The Green Industry's Resource Center

Jimbo · #1 10-01-2002, 11:58 AM

- What is included in most fall clean-ups (besides twigs, and trash pick-up)?

Thanks

Scraper · #2 10-01-2002, 12:55 PM

leaves

Jimbo · #3 10-01-2002, 02:23 PM

Oh and leaves....

Thats just it my props all allow me to bag or mulch the leaves. And I dont have many overhanging trees, so I am losing $$$$ on the fall clean-ups.

Oh well looks like I need to get some props with lots of trees next year.

Gravely_Man · #4 10-01-2002, 03:38 PM

Be careful of what you wish for. Too many trees is a hard thing to clean up without the right equipment. Then again new equipment is always nice!

Gravely_Man

mdb landscaping · #5 10-01-2002, 05:40 PM

my fall clean up consists of the following:

-blow out all the beds with back pack blower
-use walkbehind blower to blow leaves into huge piles
-use leaf plow and put the leaves where they can be vac'ed out or blown into the woods
-vac up leaves if needed with truckloader
-mow and bag the lawn

MikeLT1Z28 · #6 10-01-2002, 08:54 PM

well, this will be my first year so i hope i have everything in order.

just got 1000 flyers ran off.
bought my walker mid-season so i have a way to collect leaves.
trusty BR-420 blower to move them.

i plan on removing all leaves from the lawn, beds, corners, carport/garage. i'll also get up and limbs, twigs, etc.

i plan to spend this month finishing up the regular season and getting beds in shape for customers, that should take us right into leaf season.

Del9175 · #7 10-01-2002, 11:33 PM

When I did lawn care in MI, we would blow out the gutters and clean off the roof if needed. I live and do lawn care in FL now and I sure don't miss fall clean ups. I do however miss the couple months off.

greenman · #8 10-01-2002, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Del9175
When I did lawn care in MI, we would blow out the gutters and clean off the roof if needed. I live and do lawn care in FL now and I sure don't miss fall clean ups. I do however miss the couple months off.

Cleaning out gutters is another job in itself. Not part of leaf clean up unless the customer requests then there's an increase in price.

It is fall clean up of course though.

MOW ED · #9 10-02-2002, 06:43 AM

Oh boy I can see the gutter discussion coming back around.

Doing the fall clean up is nothing like mowing. Mowing is fast and usually production based. I can guarantee that if you take lots of fall clean customers and you don't have the equipment and personnel to handle it, you will be in deep (leaf) trouble.

My clean ups are for weekly customers first and others can be added later. Every week (twice a week sometimes) we show up and blow out all areas around the house, walks, drives, planting beds. This all goes on the lawn that has been conveninetly cut to about 1.5 inches. The Toro 44 WB w doubles and the mulch kit grinds them to dust> The Walker picks up the chunks and windrows if needed.
All work is charged at a rate of 40 or 60 per man/hour. 2 people working. The 60 per mh rate is if debris is to be removed. Once again most debris is ground up but if I take a small load to the dump then they get a 60/mh bill. We like the arrangement.

The final clean of the year is very thorough with great care and detail taken in all areas. Window wells are cleaned out, everything will be ready for the big brown out.

No offence on the gutter comment but this topic has generated lots of discussion in the past. I do single story gutters ONLY. Long story about why.

greenman · #10 10-02-2002, 09:37 AM

I'll do some reading on the old gutter topics later.
I would say the gutter thing is an insurance problem, because its so risky. Probably need a higher risk insurance, like for tree work, because its requires getting off the ground. Thats also another reason why gutter cleaning can be profitable. Single story gutter that takes, what, about 5 to 10 minutes to blow out will get you atleast 35, 40 bucks maybe.