No Stripes In Las Vegas!!!!

[GraZZmaZter]

I just returned from Las Vegas this morning. I, being in the green industry, obviously critiqued each lawn that we came across. (might i add that the fresh cut grass smell was awesome after not smelling any all winter) I was amazed that i did not see one stripe anywhere in the whole town. I couldn't imagine why these multi million dollar hotel/casinos would let these people do such a poor job. Edging was few and far between. When it was edged, it was done poorly with a string trimmer. Most of the lawns were small and done with a 21, but were lacking quality. The few that did use bigger equipment looked very bad. Many using dull blades. I was not impressed at all with the lawns in Vegas. Anyone else been there and noticed the same thing? I have some pics of the Ceasers Palace lawn's poor job. I took them with a disposable camera though. I can only post pics with a digital camera, correct? Other than the disappointment with the green industry out there, i had a blast. I came home a whopping 5 dollars richer than when i left! lol.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

I have a friend that just moved out to Vegas this past summer, he said people actually put out newspaper adds looking for Lawn care. He said from what he saw it would be a great place to start a Lawn Care.

I think it may be the type of grass as to the fact that there are no stripes. He told me the same thing though about shotty work out there.

[Mickhippy]

I hope you didnt mean there work was poor because they didnt have stripes? Over here in OZ the only time you see stripes is on playing fields or golf courses. After seeing pics of them on this site I personally dont like them on residential properties as it takes the eye away from the house and landscaping. This is of course my opinion only and I know some of you are very proud of your machines ability to stripe.

[HOMER]

I would also imagine they are using a warm season grass.........your not going to see many stripes in that like you might be accustomed to in the north.

[johnhenry]

Maybe they are using bermuda.But that is something to think about.When I went to south miami beach and the florida keys I was also amaze by the poor quality work also.Or maybe we just look to hard and are sick people to look who are in awe of green.And I am worst of the bunch at looking at other lawns as we travel and my wife tells me so as often as she can.:D

[Bluesteel]

Yep, I agree with Homer and JohnHenry, probably warm-season grass. I had the same type of reaction (but in reverse) last fall when I drove to Detroit to pick up a snowplow. I stripe my all-fescue lawns, but around here it’s a novelty because most people only use fescue in patches as a shade grass. It’s possible to put light stripes in Bermuda grass, because is does show your cut-path, it’s just not nearly as dramatic as Fescue. I had been up north many times, but never paid attention to the grass until last year when I started cutting it for a living. But man-o-man, beautiful fescue growing everywhere up there, wild and lush! And every fresh-cut lawn was striped!

It would be double-tuff to maintain a lawn of fescue or any cool-season grass in Las Vegas’ climate. Not to say you didn’t see shoddy work. It does make me wonder though.

[mdb landscaping]

hey grazzmaster. you shouldve taken a ride out to summerlin there. when i was there, grass was striped everywhere. if youre not familiar with summerlin, it surrounds the tpc golf course. its a totally planned community with several developments. everything is so neat and clearly thought out. if i was going to move out west, id definately move there. next time your go out there, take a ride there. its only about 25 min to get to, and there is a ton of lawn and "stone scaping"

[Clay]

OK guys... "This threads for me!" :-)

You see, I grew up in Vegas and started and sold 8 landscape maintenance businesses in 12 years before moving to the Oregon Coast 3 years ago....

Believe it or not... most all the grass there is now a Blue-Fescue mix.... Just enough Blue to hold the sod together so they don't need to use netting.... The wild grass that invades is common bermuda with a few lawns and putting greens using hybrid bermuda...

Just about every business is good there as over 5,000 people a month are selling out and moving to Vegas, thus bringing their accumulated nest egg with them....

The lots are small, the irrigation is crucial, and the water bills are as much as the monthly maintenance... It's funny, because you can almost bid a property just by asking them what their average monthly water bill is... :-)

Vegas is a great place to make a living or get ahead financially... But with it comes the problems of any large city...

BTW, My accounts were located no where near the Strip... They were mainly in gate guarded private neighborhoods and some actually had gates within the gates.... You wouldn't be able to get into these neighborhoods to see the really fine lawns...

But in these areas, I can assure you that every square inch of their propery was made perfect on a weekly basis.... I was able to take advantage of my Toro 37" recycler deck hydro with 20 hp Kohler (still bogged it down on occasion with the thick turf), but much was cut with the 21" Toro...

Clay

[Dependable Lawncare]

Originally posted by GraZZmaZter
. I came home a whopping 5 dollars richer than when i left! lol. [/B]

Coming home from Vegas 5 dollars richer is a victory! Congratulations!

[rodfather]

Originally posted by Clay


But in these areas, I can assure you that every square inch of their propery was made perfect on a weekly basis.... I was able to take advantage of my Toro 37" recycler deck hydro with 20 hp Kohler (still bogged it down on occasion with the thick turf), but much was cut with the 21" Toro...

Clay


Hey Clay

Is the turf there so thick you need a 20hp engine (decent size) on a 37" deck (what I consider small)? Just wondering??? You should be able to mow down a hay field with that configurment. I have a LCO friend that put a 20hp Kohler on a 48" WB and that thing is awesome.

[bastalker]

Thats it, I am movin ta vegas!!!:D Texas is the same way no stripes. They just dont have the grass for it. Guess its more of a yankee thing...... :laugh: :drinkup:

[Clay]

Originally posted by rodfather
Hey Clay

Is the turf there so thick you need a 20hp engine (decent size) on a 37" deck (what I consider small)? Just wondering??? You should be able to mow down a hay field with that configurment. I have a LCO friend that put a 20hp Kohler on a 48" WB and that thing is awesome.

Hey there rodfather...

Yeah, the Toro execs couldn't believe that I would bog down that setup either... lol... It can be very thick, and have a spring flush of growth like crazy, combined with mulching and you can use all the hp you can get!!!!

Don't see much striping going on in Vegas.... most of the turf is cut at 2" winter and 2.5" summer.... I think the better stripes come at a higher cut don't they???

Later, Clay

[cos]

What I noticed when I was there last year was that the lawns were way too small to stripe and all mounded up. The landscapes weren't all that bad. I also noticed that every lawn guy out there had the same trailer, small and full of 21" mowers and hand tools being pulled by mostly vans.