The Green Industry's Resource Center

Turf Dawg · #41 02-10-2012, 06:34 AM

How come gas had to go up again the last few days? Well, I think it is because I had to go to Longview and back yesterday and will be driving to Keller today - Monday to take the irrigation training course. I hope after I complete the course I do not have to wait very long to take the license exam.
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Coumbe · #42 02-10-2012, 07:58 AM

We are North of Houston.

PlantscapeSolutions · #43 02-10-2012, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coumbe

We are North of Houston.

Have the two lakes Houston gets water from improved at all with the recent rain?

StihlMechanic · #44 02-11-2012, 06:56 PM

Count me in, from Denton Texas. I currently only offer lawn service and landscape maintenance and small installs. Had plans to become a licenced irrigator this winter but plans have changed. Also changing my target demographic from large high end properties to higher volume interior lots (zero lot line to 1/3 acre).

Last year was awful with the drought but helpful at the same time, learned some lessons about clients. I now hope to only offer weekly service to irrigated properties only, but we'll see how that goes. Oh and I'm a solo operator currently.

PlantscapeSolutions · #45 02-11-2012, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StihlMechanic

Count me in, from Denton Texas. I currently only offer lawn service and landscape maintenance and small installs. Had plans to become a licenced irrigator this winter but plans have changed. Also changing my target demographic from large high end properties to higher volume interior lots (zero lot line to 1/3 acre).

Last year was awful with the drought but helpful at the same time, learned some lessons about clients. I now hope to only offer weekly service to irrigated properties only, but we'll see how that goes. Oh and I'm a solo operator currently.

When I started I mowed some crappy yards because the money was always green even if the yard wasn't. As you grow moving into irrigated only yards is the way to go. Hard to pay those bill s with inconsistent cash flow.

The larger high end yards are great but you really need help or you end up getting over whelmed.

I've had good clients go bad after being out of work and running out of money. I had one of my new customers in a nice million dollar home recently run up a $2000 bill. I just finally got a partial payment of $800 after getting the checks in the mail BS for almost a month.

StihlMechanic · #46 02-11-2012, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PlantscapeSolutions

When I started I mowed some crappy yards because the money was always green even if the yard wasn't. As you grow moving into irrigated only yards is the way to go. Hard to pay those bill s with inconsistent cash flow.

The larger high end yards are great but you really need help or you end up getting over whelmed.

I've had good clients go bad after being out of work and running out of money. I had one of my new customers in a nice million dollar home recently run up a $2000 bill. I just finally got a partial payment of $800 after getting the checks in the mail BS for almost a month.

The downside to me being picky is the lack of worth while work this time of year. I get calls for lawn service this month but these arent the clients I want. If their grass is green this month and isnt rye, then its just a weed lawn that will not become a fruitfull client during the season when SA and bermuda are active. My goal is to acheive weekly service to irrigated properties only AND upsell rye overseedings in the fall to keep some cashflow through the winter. It will be a challenge that I hope to acheive one day.

StihlMechanic · #47 02-11-2012, 11:53 PM

So has anyone hit the streets with doorhangers yet? I am hoping to hit at the best time for my area which I assume is last week of Feb to mid-March. Any comments?

PlantscapeSolutions · #48 02-12-2012, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StihlMechanic

So has anyone hit the streets with doorhangers yet? I am hoping to hit at the best time for my area which I assume is last week of Feb to mid-March. Any comments?

I have 5000 direct mail post cards hitting the Austin area this week.

whaler's Mow-Town · #49 02-16-2012, 09:43 PM

Post Corpus up there in the smarter than the grass club....

We have rain...we might even have a season this year!

PlantscapeSolutions · #50 02-16-2012, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whaler's Mow-Town

Post Corpus up there in the smarter than the grass club....

We have rain...we might even have a season this year!

How is the level of Lake Corpus Christi doing? I was down there back around 2007 and there were Mexican Palms in places growing in 3' of water. The Mountain Laurels and Texas Sage were every where on the side of the lake we were on.