New Lawn Installation questions

[POPO4995]

Ok guys, looking for some advice. Have been in the business for a little over 5 years and something that has always interested me is installing new lawns. Dont know much about it but have a few questions:

1) Where can I go for training in the field?
2) What equipment would I need to operate?
3) Is this industry profitable?

I have a general idea of what it takes but would appreciate the help. I am about to go purchase a 2007 John Deere 3203 so that should help me. Thank you for the help!

[POPO4995]

Anyone got any insight?

[PMLAWN]

It is winter, a lot of the suppliers have conventions or training classes, Go to you main supplier and ask. Looks like you like JD-- Look up their landscapes division and see where the university is going this winter,
Go the the web site of all the turf vendors and lawncare product vendors and they may have class schedules.

Bonus++ most are held down south where it is warm!!

[justanotherlawnguy]

What kind of lawn installations:
sod for new home contstruction
resod for existing yards
seed for new homes

What exactly are you looking for?

We do alot of resod jobs for customers. Its really easy and alot of money to be made if you bid properly. Pretty much all you need for resod jobs is sod cutter, couple of the big 2 wheeled wheel barrels, landscaping rakes, some spray paint to keep things professional and a dump trailer is extremely helpful.

THe biggest thing of course is pricing, dont be the cheapest unless you have 6 mexicans working for you. Call a couple of nurserys in your area, preferably one that sells sod, they usually offer resoding as well and find out what they charge. You can charge more, cause most customers dont call the nursery.

If you get a really big job, and you dont want to tackle it you can sub it out,I work with a nursery that does the job for pretty cheap. I just add on $0.15-0.25/sf and sell it to the customer, get a down payment for the job that is equal to your extra $0.15-0.25/sf. When the job is finished ask for that check to be made out to the nursery and your good to go.

On those jobs your basically a sod broker getting paid for simply selling the job. Sure you dont make as much, but it is a easy way to make alot of extra cash without lifting one piece of sod, plus it gives you time to do other stuff.

Just my $0.02......