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#83 ·
Just found you're thread it's AWESOME!!!!!!! Love you're work and equipment, and so cool how much you've grown! Hope to be were you're at someday! Defiantly a role module! Hope the season is going well for you!!:)
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Discussion starter · #84 ·
Thanks!! I still have some growing to do in my mind, but things can't grow to fast. Im seeing that as we get larger and larger that quality is harder to control. Im sure that hiring the correct leaders with the same mind set as myself would be the best step in getting larger without sacrifice. Problem is that those kind of leaders cost a lot.

Small update: Things are going quite well! Should be getting my Toro mini fleet order by next weekend, we keep getting new lawns, and we just hired another guy for the summer. I wish that I had more free time, but Im committed at this point!
 
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Discussion starter · #86 ·
Ive got a picture of the 48" in action but I don't have of the 36" ones working at this point.

They are pretty good all around mowers! When it comes to fixed deck WBs they have the same power source and hydros for both, so the 36" is actually pretty overpowered and the 48" is about right. The 48" definitely burns more fuel as well!

Hills are where these mowers live. They're very stable on the steepest of hills around here, and my area is mostly hilly. Especially our larger properties.

We have noticed that the Turbo Force decks in general are good all around. Cutting 2" of lush green off isn't a problem at all and it throws the grass nicely from the chute. Bagging isn't the best since the 48" fills up our aluminum catcher way to fast to make it worth while. In the rain they need to be cleaned about every 2 hours of use to keep them cutting without throwing out clumps all the time. I have cut down grass taller then 6' tall with the 36's before and would do it again for sure. They're pretty good slope mowers. The 48 is heavy and hard to maneuver with physical strength when needed to keep out of danger, so I try not to use that one in those kind of situations.

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Discussion starter · #88 ·
You know we actually haven't tried any of the Toro mulch kits before... We only mulch with our 21 and 30" prolines.

Since our work is so varied from lush beautiful lawns to college houses that are over 1' tall and full of beer cans in one day, we have found that side discharging is the best. The dispersal is good and when mowing down really talk stuff it can just be gone over a few times to clean things up.
 
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#91 ·
Leland Lawn said:
Here is our new mowing trailer! It's 83"x14'. Picked it up last month and have been doing a little bit of work to it recently. I enjoy doing a little bit of fab work now and then, and its nice to actually use my welding degree! This basket is for gas cans, blowers, and whatever else might fit.
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I was about to say... that welding is way too good for a newbie! Awesome looking stuff!
 
Discussion starter · #92 ·
LawnMan19 said:
How do you guy's like the echo ES-250's?
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They a good little machine! Really they don't get a ton of use, but they do seem to wear out kind of quickly. Mostly its the fan inside that takes a beating and Ive had to stock backup onces since they're a special order part.

I like that they're quiet, the aren't super expensive, and they have good suction. We don't use them for leaf cleanup often, but actually we use them to clean up hedge trimmer clippings from rock and bark beds. Sure beats raking! You use the shredder vac kind of like a fish tank cleaner. Suck up the clippings/trimmings and the rock or bark into the tube. When you lift up on the machine it looses some of its suction and the bark/rock falls away while the lighter clippings and trimmings are sucked up and shredded. That's probably why my fans don't last long either though... since Im sure that a certain amount of small rock and some medium bark pieces do end up in the bag. Another thought, we noticed that a bag lasts maybe a year... so don't expect them to last long and I always have a backup one of those in the shop as well.
 
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Discussion starter · #93 ·
kawasaki guy said:
where? :laugh:

and work looks nice!
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Kawi Guy;

I actually took that picture down! Im sorry about that. I can probably find it again and re-upload it again. Its one of those pictures that I really wasn't proud of and was worried people think "oh that couldn't have really been him" or something like that. Also 11 years later now its crazy for even me to look back to that time and thing that Ive been working the same job for so long, and wow has this job changed...
 
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Discussion starter · #94 ·
chris@perfectlawncare said:
I was about to say... that welding is way too good for a newbie! Awesome looking stuff!
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Thanks Chris!

It's a skill I really wish that I used more often, but sometimes time just doesn't allow for other hobbies and stuff in my life. It's very true what people say, life doesn't slow down or get less busy as you grow up!
 
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Discussion starter · #95 ·
Finally got the go ahead and the budget to make myself an office at our shop! I do so much here as far as calling, emailing, parts ordering, building of spread sheets, day sheets, etc... That I needed more then just the shop computer to use.

Found a space in our loft that could be good for it, got some used desks for free and wired the electrical in myself! (was super easy since the breaker box is just below this space)

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#96 ·
Awesome thread and company growth. It looks like you are at a good spot and continue to expand.

In regards to expanding- how have you filled the need for labor? I'm at the point where I need to get away from part time college buddies helping and begin hiring full time employees that I can grow with. Any advice in terms of where to search for hiring? All I can think of is craigslist, which does not seem like the greatest route. Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
Discussion starter · #97 ·
It's been quite the path and it's not something that we are done doing either. We are looking to expand into the next town (8 miles over) this coming Spring!


You know it's been kind of hard. Like you said if you're college buddies are able to work with you in the busy summer and spring then your set for overall labor. My problem was finding good crew leaders/managers. We hired one guy from a local nursery/landscape company 5 years ago and he was a good overall fit. Problem is that he isn't a leader. More of the following not super motivated type. So I actually hired one of my cousins last spring and he has been a great fit for us! He is the same age as I am and has a degree in diesel technology. Also family is more trustworthy then most other people, and its been good to see someone care about growth and a future here.

Understand that good full time guys cost a decent wage. Half of our guys have been here for more then 3 years now, and they're paid accordingly since we don't want them to go looking for a job elsewhere. I don't particularly like training people, so keeping our guys around is awesome as we go into a new year and everyone is itching for work!

Another place that I found really good workers is from some of my employees. They have recommended a few of their friends over the years that turned out to be really great guys! I talked with them before and we had an understand that if I was to hire a friend of theirs then it would reflect negatively or positively on them directly. Turns out that since they knew their reputation was involved to they careful recommended a few guys, and wow have they been good workers. You may want to check there. If you have a guy already, see if he knows someone who would be a good fit.

My last piece of advice would be to network. I buy a lot of things from our local Ace Hardware, Oreill's and Tire Shops. I always consider hiring some of their good workers to join my team. I know that essentially Im stealing employees from other companies that I want to be on good terms with, but I can often offer them something better.
 
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#98 ·
how do you like the toros your on of the few on this site that uses them
 
Discussion starter · #100 ·
cutshortlandscaping said:
how do you like the toros your on of the few on this site that uses them
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They're a very good machine. I am basically in love with Kawasaki engines on all of my mowers, so that's my main reason to go with the Toro commerical 21. From my experience the kawi motor is the best part. Second to that would be the case aluminum deck. Keep the blade sharp and the underside clean and they seem to do good work. I also keep extra front wheel bolts around, but they're about the only part that has broken due to operator error.

The mower itself is expensive, but they take a beating. My guys carry them around, regularly forget to tie them down to the trailer (which makes me super mad), and they cut grass from 1" all the way to a couple feet tall! Such as in this thread: http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=424864

Mulching and bagging are both average at best in the wet, but both pretty good when its dry out. I wouldnt say the mulching is amazing, but it works for light leaf coverage in the fall and about 1" of thicker lawn.
I also like the single bale controls. If you happen to like a double bale design just look at the Exmark. Same mower, different controls and stickers.
 
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