The Green Industry's Resource Center

MOturkey · #1 07-11-2012, 12:53 AM

Mowed five properties today, and two yesterday. All were weekly mows which had gone 11 to 15 days, and, unless a customer calls wanting their lawn cut, I don't anticipate any of my other accounts needing service before next week, if then. Another week without rain, and basically the mowing will be over with until we get some substantial moisture. I checked on one property today that I was mowing weekly until June, then went to EOW, today being two weeks since the last cut. The place looked like I mowed it yesterday, with the grass still a bit green, but with almost no growth.

DA Quality Lawn & YS · #2 07-11-2012, 01:03 AM

Sounds familiar. Went from being more than full time including mowing all accts....after July 4th I am now wanting more projects and odd jobs to do to fill some time (and revenue streams)
Not doing much mowing or app'ing now until the wet stuff comes.

Doohboy24 · #3 07-11-2012, 03:17 AM

Same here in Northern Va. We have had some rain the last few days though and the grass around here is turning from brown back to a tan color. I was able to get five done yesterday and we got more rain yesterday, so hopefully more by the end of the week. I have customers that still want it cut though and I just cant do it. I feel like I am stealing from them. Just telling them that we are better to wait it out a little longer and get some moisture back in the soil.

Snyder's Lawn Inc · #4 07-11-2012, 06:27 AM

I know what you mean Last week I called everybody that I mow for and ask if they wanted there lawn mowed and told them to call when they do want it

Im down to other jobs but running out them Hope for some rain soon or may go on vacation

Last week had big raking job it was a killer during that 100+ temps LOL

MOW ED · #5 07-11-2012, 08:53 AM

ThAT IS A BIG RAKE! I would think that New Holland has an air conditioner upgrade to those open doors

mpriester · #6 07-12-2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doohboy24

Same here in Northern Va. We have had some rain the last few days though and the grass around here is turning from brown back to a tan color. I was able to get five done yesterday and we got more rain yesterday, so hopefully more by the end of the week. I have customers that still want it cut though and I just cant do it. I feel like I am stealing from them. Just telling them that we are better to wait it out a little longer and get some moisture back in the soil.

I feel the same way and have been talking to my customers as well. I believe that being honest with the customer and not cutting the grass when its not needing it and saving them some money will reward me in time knowing that i respect their bank account and will not rip them off which i hope will keep me those customers for life and gain some new ones because of my honesty. I have a couple that want it mowed on the same schedule which is fine but i explain to them it could do more harm than good and i ask them if its ok for me to cut in a little higher than normal to help keep it green. we are suppose to finally get some rain this weekend and hopefully we will.

herler · #7 07-12-2012, 06:37 PM

It's not just about honesty but it's also about not stabbing myself in the foot...
If a lawn has ANY green left to it and I cut it it's toast for sure and it takes 5 to 10 times more water to get it back to growing, except weeds...
And then you have those that have a pre-emergent treatment and they won't grow a weed...
Toast one of those and it could be September before it needs another cut, we ran into one last year, two months!
Leaving it alone truly is the best choice, cutting it only makes it worse.
We have a few already past 4 weeks this year as well.

But if my customer wants it cut, I cut it.
Yes sir, I might tell them I think we should skip but if they want me to cut or they call us to tell us they want it cut, we do it.
F that, I understand explaining things but I also understand that customers can see that as back talking so I realized if I
don't want to be seen as an argumentative individual it gets to where some days (a lot of days) I just do what I am told.
No ifs, ands, nor butts about it.

But we did try, we did, we did!
My own lawn is still green, I believe we last cut that one 6 weeks ago.

larryinalabama · #8 07-12-2012, 06:47 PM

Ive been down to 3 days this week and last week.

I will say that a lot of new fellers quit because thay dont have any business. So now is the time to run a simlpe add and pick up a few accounts.

Im no longer taking any accounts that dont have irragation