain...we might even have a season this year!

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Post Corpus up there in the smarter than the grass club....

We have rain...we might even have a season this year!

How is the level of Lake Corpus Christi doing? I was down there back around 2007 and there were Mexican Palms in places growing in 3' of water. The Mountain Laurels and Texas Sage were every where on the side of the lake we were on.

[whaler's Mow-Town]

How is the level of Lake Corpus Christi doing? I was down there back around 2007 and there were Mexican Palms in places growing in 3' of water. The Mountain Laurels and Texas Sage were every where on the side of the lake we were on.

That was on the news today. I think they said it is like 1/3 full...like 34% or something like that. They havent put us any rationing yet and they say if it doesn't change by april, we will go into phase 1 voluntary rationing.

Thats cool with me. It seemed liked the drier it got last year, the more people called me to mow. I was already good with all the local dairy vendors, an old closed rehab hospital, about 8 other commercial accounts and 38 residential accounts. I have maintained most all of those for about 9 years.

[KrayzKajun]

Hope you Texans are getting some good rain. I hoping this rain is sign of a good season.

[Flatop]

There is a FL forum section on here and I thought it would be nice to be able to talk with Texas members who deal with similar local issues. Chime in with some info about who you are, what your company does, your head count, and annual sales. I'm sure this thread will generate some useful info if we can get some decent participation.

I am located in San Antonio west side. Retired military, full time college student, part work time LCO. Using business to earn extra income and works well as far as flexible work schedule goes. Speaking of schedule, have a home remodeling friend refer me to a client. Unfortunately they are 30+ miles away. Anyone here from San Antonio who works near 78261 zip code about 3 miles away form 281 and in a gated community, shoot me an email.

[SlowMow]

Well in light of pursuing my dream of owning my own lawn and landscaping business I chose to join the Army for a consistent paycheck to provide for my family. Needless to say, here I am in good ole Fort Hood. I see that several people on here are familiar with the area. My question to you is this, what do I need to do to have an amazing looking yard on post? The grass and soil seems to be a little different than what I am used to. Thanks for any input.

[StihlMechanic]

Well in light of pursuing my dream of owning my own lawn and landscaping business I chose to join the Army for a consistent paycheck to provide for my family. Needless to say, here I am in good ole Fort Hood. I see that several people on here are familiar with the area. My question to you is this, what do I need to do to have an amazing looking yard on post? The grass and soil seems to be a little different than what I am used to. Thanks for any input.

Irrigate, It doesn't rain here.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Below is an email I sent my state senator & rep. In the past I never really worried much about the illegitimate guys. But it seems like since the boom times of 08' and prior have faded away the business climate has gotten tougher. I have a past employee who has poached away several of my customers.

The employee was working for another guy named Orlando after I fired him. The guy he worked for tried to steal some of my customers and I suspected he wasn't a legit business. I contacted the Comptrollers Office and they started an investigation which I suspect was costly for Orlando. I also reported the the Orlando guy TECQ via email for doing unlicensed irrigation repairs but they never followed up on the complaint.

Orlando couldn't run a business to save his azz and sold sorry little company to my ex-employee last summer. My old employee is starting to be a thorn in my side so I just called the Comptrollers office again. I'm hoping he is going to get a costly reality check in the very near future.

The comptrollers office takes complaints seriously and you guys should use this to your advantage if you seriously suspect someone is not legit. I provided the investigator with address's of where some work was performed, and the company name & number. An investigator went and talked to the owners of the properties to verify work was performed and that's all it took to get Orlando busted.

I've never used the Texas Department of Agriculture to bust competitors who spray without a license. But considering than over 90% of the small guys probably have no license it's an easy way to bust someone who's invading your turf illegally.



Here's the info I sent my state Rep. & Senator. If you guys think a little more regulation would help our prices from getting watered down I would bug your Reps as well.

"My small business is Plantscape Solutions which is a landscape/maintenance company. In some states landscape contractors are regulated and it helps keep everyone on the same playing field. You don’t have to worry about there being a ton of people out there not paying unemployment tax’s or not charging and collecting sales tax like they should. In Texas there are obviously laws in place that say your legally bound to collect sales tax and unemployment taxes but they are very poorly enforced. These same business’s are not paying their annual taxes on their equipment and other taxable property.

In the green industry there must easily be a billion dollars worth of work performed where no sales tax is collected. It doesn’t seem like it should be that hard for Texas to come up with some type of simple permit that would need to be affixed to the windshield of company vehicles to make it obvious who’s legitimate and who’s not. It could even be a simple RFID tag that could be read from a distance to run a check on a contractor to insure nobody can make fake tags.

To get a permit landscape contractors would need to at the least be registered with the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Comptrollers office. Maintaining some form of commercial insurance and not personal insurance that is really not relevant for contractors would be a plus at some point as well. Some industries like electrical, plumbing, trucking, moving, pest control, and others already require some sort of license or permit to be displayed on work vehicles.

It would cost Texas nothing to enforce the laws to a much higher standard. Enforcing the laws would pay for it’s self and likely put hundreds of millions of dollars of sales tax (or more) in state coffers that could be used to fund education, highway construction or other priority projects that are under funded. People like myself who are landscape business owners and vote with consistency would be in favor of this type of regulation. Similar trades such as tree trimmers/arborists would also welcome some regulation to level the playing field. I’m sure there are other trades that could benefit from shaking out the illegitimate contractors as well but I realize with government you need to take baby steps."

[Turf Dawg]

I am right there with you buddy.
I also used to not worry much about the ones doing this stuff illegally, but like you stated, now there are more and more doing it. Before 2008 things were pretty much booming in my little area and I was turning down work because I just could not do it all. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to be running adds and riding around pulling trailers with mowers on them while stating they offer fert and weed control to fixing sprinkler heads.
Well, if they want to do this then they need to be paying just like I do. My wallet would be a whole lot fatter if I was not paying the county appraisal district, keeping up with the state comptroller payments, paying the TDA $180 a year, paying for the TDA CEU's, paying the state $75 for nursery and floral cert a year, paying commercial vehicle insurance, paying commercial liability insurance, ect........ . Now I am wanting to get into irrigation, so I just payed $500 for the class [does not include fuel and other misc], $100 to TEEX and $111 to TECQ so I can take the test March 9th.

I guess the easiest way to bust someone would be to call the comptrollers office. I know with the TDA they want to see a copy of the bill they left the customer [like that is easy and anonymous]

It still does not bother me when someone with a full time job wants to cut a few lawns for a little extra $, but it is the ones who are doing this for their income that is getting to me [and my wallet]

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I am right there with you buddy.
I also used to not worry much about the ones doing this stuff illegally, but like you stated, now there are more and more doing it. Before 2008 things were pretty much booming in my little area and I was turning down work because I just could not do it all. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry seems to be running adds and riding around pulling trailers with mowers on them while stating they offer fert and weed control to fixing sprinkler heads.
Well, if they want to do this then they need to be paying just like I do. My wallet would be a whole lot fatter if I was not paying the county appraisal district, keeping up with the state comptroller payments, paying the TDA $180 a year, paying for the TDA CEU's, paying the state $75 for nursery and floral cert a year, paying commercial vehicle insurance, paying commercial liability insurance, ect........ . Now I am wanting to get into irrigation, so I just payed $500 for the class [does not include fuel and other misc], $100 to TEEX and $111 to TECQ so I can take the test March 9th.

I guess the easiest way to bust someone would be to call the comptrollers office. I know with the TDA they want to see a copy of the bill they left the customer [like that is easy and anonymous]

It still does not bother me when someone with a full time job wants to cut a few lawns for a little extra $, but it is the ones who are doing this for their income that is getting to me [and my wallet]

I hit the post button little prematurely on my post. I wasn't quite done editing it yet. With the Comptrollers office I just gave them the business name, number, and address where work was performed. There were easily able to verify the business didn't pay any taxes. Then they went to the address to verify work had been performed and they a payments had been rendered.

It's a private matter when enforcement is taken so you never know exactly what happened. But the first investigator gave me a hint that my tip was valid. I have no doubt that my second hunch is solid as well.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Come on, Someone besides me must have something they want to BS about. I hope that 90 F day we had this past week isn't a sign of another hot spring & summer coming. Here in the Austin area we have to get Lake Travis to jump up from 630 to 635 to be able to irrigate twice a week. But we really need to get the lake up to at least 655 so we can know for sure this summer will be OK for the green industry. The lake is full at 682.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

It's been a few years since I had to deal with cutter Ants. They were tearing this guys yard to pieces. Put down some Allectus and it should kick their little butts nicely. Every time I've seen people get Cutter Ants they lived next to a native area.

For those who haven't dealt with these ants they defoliate entire landscapes quickly. They don't actually eat the foliage they take it to underground and compost it and it makes a fungus they eat.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Here is Whittlesey's new machine for dying mulch. They said it would help reduce the moisture content of the mulch. Their old machine was generating mulch that weighed 50 lbs a bag and the mulch I picked up today seemed to be about 35 lbs a bag.

I was towing 300 bags of mulch and I could tell there was a major difference.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I saw the first Masked Chafer of the season flying in my garage today. Grubs are going to be hell this year with the adults already being active this early.

For you Austin guys I would recommend avoiding a James Kerby of Kerby Development. We started with late payments and then got no payments at all. Received one partial payment after a month of getting the check is in the mail and now with a near $2000 balance we're getting the "we're going to use another service speech".

[PlantscapeSolutions]

As of 10:30 this morning we have 2" of rain in Buda. How are the rest of you doing with rain amounts?

[whaler's Mow-Town]

We have been getting our fair share down here but I think we got more in the area of a half inch last nite but it has been lighty raining/drizziling for the last 30 hours or more. I'll take it. We are going to have a bonanza spring and I was already swamped with work.
Posted via Mobile Device

[PlantscapeSolutions]

We got another 2.75" last night and best of all Lake Travis finally has some inflow. The report says by tomorrow the elevation could be 638'. I love to see the lake get in the 640's again and keep going up. We are now above 635' so we should slide back one notch on the watering restrictions. We're not out of the woods yet we're making progress.

[KrayzKajun]

Glad to see yall are getting some rain. Looks like its gunna be a busy spring.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Turf Dawg]

I hope y'all keep on getting some rain down there this spring. We got around 5.25" last night and today. Luckily we missed the hail in my area but not too far away they got almost golf ball sized. The weeds are going crazy with new people calling wanting prices on spraying, Bermuda already needs cutting and I have more installs and bids to give out. Last year about wiped me out and now this year I cannot get everything done.

I took my irrigators exam on March 9th so y'all keep your fingers crossed for me. I would love in the next couple of years to only do treatments, irrigation and maybe 2 days of the year round paying commercials maintenance contracts.

[Woody82986]

We got about 5" where I live in Granbury last night. It's still really soggy this evening. Oh the joys of having so much to do and not enough time to get it all done!

[Turf Dawg]

The weather keeps kicking my butt!!!!!!!

I found out today that I passed my irrigators exam
B F 90
Design 83
Hydro 83
Instal 94

Glad that is done with. Now I just have a lot of learning to do.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I hope everyone is doing well. Here in Austin I am just blown away by how things are going. I picked up one house that will be about $10,000 a year and a second one that will be at least $6000 a year. I've got to get some pics of the $6000 a year job. The house is 8,000 square feet and has a really formal landscape that is really going to be a challenge to maintain.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I want to hear if everyone else is having the same great surge in demand I'm seeing. I've gained a dozen accounts in a very short period of time. The last three years was a challenge and now all of a sudden it's raining new clients left and right.

I actually canned one client who I had put up with for way too long. He'd been a client for eight years but he cherished the antagonist role way too much. Felt good to tell him his service has been terminated.

[Woody82986]

I've been getting slammed with estimate requests and I too have been gaining a good number of clients. It has allowed me to be selective with my pricing and also with new client screening. I've also been able to say goodbye to some clients who simply weren't worth the trouble they cause. So far it has been a good spring. I am hoping the momentum carries through the season.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I've been getting slammed with estimate requests and I too have been gaining a good number of clients. It has allowed me to be selective with my pricing and also with new client screening. I've also been able to say goodbye to some clients who simply weren't worth the trouble they cause. So far it has been a good spring. I am hoping the momentum carries through the season.

The DFW area should have a good year. You are totally off the drought status maps now. We're going in the right direction here in Austin but we really need to get the lake up another 20' to insure no restrictions late in the summer. The lake has finally cracked 640' which feels pretty good. All restrictions have been dropped for people on Edwards Aquifer water like myself. This Texas weather is enough to make anyone become religious!

[Duekster]

Howdy.

Found this thread.


North Texas (DFW area)


I do know of a case where the comptroller got the client not the vendor for sales taxes. The vendor did not charge it so the client had to pay all the back taxes.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Welcome Duekster. If anyone is looking for the best work pants you need to try the Carhart 151's. Sierra Trading Post online has the best deals for pants. I may ante up and buy work pants for my crew this year

For you Austin area people the best deals for hats and shirts with printing is at Austin Screen Printing. The Adams Extreme Series hats are the best hats money can buy for sun protection. I have an order to pickup on Monday.

[Duekster]

cool hat
did I win one?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

cool hat
did I win one?

Close but no quite. Dis you go to the TNLA show in Dallas last summer?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Hey guys. I went ahead and put my email and phone number in my company bio section in case anyone want to give me a holler. I sent Bee Caves Lawn Service a solid lead but I don't think he's been checking his email. We're all in business here with our names and numbers plastered god knows where. It's not like we have unlisted numbers.

I thought it could be handy to be able to just send each other an email if something comes up or or actually pick up that thing called a phone and use it for something other then text messages.

[Duekster]

Hey guys. I went ahead and put my email and phone number in my company bio section in case anyone want to give me a holler. I sent Bee Caves Lawn Service a solid lead but I don't think he's been checking his email. We're all in business here with our names and numbers plastered god knows where. It's not like we have unlisted numbers.

I thought it could be handy to be able to just send each other an email if something comes up or or actually pick up that thing called a phone and use it for something other then text messages.

I do not come here to advertise. Send me a few of those hats :rolleyes:

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I deal with some things like Greek Myrtles, Little Leaf Greek Myrtles, and Thryallis that many people have never heard of. The plant in the picture was planted in a row in a backyard off Southwest Parkway. I have no idea what it is. It looks like it could be in the Viburnum family but that's is a guess. Does anyone know what the plant is I'm talking about.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

You guys have got to see this Take All Patch posting http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=4373237#post4373237

[Duekster]

I have now. Up here Alkalinity is high too.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I just happened to run into Senor BeeCreekLawns today at Far South Nursery. We had a good chat and exchanged some info and other advice that I think will be helpful. He had never been to Native Texas Nursery so I told him he needs to check it out. Any of you other central Texas guys been to Native Texas?

If anyone is in the market for 45G or 24" box Live Oaks Rancho Encino has them for $75. They are 12' tall. I'd like to run down and pick up 20 of them if I can find the time.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

You can see a tiny job I did and some recent trailer mods at http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=4383747#post4383747

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Yesterday I got a chance to meet Rob with Valley View who lurks behind the screen name Foghorn. He pulled up next to me at the fuel pump at the Buda HEB. Rob had called me multiple times over the last few months but we never got a chance to actually meet.

On your website Rob there are no key words being utilized for search engines. When you type in Valley View Landscape Austin or Valley View Commercial Austin in a search engine your website doesn't even show up. Who ever is hosting your website isn't doing everything they should be. You pretty much have an invisible website for anyone who is searching for it.

[Duekster]

ever been to the Native Texas but then again I am not in Central Texas. Are they a grower or distributer?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

ever been to the Native Texas but then again I am not in Central Texas. Are they a grower or distributer?

They are a grower and one of the best sources for Mountain Laurels and a decent selection of 1G perennials. They grow tree's and other stuff as well. Right beside them is Austin Tree Farm.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I was just looking at the numbers and I done $23,000 worth of top dressing with my Ecolawn top dresser in the last few months. I have about $3500 more lined up to do. If you understand the soil biology benefits of top dressing this year has been the perfect year to sell the service.

It's even better to service to offer because very few people own top dressing machines or EBS blower trucks. It's not like the lawn service biz where 1000 people in town offer the same service. There is no worry of being undercut with top dressing. ABC charges a similar price.

You can check out the top dressing at http://www.youtube.com/user/PlantscapeSolutions?ob=0&feature=results_main if you haven't seen it before. I wanted to get Ron Howard to help me with my video clips but he was bust that day.

[KrayzKajun]

David, how are yalls lake levels after all ths rain?
Posted via Mobile Device

[PlantscapeSolutions]

David, how are yalls lake levels after all ths rain?
Posted via Mobile Device

The lake went up about 15' to an elevation of 640' but full would be 681'. May & June are normally the wettest months of the year here and it's a must that that it a normal or above normal spring for rain. We've been pretty dry for the last month where irrigation now needs to be used. May & June are going to be some make it or brake it months for important rainfall.

The Dallas and Houston areas are in great shape and have nothing to worry about. It's mostly the Austin/San Antonio areas that still need some help.

[Duekster]

The lake went up about 15' to an elevation of 640' but full would be 681'. May & June are normally the wettest months of the year here and it's a must that that it a normal or above normal spring for rain. We've been pretty dry for the last month where irrigation now needs to be used. May & June are going to be some make it or brake it months for important rainfall.

The Dallas and Houston areas are in great shape and have nothing to worry about. It's mostly the Austin/San Antonio areas that still need some help.I think we are pretty much going to stay on twice a week watering in N Central Texas.

There is some concern with Zerbra Muscles from the red river so that supply is impacting some cities in far north.

[Duekster]

I was just looking at the numbers and I done $23,000 worth of top dressing with my Ecolawn top dresser in the last few months. I have about $3500 more lined up to do. If you understand the soil biology benefits of top dressing this year has been the perfect year to sell the service.

It's even better to service to offer because very few people own top dressing machines or EBS blower trucks. It's not like the lawn service biz where 1000 people in town offer the same service. There is no worry of being undercut with top dressing. ABC charges a similar price.

You can check out the top dressing at http://www.youtube.com/user/PlantscapeSolutions?ob=0&feature=results_main if you haven't seen it before. I wanted to get Ron Howard to help me with my video clips but he was bust that day.

Nice unit. I am not sure ABC offers that service up hear. When visiting Austin, I have seen their commericals but never see one up here. What are some typical rates if I may ask.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

About $75 per 1000 sq ft is a market rate. The material only costs about $13 per 1000. With a 20' dump trailer you can do 24-32K square feet per day.

[Duekster]

About $75 per 1000 sq ft is a market rate. The material only costs about $13 per 1000. With a 20' dump trailer you can do 24-32K square feet per day.
The website says to apply a yard per 2K SF and twice that for renovation. Is that about what you are seeing too?

And Thanks for the info

[PlantscapeSolutions]

The website says to apply a yard per 2K SF and twice that for renovation. Is that about what you are seeing too?

And Thanks for the info

That's about right.

[Turf Dawg]

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=4389533&posted=1#post4389533How are y'alls lawns bouncing back after last year? Mine are doing better than I thought they would be a this early stage [because of the cool nights] but I think they will get back pretty fast. I will be putting fert down starting Monday, so if we keep getting some rain and could get some mid 60 degree nights and mid 80 degree day for a few weeks things should start looking good.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=4389533&posted=1#post4389533How are y'alls lawns bouncing back after last year? Mine are doing better than I thought they would be a this early stage [because of the cool nights] but I think they will get back pretty fast. I will be putting fert down starting Monday, so if we keep getting some rain and could get some mid 60 degree nights and mid 80 degree day for a few weeks things should start looking good.

All of my customers are irrigated and didn't suffer much with the exception of two that live near me. One had 30,000 sq ft of Buffalo 609 that was just about wiped out. The other has about 21,000 sq ft of Zoysia that has been hit with watering restrictions multiple times since I landscaped his house about eight years ago. His lawn is about 90% wiped out and he doesn't have it in the budget to water and top dress it to help it recover. So we're getting paid $110 to mow mostly weeds right now.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I'd still like everyone to put up a picture of themselves like we had BS'd about a while back. It's be nice to put a face to each screen name. It would be nice to know what everyone is hoping to do in sales this year as well. I'm sure we have some one man show type guys on here as well as some running multiple crews. My goal is to get back above $300K again.

I picked up two more homes this week. One is a $500K house that is just OK. I gave them a little higher price then the norm to test the waters and still landed the customer. It was a Servicemagicpro house so two the companies should have been bidding on it as well.

The second home is a million dollar place in Barton Creek. They had your classic cheap but don't know crap type lawn service. They may be paying me double what they were paying. The place has a ton of landscape potential and it looks like a pool makeover will be phase one. First I need to cut down some 30' tall El Crapo Palms (Mexican Fan Palms).

[Turf Dawg]

All of my customers are irrigated and didn't suffer much with the exception of two that live near me. One had 30,000 sq ft of Buffalo 609 that was just about wiped out. The other has about 21,000 sq ft of Zoysia that has been hit with watering restrictions multiple times since I landscaped his house about eight years ago. His lawn is about 90% wiped out and he doesn't have it in the budget to water and top dress it to help it recover. So we're getting paid $110 to mow mostly weeds right now.

Sadly my lawns are irrigated also, well kind of. Now that I have my irrigators license I checked out the gray rock house in the pics. I had to replace 15 bodies and nozzles, raise 9 that were so low you could not even see them, move 2 out from under shrubs and fix 2 leaks. They wanted to know how I added all those heads without digging trenches. They were pretty amazed that the heads were there all along and just not working properly. No wonder they had so many dead spots last year. Now if I could get people to understand that rotors watering 5k need to run much longer than spray heads that are watering 1k and that watering 10-15 minutes every other day is just wasting water because it is not doing squat and that they should water heavily two days a week. The two that I control the water on [people head North during the summer] looked great last year and I guarantee their water bill was not much more if any.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Do you ever split the run time in half and use two start times to maximize absortion and minimize runoff?

[Turf Dawg]

Do you ever split the run time in half and use two start times to maximize absortion and minimize runoff?

There are a few around here that need soak and cycle, but most can absorb fast enough for one cycle.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Turf Dawg]

Also most do not run them long to settle the dust good.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Duekster]

Definately like the split run times.

Love the Global adjust features.

I rarely run an audit as the home owners often do not want to really pay. I would rather have them spend the money on upgrading their systems

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Do any of you guys who have employee's ever run your numbers on sales generated versus man hours to see what your bringing in per man hour? I just had my first chance to run some numbers this spring and for today we managed $34.70 per man hour.

[Duekster]

Do any of you guys who have employee's ever run your numbers on sales generated versus man hours to see what your bringing in per man hour? I just had my first chance to run some numbers this spring and for today we managed $34.70 per man hour.

That is a good target to hit.
While I do estimate and bill that way, I do not actually follow up like that. Here is why. I often have multiple bill rates. I focus more on individual job costing.

I do need to spend more time refining my QB Pro to tracking various cost.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

That is a good target to hit.
While I do estimate and bill that way, I do not actually follow up like that. Here is why. I often have multiple bill rates. I focus more on individual job costing.

I do need to spend more time refining my QB Pro to tracking various cost.

What do is look at QB Pro and write down the sales total. Then I enter in the sales my maintenance crew generated for the day. I then pull up the sales figure again and extract the sales that came from the info I just entered. Then I divide the sales total by the total number of hours my guys worked that day.

[Duekster]

What do is look at QB Pro and write down the sales total. Then I enter in the sales my maintenance crew generated for the day. I then pull up the sales figure again and extract the sales that came from the info I just entered. Then I divide the sales total by the total number of hours my guys worked that day.

No Doubt that will work.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

What do is look at QB Pro and write down the sales total. Then I enter in the sales my maintenance crew generated for the day. I then pull up the sales figure again and extract the sales that came from the info I just entered. Then I divide the sales total by the total number of hours my guys worked that day.

all data is important, also figure what it costs per hour for your crew to be in the field-then you can figure what kinda profit per hour you are making....

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I went to Alvin yesterday and picked up 45G Meds. & Pindo's for only $100. I picked up two 30G Meds. for $70 as well. I love bargains.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

Nice looking plants...good deal, now you get to go to work selling them-

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Nice looking plants...good deal, now you get to go to work selling them-

Five are headed to a pool near the Barton Creek Country Club on Monday.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Five are headed to a pool near the Barton Creek Country Club on Monday.

There's a good chance six more will be headed to a different house in Barton Creek. I'll be a happy camper if move most of them in a month or less.

If anyone else is looking for a bargain Rancho Encino has 45G & 24" box tree's for $75. I had planned to pick some up but ended up loaded up on palms instead. The last two years I purchased twenty 24" box tree's at similar discounts and sold them all very quickly.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

Is barton creek on COA water? Once per week might be ok...unless we don't get any rain-I wouln't want to warrenty those-

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Is barton creek on COA water? Once per week might be ok...unless we don't get any rain-I wouln't want to warrenty those-

Barton has their own little MUD district. They never went to once a week. My customers in Lakeway city limits also never went to once a week. I have customers in Greenshores off City Park Road and they never went to once a week either. I'm glad all my eggs aren't in one basket.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

The TNLA Expo is coming up in a few months. This year it will be in Houston from August 16-19. How many other people on here are TNLA members and have been to the Expo? If you guys have never been to an Expo you are really missing out. I usually go on Saturday for just a day. But now that I have an applicators license and need credits I may come early is they have any CEU credits available for taking seminars.

From trucks, to skid steers, to mowers, to 30' tall tree's and palms on display in an air conditioned building you will see it all. If you a landscaper and not just a grass guy the Expo is like a giant candy store for adults.

I haven't heard from most of the people who signed on to the thread. Speak up and lets hear what you have to say. If you have something going on post up some info on here as well.

[Duekster]

The TNLA Expo is coming up in a few months. This year it will be in Houston from August 16-19. How many other people on here are TNLA members and have been to the Expo? If you guys have never been to an Expo you are really missing out. I usually go on Saturday for just a day. But now that I have an applicators license and need credits I may come early is they have any CEU credits available for taking seminars.

From trucks, to skid steers, to mowers, to 30' tall tree's and palms on display in an air conditioned building you will see it all. If you a landscaper and not just a grass guy the Expo is like a giant candy store for adults.

I haven't heard from most of the people who signed on to the thread. Speak up and lets hear what you have to say. If you have something going on post up some info on here as well.

Not a member of the TNLA. I too need my TDA CEU's amd my LI CEU's

Houston is a good run

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Not a member of the TNLA. I too need my TDA CEU's amd my LI CEU's

Houston is a good run

It's only $250 to be a member if your sales are $250K or less a year. My sales are higher but I fib a tiny bit and just pay the $250. Every month there are meetings in different regions. In Austin we are in region 8. The meetings often have a guest speaker and occasionally you will earn some CEU's. The meetings are very informal and usually catered.

You may find growers or other contractors in your area that you didn't know were there that might help put more money in your pocket. The annual Expo is a huge event that is not open to the public. The event is for contractors, retailers, and growers.

[Duekster]

It's only $250 to be a member if your sales are $250K or less a year. My sales are higher but I fib a tiny bit and just pay the $250. Every month there are meetings in different regions. In Austin we are in region 8. The meetings often have a guest speaker and occasionally you will earn some CEU's. The meetings are very informal and usually catered.

You may find growers or other contractors in your area that you didn't know were there that might help put more money in your pocket. The annual Expo is a huge event that is not open to the public. The event is for contractors, retailers, and growers.

So many associations, Texas Turf, Texas Irrigation, TNLA....

[Duekster]

There are a few around here that need soak and cycle, but most can absorb fast enough for one cycle.
Posted via Mobile Device

Typical Spray Heads do output faster than out clay's can handle

Also most do not run them long to settle the dust good.
Posted via Mobile Device

You need at least 1/4 Inch to be effective and in the summer most North Texas lawns like 1/2" every 3 to 4 days.

[Rupert@SCYW]

Houston, Tx count me in

[Weekend cut easymoney]

Don't know if we can make it to Houston this year, but sure enjoyed the show in Tenessee last october--needed two or three days there-

[Duekster]

Welcome Rupert

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Houston, Tx count me in

I was just down in your neck of the woods a few weeks back. Jay at Altex in Alvin gave me a deal on 45G Meds. & Pindo's at only $100 a pop. I was going to load up on the discounted Live Oaks at Rancho Encino but ended up with a load of palms instead.

Whats the Cliff Notes low down on your biz. How many employee's, sales per year, and service mix?

[PlantscapeSolutions]

Don't know if we can make it to Houston this year, but sure enjoyed the show in Tenessee last october--needed two or three days there-

Have you or Ed ever been to the TNLA show? If you go to the educational class's you can get CEU's for irrigation or applicator licenses. Is anyone at Hess a licensed applicator? I know you have one or two Irrigators.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

we sub out the weed control/fertilizer, but I have all the books and just need to go take the test-

[Weekend cut easymoney]

Have you or Ed ever been to the TNLA show? .

not been to that show...but want to get Ed to go this year if there is time-I want to go to Louisville again thsi year as well-

[PlantscapeSolutions]

we sub out the weed control/fertilizer, but I have all the books and just need to go take the test-

I drug my feet after getting the books for at least five years. Then Top Choice for fire ants became a restricted use product and I was unaware of it. I went to buy some and found out I could no longer get it. I was in a huge bind since I had a bunch of work lined up but no access to product.

Texas put forth no effort to enforce the pesticide use laws. I estimate over 90% of the smaller guys you see running around have no license. I had no license for ten years. Many guys don't realize you can't legally even spray a drop of RoundUp or anything else without a license. Not even preemergent mixed with fert is legal.

[Duekster]

If it has an EPA Registration # on the lable, you need a license. If you claim to control pest....

[Weekend cut easymoney]

yeah...the arguement on another thread was that homeowners are allowed to spray so why not us...has to do with volumes etc..

I'm gonna do it soon though, I see lots of upsides...trugreen sprays one of our properties for $1500...takes one guy 3-4 hours, I'd guess maybe $500- worth of product... as they are one of the only guys that will spray large properties...I got another bid for $2500...insane

[Woody82986]

I'm currently studying for the exam. So far the study questions can mostly be answered using common sense and process of elimination. I'm not too worried about taking the actual exam. Hopefully I'll find the time in the coming months.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

I'm currently studying for the exam. So far the study questions can mostly be answered using common sense and process of elimination. I'm not too worried about taking the actual exam. Hopefully I'll find the time in the coming months.

they told me to take the exam in the morning really early and if I failed, I could come back same day and take it again...the portion that I failed-

[PlantscapeSolutions]

If it has an EPA Registration # on the lable, you need a license. If you claim to control pest....

Legally every pesticide product must be registered with the EPA. Some of the organic stuff may not have to have a number since it doesn't actually contain any chemicals.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I'm currently studying for the exam. So far the study questions can mostly be answered using common sense and process of elimination. I'm not too worried about taking the actual exam. Hopefully I'll find the time in the coming months.

There are more then just a few goofy questions so it's a good idea to really go over everything very thoroughly. Some of the study guide questions could not be traced back to any section of the material and had me scratching my head a few times. There are three tests with a total 250 multiple choice questions.

I had to buy a new study guide when I finally decided to take the test because some of the information had changed. The first study guide was cheap but the newer one was expensive.

There were city of Austin workers taking just one section of the test the day I was there. I could hear the brain cells straining trying to finish the one section. They were surprised that I was taking three tests that day.

[Duekster]

Legally every pesticide product must be registered with the EPA. Some of the organic stuff may not have to have a number since it doesn't actually contain any chemicals.

Having been at the EPA offices in Crystal City more than once, I can say there are some issues they overlook but basically you are right. :usflag:

[PlantscapeSolutions]

they told me to take the exam in the morning really early and if I failed, I could come back same day and take it again...the portion that I failed-

I also took the exam for my CDL last year and got that as well. I thought I was going to be tested on two sections but it was three. On the CDL test it's all about numbers and not about common sense. When the computer started the third section I was screwed and didn't know any of the answers. I came back the next day and aced it.

Even though I'm only driving a one ton truck I had to test on all sorts of semi truck stuff that was totally irrelevant.

[Weekend cut easymoney]

why did you get a CDL?

[Duekster]

I would like to meet you guys at the trade show if I can make it.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

why did you get a CDL?

I've had a 21' gooseneck triple 7K trailer for years that was underrated to keep the registration cheaper but in reality I was in the CDL GCWR area of 26K+. Last year I bought a 20' PJ dump trailer that has a GWR of 25K all by it's self. The PJ required a commercial inspection sticker so my truck also had to get one and I had to get a CDL. If you get stopped towing even an empty trailer that has the capacity to put your GCWR over 26K the ticket is $1500.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I would like to meet you guys at the trade show if I can make it.

This year the Expo is in Houston 16-19th (Fri, Sat, Sun) of August. I usually go on Saturday but this year I may go on Thursday and take the educational seminars for CEU credits for my applicators license. If I go on Thursday I'll check out the Expo on Friday and hit the road. There will also be seminars for irrigators that need CEU's.

[Duekster]

I need the TDA and LI CEU's but August is such a bad time. It is a little further down the road for me too.

[PlantscapeSolutions]

I need the TDA and LI CEU's but August is such a bad time. It is a little further down the road for me too.

You can always get there on a Saturday at 9 AM and be back on the road in the afternoon. That's how I've done it in the past. Only the very first time I went did I get a hotel at the Four Seasons in Houston and stay the night.

But if you want the CEU's and to check out the Expo the best case scenario is a Thursday/Friday trip. I hate being away as well but this year the CEU's are a good reason to just do it.

[Duekster]

You can always get there on a Saturday at 9 AM and be back on the road in the afternoon. That's how I've done it in the past. Only the very first time I went did I get a hotel at the Four Seasons in Houston and stay the night.

But if you want the CEU's and to check out the Expo the best case scenario is a Thursday/Friday trip. I hate being away as well but this year the CEU's are a good reason to just do it.looks like the LI and the TDA CEU's are on the same day and the LI would take all day. I wish they would spread them out some.

I also which that TCEQ would allow some related info for CEU's drought resistant plantings, proper turf management in a drought but it has to be strictly irrigation related.