Is Weeding Profitable???

[Vibe Ray]

Is it possible to make weeding profitable? In my past experiences it is hard to charge too much for weeding, cuz the customer just thinks of it as just "weeding". Is it just that you have to get quick at it? I am about to stop taking weeding jobs because it doesn't seem profitable. Do you guys use the old fashioned hand-pull method (that would be me) or any time-saving tools? Do you use any types of sprays?

[Vibe Ray]

I just realized I don't really mean profitable Of course it's profitable. I am asking is it possible to charge a high hourly rate($25.00/hr and up)?

[SJR Lawncare]

I offer "bed clean-up" & mulching; I charge my regular hourly rate for weeding & clean-up, & $50/yard for mulch installed. So, yes I think it is fairly profitable. I'd rather be mowing, but some customers want full service, so I must give them full service or else they will find someone who will.

SJR

[HOMER]

I may get chastised for saying this but I ain't pullin' no dang weeds! I hate it with a purple passion. I don't have $30,000.00 sittin' on my trailer so it can sit there NOT making me any money. The one place I had to pull weeds at is being taken care of now, the bed is being replaced with sod because it was a weekly thing. I haven't got into the bed maintenance aspect of the business yet because I haven't had much of a demand for it. If and when I do get into it it will be a seperate crew doing specifically this type of work so it does not interfere with my mowing schedule.

[kutnkru]

1. Spray it
2. Then mulch it

I agree with Homer. Unless you have a college kid or inemployed student to do it, Dont bother. Otherwise your on the right track in my opinion - charge em by the hour according to what you are accustomed to grossing per hour. If not its labor for free, because your profit margin is dwindleing fast.

PS You dont like the malt liquor purple passion Homer???

Just my .02
Kris

[Charles]

I agree, unless you can hire someone to do it for you. You cant afford to do it yourself. Hard to find someone to weed in hot humid weather.

[powerreel]

I would rather weed a layer planted garden then mow a football feild any day...Pruning too, any day over the stripes from hell.

[bob]

I have a couple of community open areas that I do weeding for. What I do is charge them for the initial weeding, then I use Snapshot and charge them a monthly fee for weed control. If you stay on top of it , its easy money. I'll give them at least 2 visits a month. I guess that I should say I'm talking about mulch beds.

[Charles]

You guy in the northwest and north have it easier with weeding than us down South. Its hotter than a witches titty by 10 am and that redclay we call dirt is like cement during the summer. Try pulling weeds in these conditions

[unique lawns]

Weedind here in South Fl. is almost the most important part of the job. Since swamp is what we live in, there are weeds everywhere. We include the weeding fees in the contract, it's just part of the job. Some properties do not use mulch because of termites. But I control weeds with herbicides like Round up, It works great and the cost of product is better than employing guys just to pull weeds, I include that task in my employees' duties.
http://www.uniquelawns.web.com

[powerreel]

Charles, with a good IPM program you won't pull weeds 9in the heat. For instance, you see a bunch of small GW's smack em with a fly swatter or some Roundup while they're young and a problem won't devolope...let 'em get big and....

[Charles]

The problem with roundup is that people swear it drifted over to their flowers and bushes and killed them "AND YOU DID IT". We have bermuda growing in beds like crazy and theres not much except roundup that will kill it

[HOMER]

AMEN TO DAT BROTHA CHARLES

[GroundKprs]

The trick is to clean the site good one time, then provide control of weeds, not endless hand pulling. Control is achieved by mulching, chemical preemergent, chemical postemergent, and an occassional pulled weed. If you are there every week mowing, it is easy to provide control - but if you ignore the beds for 4 weeks, then you'll likely have a chore. Profit from weed control can easily be double the hourly profit of mowing, if you get it organized.

[Skookum]

I agree with GroundKprs.

His post is how I do weeds also on full service contract accounts. Once under control weeds ar not a problem.

One time weedings, I like to spray a post emergence like Roundup, takes less time, little expense, and I can get more out of it than charging a hourly labor rate to just pull them. On average I would say it comes in around $120.00 an hour for this method.

[Paradise Yard Service]

Roundup for the grassy weeds in beds-n-cracks, weed-be-gone for broadleaf n vines anywhere, weed-hoe/trimec for crabgrass in established lawns, once under control, Chipco Ronstar preemergent once every year. Costs you for the chemical-saves the labor/time, and chiropractor fees. Invest in a good respirator, rubber boots, nitrile gloves,long sleeve shirts/pants and at least a couple good bacpack sprayers. Check out Gemplers.com. Use your hand weeder tools for the occasional one or two the sprayer missed. Oh, and you can do all of the affore mentioned in Hawaii without certification. Nice yah! I recommend getting certified or at least train with one who is to learn SAFETY. Charge-Um Brah! Surfs Up at Waimea.
Aloha,
P.Y.S.

[Fantasy Lawns]

kris is right on target .....spray it than mulch ....here in fla you have to have a "limited" pest control license to use Round-up .....

[kutnkru]

Surflan.

What are the disadvantes/advantages over round up????

Kris

[lawrence stone]

Surflan is a pre emergence, I mix round up pro and surflan to do non selective weed control applications.

I buy it in the 2 1/2 gal. size.

[curlawngreen]

This question is for those that dont take care of weeds, bushes etc, What is it that you do for your client?

[kutnkru]

I am guessing that rate to be a 50-50 mix and applied thru a pump sprayer?

Besides a stiff plastic barrier is there anything out there anyone is using to put in front of the ornamentals and shrubs when spraying????

Just wondering.
Kris

[CHC]

We use backpack sprayers on the bed areas most of the time. To avoid "drift" problems with Roundup, we slip a small funnel down over the nozzle. Set the nozzle on fine and hold it low. So far we haven't had any "good" stuff get killed.

[kutnkru]

- Kris

[Runner]

Curlawngreen, Those are the ones that merely go in and mow the lawn and go. The "lawn mowing" business as you and I sometimes hear. These guys, however are ALSO the ones that make easy sales for us full service businesses.

[curlawngreen]

I am curious as to what other LMC provide their clients. I do this because I enjoy it, and it does pay the bills. There is no way I could only mow grass.

[jay]

I wish I could only mow grass, but here if you don't take care of the beds you usly don't get the jobs. It's just a requirement here. Grdskp has the right idea with control, to get the area cleaned up first. I usly use my weed eater and trim weeds down to the dirt then rake up and spray.