Who's season is over?

[powerreel]

Just wondering with fall here, what areas are about done for the year and what do we do when the last bit of debris is picked up?

[HOMER]

Here in Alabama we usually have work right on through the winter. The last part of Jan. and really all of february are pretty slack months because all the leaves have fallen and the grass ain't growing. There are plenty of people that call wanting one time clean-ups to fill in the voids though. Had several of them last year, probably won't do any this year cause you always get burnt, well I did anyway. Theres always something to do, I think I'll catch up on my movie rentals while the checks keep coming in, maybe I'll go camping or something fun for a change. Man I love the South.

Homer

[Scag48]

Powerreel,
I'm in Eastern Washington in a tiny town called Chelan. You might have heard of it. My season is pretty much over. I got a couple of leaf cleanup jobs to do then I'm set for skiing this winter.:)

[thelawnguy]

Maybe half my lawns will get last cut the week of the 28th, the rest the following week, then its dedicated leaf cleanup with a final mow and mulch the week of thanxgiving barring any snowstorms. After that its plow snow, home projects, etc til March when it starts all over again.

Im in Southern new england, Id keep mowing but by the end of the month, with time change it gets dark around 5, lawns are frosted til 10 or later then they are wet and muddy so its not worth making a mess just so I can mulch up a foot of leaves.

[pace lawn care]

Here in SE. Arkansas it's pretty much over. Not because the grass stops growing, but because people don't seen to worry about their lawns as much. Time to let the dogs out and go Squrriel hunting.

[65hoss]

Mine is slowing down which is very unusual for Memphis. No rain, it has rained 2 times since August. Fescue is starting to grow again, but we went from 90's last thurs. to 40's on fri. and 2 frosts. Really put a stop to the bermuda and zoysia. Although the temps have gone back into the 70's which is normal, so maybe things will continue thru November as usual.

[Charles]

Last year I had a good october. This year the cold weather has hit early in sc. It has been very dry the past 3 weeks. So things have slowed down considerbly. This year has been nerve racking. Not consistant at all. With the drought and then the rain and now back to the drought. Still doing some yards. Leaf season will start first of november and end like homers. Around Jan 15. The I hibernate until spring. Right now its frosty outside

[rixtag]

My season will be over mid november but contracts are up Oct31. I will mow as late as the weather allows but I don't have to. Got some stuff to clean up but weather has not been a factor....yet.

Rick

[Redmowers]

I mowed (chopped leaves) into November last year.It cooled off earlier this year maybe one more round will shut the mowing season down in northern NY.Time to break out the snow blower and shovels.

[crew]

Here in sothern MN we will be chopping leaves through mid Nov. if the weather cooperates. Then its wait for snow and keep cheering those 6-0 Vikings.:eek:

[Alan]

I'm sure I've mowed some of mine for the last time up here in NW Vermont. Some will get hit once more but that is only because they have gone 3 weeks already. Pretty normal fall up here so far. Now I'll dedicate a couple weeks to preparing the snow equipment and filling my salt shed.

[Esby]

I am located in Alexandria, MN. Things are still rather steady, but its a slow steady. Just doing leaf clean ups and mowing of some yards that continue to grow. Give it another two/three weeks and it will be all over.

[thelawnguy]

I will be done with fall cleanups next week (day before Thanksgiving) barring an early snow, which appears possible by the end of this week. As it is, I am down to 5 1/2 hour days.

The biggest downside to the off-season, besides living off of my bank account and snowfall, is becoming lazy.

[ronslawncare]

over here in long island ny everyones lazy so my leaf work is pouring in i charge 200 250 a house im hoping i dont have to do any snow but probally will over hear the landscappers get paid to put up christmas decorations and paid to take them down.they never stop in ny they rather die before they dont get there money.at least it seems that way to me

[landscaper3]

Up here in the North way up in Maine we are or have been done mowing services for 6-7 weeks but are almost finished with fall cleanups. Now cant wait till SNOW for thats our off season income and with 14 to 20 plowable storms and sandings, a nice winter income. But come January ill be saying when is May gonna get here.

[powerreel]

Just applied fall/winter fert, top has slowed in Seattle. Plenty of http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Plants/Psilocybe/cyanescens.html , real good year for mushrooms. I expect to harvest a few pounds of coral fungi tommorow for stew. Shaggy Manes are back again!

[Richard Martin]

I am right in the middle of leaf mulching season here in MD. I still have probably 60% to 65% of my customers on board. This winter I'll be hanging gutter and siding for $20.00 an hour for a buddy of mine.

[MOW ED]

I'm taking this week off and next Monday (20th) I'm cleaning up 4 good customers and Tuesday the pressure washer and paint cans come out. By Weds. hopefully everything will be hibernating for the winter.

[jaclawn]

Should be wrapped up with the bulk of the work by Thanksgiving. Then it is off to the oddball jobs, winterizing equip, home projects, snow, getting in gear for 2001, rest...

The work hours are getting shorter and shorter every day. The frost sticks around till mid morning, and you must get to the last job of the day by 4:30 or so, in order to finish in daylight.

[Greenkeepers]

11-13-00

Here in OH growth hasn't slowed that much. Even though we've had some heavy frosts. This weekend looks like it may have been the last because they are calling for 4-5 straight days of snow and temps. in the 30's. All the leaves are off the trees, and we've been doing cleanups. Only have 2 more to go. Hope it isn't in the snow!!

Mike
Greenkeepers

[GrassMaster]

Hello Everybody:

It all started Oct. before last? This is why I miss the Lawn Service Business so much?

All the Y2K crap started & sales dropped to nothing. Couldn't sell inventory Power Equipment or Bikes at all even at near cost with little to no profit.

Sales were off over 60% then repairs dropped to over 50% off. A first in over 9 years that I've been there. The company has been in business since 1903 & always climbed each year in gross & profit.

Then after the beginning of year 2,000. The Drought has hit us very hard going months at the time no rain at all, you guys lucky that you got rain. It don't matter if you got to much either, at least everywhere you went you didn't see dead Lawns, Plants & Trees. I live on 5+ acres & had over 12 pine trees die on me. No water? I've seen over 8 lawns in a row dead & that's bad? First time ever we were on water restrictions.

Lawn service companies going out of business, they not making any money. Some of the smart went & got jobs just to make it. My 2 mechanics haven't averaged 2 to 3 hours work a day over last 13 months if averaged out. But the bigger companies they survived, but they worked hard.This is what makes you a Pro when you can survive in these kind of hard times?

I've spent most of my Mickey Mouse retirement that I had invested about $45,000 just keeping the shop going. This past September after all expenses except Salary because salary is considered profit, I made almost $200 that's not much of anything. Only month a profit in 13 months. We had plenty of rain that month!

Things are changing for the Green Industry daily. More & more purchases on line. Every time a Lawnservice company starts up you can figure that it wil knock out about 50 homeowner sales to the dealers. Then it gets even worse, got a phone call that Wallmart is now new Snapper dealer. That just makes matters worse for us little guys.

Then you got Home Depot selling everything that I carry, they have nothing to offer except huge inventory. If their mowers tear up, they just send them to us. All we have is prices almost the same as theirs in most cases, Product knowledge, Service. Nobody wants that any more all they after is saving a dollar. No loyality what so ever. If folks see 20 trimmers stacked up in a pile, they buy one even it we have same price. The pile makes them go into a buying frenzy. LOL, percieved value?

The Commercial guy now buys far better equipment, so less breakdowns & purchases. It really puts a hurting on the smaller dealers. In my area more are going out of business, than opening new shops. The drought here is just getting worse & worse each year it seems like & little to no hope for the future. I put my life savings in this place.

I've been seeing this coming for years. I've had my business for sale for almost 5 years & no luck at all. I've signed a contract with a Business Broker offering him a commision of $40,000 when he completes the sale of the business & still nothing. I've lowered the price of the business by over $75,000 of what the business appraised for & still nothing.

My inventory will more than pay off the shop & I keep the inventory up there as a last resort & it's killing me finacially.

The problem is the Greed of the banks if they find out you are cashing out & going to sell inventory. They decide to call your note due & give you about 30 days to do it. Well it would take longer than that to sell off inventory.

This day & time when folks find out you are going out of business, they are going to try to pay you as little as possible, literally kicking you as hard as they can even after you are down & out!

Small business man in the retail end of business will be a thing of the past. JD announced I believe back in Janurary that in the next 10 years that they will sell equipment & parts on line. They have I believe 900+ dealers. They also predict that over 50% will go out of business. That the remaining ones will have to rely on Parts & Service.

Also the liberal return policy of these Mass Merchants, people go out their & buy trimmer at beginning of season, then at the end of season they return it. I can't compete with that.

Fruit for Thought? Then I close this mile long post!

About October before last when this first started I had a person come into the shop wanting a New lawnmower & wanted to finance it, well when he filled out the papers for financing I found out his yearly salary was $180,000 a year.

Of course LOL, he was approved. He did not want to pay me within a $100 of my selling price. I told him I couldn't do it. He kept on & on, then he got mad at me. He finally told me that it wasn't no big deal selling it at that price, he already knew times were hard."Better to sell at some price than not selling at all."

He then told me "That since I owned the Business that it didn't matter if I made a profit or not, that I could just write it off on my expenses & it wouldn't cost me anything since I'm the owner"

I very un politely told him to get out of my store & I would die & go you know where before I sold him anything.

This a growing attitude amongst the customer, they all think we are Millionares. LOL, If they only Knew? There is far more to life than the Almighty Dollar?

Localy I've helped at least 10 different people get into the business. I mean I showed them how to bid & even wrote up bids for them & went & looked at properties to help. None do busines with me anymore! They go to biggest dealer in town. I even showed them how to do repairs too!

On the Internet by E-mail I've helped 100's, possibly 1,000's ansering E-mails daily, I've been doing this since 1996. But when I answer their questions, in most cases I never hear from them again. I've had 2 of them to thank me & one of them is here on this Forum.

I always do the best I can with what I got? I make this post with a very sad & hurt heart. I just want to do good for my 2 daughters & wife. One day I'll be away from this curse & I'll look back laughing? I hope?

So what kind of problems have you guys got?

[Five Star Lawn Care LLC]

Im in SE Michigan and im going to wrap up my season hopefully by this sunday. Its a little early in the season to be stoping but i have a lot of planning to do for snow & ice control and i have to have a few days to take the leaf topper of the truck and instal the salter. I will lose money but it will make the transision from leaves to snow go a hel of a lot easier.

[Scraper]

DAMN Grassmaster! Sorry! I can say for myself that I buy almost everything (that includes non lawn related stuff)from local dealers and "mom & pop shops". I refuse to go to "chain" restaurants like TGIF, Bennigans, etc. (well maybe McD's once in a while :)) I believe that contributing to my local economy will eventually provide a return to my investment.

Hope things brighten up down there!!!!

[GrassMaster]

Hello Scraper:

I always try do business with the small business person. Sometimes I pay more but I get more. Most of the time they come & do business with me. It really pays off. I like it very much when someone says Thank you or Your Welcome & they mean it. You will never see me or mine in Wallmart?

Things will get better. My late Father would say "It's always Darkest Before Daylight." That's so true.

I have a few irons in the fire here on the Internet, I'm still working on my Lawn Service Book that I will finish this Century. LOL, I started on it in 1995. If things don't change which only a miracle could do that.

I will if things don't change after the first of the year go & get Microsoft Certified in Front Page 2000. Which I can ace with flying colors right now, but I will take a short course before certification. Then I will also Certify in Microsoft Access 2000, which I'm teaching myself now. Then if I can't get work as an outside contractor building websites & building online or offline databases for other companies.

I'll start aerating, dethatching & fertilization or eat crow & take a good high paying maintenance job in management in a Factory or Paper Mill or Powerplant. Which I would consider rock bottom. I made a promise to God that if he showed me how to be a success in the Lawn Service Business & I be able to take care of my family, that I act real good to others no matter what. And I also promised him that if this came true, that I would never ever work for the other man again. LOL, I'm 46 & I'm still learning how to pray. I might have to break that promise about working for the other man. But he will forgive me, I hope?

I've been self employeed for over 15 years & had 5 different businesses. I would not make a good Employee. I've had to much Freedom & never regretted a minute of it!

The way things are here I should start a irrigation business. My luck it rain all the time.

Hey I know Irrigation & Roofing. LOL, I might have to think on that one? They sure do sound like I would be busy no matter how the weather is?

[SMB]

We're DONE after this week or next week. Ain't been doing nuthin' lately, :) I'M GETTIN' LAZY WITH JUST SCHOOL TO DO! I'm Homeschooled with Calvert, so it only takes until 12:00 or 1:00 PM to get done. It's not winter yet and I'm lookin' forward to next spring!

[crew]

grassmaster, I hope things work out for you.I will stop feeling sorry for myself because its raining too much.After reading your post, I feel like a creep for earlier posts on the topic of where to buy. I argued that lower price should be a major factor on many things and I stand by that. Having said that, If I knew my local guy was having any troubles whatsoever, I would buy toilet paper if he was selling it. My buisness would be considerably more difficult were it not for his expertise and willingness to help.( on a side note- he ditched the consumer stuff and went strictly commercial this year and by all accounts is kicking a**). You've forced me to rethink my buying decisions in the future. Thanks and good luck.

[Premo Services]

Originally posted by GrassMaster
Hello Scraper:

I always try do business with the small business person. Sometimes I pay more but I get more. Most of the time they come & do business with me. It really pays off. I like it very much when someone says Thank you or Your Welcome & they mean it. You will never see me or mine in Wallmart?


I agree, keep it in your town if you can the small business are going to give you better service, and personal attention, it is the way i have made my business grow and grow.

[Rodg]

Here in Nebraska we are pretty much done. I may have some pine needle clean up yet-but everything else is shut down.

[Toroguy]

Still have maintenance of equipment, billing and preparation for next year, so technically one is never done.

[parkwest]

Grassmaster

That which does not kill you, will make you stronger. I can't remember who it was that originally quoted but here is a good book I recommend, "The Clipper Ship Strategy" by Richard J. Maybury. A practical nuts and bolts strategy for prospering in our turbulent economy. 800 959-8586

[Twotoros]

Must winterize some equiptment and organize the shop area and break out the snowblowers.

[Runner]

We're still doing cleanups here in central Michigan. We just got a bunch more rain, so fortunately, some how, some of our grass is still growing. Even after I get all my customers done, I still have some side cleanups and other side work to keep me going. I'll do this right on up to the time that we get actual accumulation of snow. If it were up to me, this would be never. Every year I work as long as we can - always something to do.

[dhicks]

I'll be done tomorrow (western Maryland). I have one residential mowing, 2 winter fertilizations, then pack my bags for my trip to Canada. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charles]

Sorry to hear you having such a rough time grassmaster. We have had enough rain at certain times this year so the i came out ok. But those dry spells were terrible this year. We just came through another one of 40 days with no rain. I am still busy getting up leaves and mulching. Usually business stops by jan 15 then I am ready to rest until march 1st. Next year can only go up.

[powerreel]

First hard frost in Seattle today!

[Mike Paulsen]

Was force to be done last week. Got about 5 inches of snow one day and an inch or so the day after. Hoping it would warm back up and melt it a way. Hate unfinished work but on the bright side I know the snowblowers still work.

[mykee]

SOUTH WEST LOWER MICHIGAN
2 TO 3 INCHES OF WET HEAVY LAKE EFFECT SNOW OVERNITE
I SUPPOSE THAT WILL PUT AN END TO THE LEAF CLEANUP AROUND HERE
THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN COLD AND WET AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO MULCH
I HAVE HAD TO TELL CUSTOMERS THAT WHATEVER IT LOOKS LIKE NOW IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE SPRING
A LOT OF FALL CLEANUPS WILL NOW TURN TO SPRING CLEANUPS
HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GOOD OFF SEASON

[Eric ELM]

I thought I had problems, but after reading your posts, I can't remember what mine are now. WOW, I hope things start going better for you ASAP.

If it doesn't snow to much in the next week, we will do a few more leaf mulching jobs next week and then we are done til it snows enough to plow.

[Paradise Yard Service]

My season started 15 years ago and no letup in site. I live in Hawaii.

[Samurai WeedWacker]

Lawn seaon ended Halloween nite when we got 16 to 18 inches of snow in various parts of Laramie WY. Since then high temps have been in the teens and 20s and lows have been -15 to +5F. It's been too freakin cold to winterize my mowers! It may warm up to 40F this Wednesday.
On the plus side I've got about all the snow removal biz I can handle.

[lbmd1]

Still have 54 more leaf cleanups left up in southern NH. Less than 30 days or thereabouts to do them before Christmas week. Every year we have been averaging working till the week before Christmas. Tough on the equipment and the body with the mornings starting off at 20 degrees. Can't wait for this year's 3 months off. Long year with the all the rain, project delays. At least I've forraged enough nuts for winter skiing this year in between pitful snowfall amounts. Grassmaster, retail s**ks!!! I used to be a big box manager for Sams Clubs many years ago. 6% to 8% gross margins and thousands of p*ssed off customers waiting in long lines to save $4 on bulk toilet paper! I too would work in a factory if I couldn't be my own boss to avoid retail work again. Hang in there, the internet is the future and your miles ahead of everyone here!

Mike

[cleancut]

Here in Tennessee I'm way behind and already getting lazy..I have about 50 more leaf clean-ups and a couple of landscaping jobs to finish..We've had a lot of rain here the last couple of weeks so I haven't been able to mulch the leaves...Customers keep asking me when I'm going to do their leaves. They don't understand that they have to be dry..It's just me and one other guy, so we're really going to have to hump it to get done before the first snow arrives..Snow removal is not a big business here in Tn so I guess I'll just do odd jobs until March....Clean-Cut Lawncare & Landscaping

[Davis TLC]

Still cutting a few here in southern middle TN. Doing leaves, they still mulch when there wet with my DC and double blades. Catching up on some cleanups and landscaping jobs now that the mowing is slowing down. Should be done with leaves here in the next few weeks, this last cold spell should get the last of them off the trees soon.

[CandJ]

Finished my last job of the year today. Funny thing is, around 5pm today the business line rings and one of my customers asks for another mow this week. This is funny because its snowing outside, and we're expecting multiple inches overnite. Also, I'm getting ready for a week vacation for Thanksgiving. And finally, this customer is almost a week late with payment for October's mowing. I politely told her she called a little too late for the mow and wished her a good holiday (with a reminder about the late payment)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

[65hoss]

At least half the leaves are still on the trees. Cold now, so maybe they will start falling again soon. Technically, I could still be working some until Christmas.

[KirbysLawn]

I'm on a 2 week schedule now, will be done at next visits.

[MOW ED]

Grassmaster, Stick with it, I know I am not only speaking for myself when I say that you are one of the most respected and admired people at Lawnsite. Having never met you personally and having this opinion says alot about you. Perseverence and the will to succeed along with intelligent choices will get you so far, a genuine caring personality and will to help others are traits that you posess that will make the difference for you. I appreciate the help you have given me in the past, either thru direct response to my posts or from reading your posts and replys. I hope things get better for you and your family and wish you the best.


On the subject of WHO'S DONE, I have a tip for how to save water when pressure washing your equipment before putting it away. Do it when the wind chill is 1 above zero. Its amazing how fast you work. ;)
For you in Hawaii and Florida a wind chill is similar to the feeling you get in your head when you eat your ice cream cone in 5 seconds.
And additionally for you happy guys in Florida, your workday is gonna get a little longer because we sent you all of our blueheaded Sunday driving Snow Birds.

[Paradise Yard Service]

MOW ED
I hear ya on the windchill. Was raised in Lisbon N.H. and Olean (West) N.Y.. I've lived in Hawaii since the 70s and just about thawed out now. But all this good weather comes with a price. Aloha
Kevin
Paradice Yard Service

[thelawnguy]

I am done as of today. So, let it snow!!!

[Greenkeepers]

We still have a few cleanups to do but it has been snowing for the past week and a half. The part that sucks is that we can't even plow. We're only getting a dusting during the day.

Mike
Greenkeepers