Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

How much would you charge to clear this flower bed?

Jump to Latest
1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Jake Boes

· Registered
Joined
·
43 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello, this is my first time doing a flower bed as bad as this one and am wondering what others would charge for it. Everything goes expect oak trees and
the crape myrtles. The bed is about 60- 80 sq ft. I only have a weed eater and small hand clippers; not sure what else I would need. If anyone has any suggestions of the best way to clear the vines/saplings by the root that would be great. Thanks!
Image

Image
 
#2 · (Edited)
Spade and pick mattock would be helpful. I love my grub hoe for stuff like that but if you don't have a pick mattock I'd get one of those instead. This is what I mean by grub hoe. A mattock usually has a double head, a head like that and a pick head as well. Get a pair of loppers too.

I'd charge a lot. I'm too old to be doing that kind of hard labor anymore 🙂

Edit - I bought most of my hand tools at garage sales. Way cheaper than new.

www.farmandgardentools.com

Grub Hoe 1.8lbs - 8" x 5"with 53" Beech Handle

Falci Specialist Grub Hoe 800g Item Number: 244015M80800 gram Head (1.75 lbs) 53-inch tapered handle After using the Falci Specialist Grub Hoe, you will never look at your Gardening Tools the same. You will find no better tool for cultivating a new garden or raised bed, removing sod, digging...
www.farmandgardentools.com www.farmandgardentools.com
 
#8 ·
#9 ·
Jake Boes said:
Hello, this is my first time doing a flower bed as bad as this one and am wondering what others would charge for it. Everything goes expect oak trees and
the crape myrtles. The bed is about 60- 80 sq ft. I only have a weed eater and small hand clippers; not sure what else I would need. If anyone has any suggestions of the best way to clear the vines/saplings by the root that would be great. Thanks! View attachment 514709
View attachment 514708
Click to expand...
Just hand pull, see what you got, once the virginia creeper and the saplings are pulled see what's left and go from there...
 
  • Like
Reactions: dewainkoester, sjessen and Freaky Fido
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#10 · (Edited)
Hal is right...you want to retain the myrtle and a certain amount of decorative ground cover. So cut out the overgrown and weedy plants with lopper shears. Remove the rhizomes of invasive weeds. Use a tree trim saw where needed.
Too shady to grow flowers or grass. A green plant as ground cover is the best. Ask local experts for the best ground cover for your town and climate. Add something for decoration or art. Bird bath, statue, fountain, stone bench, maybe floodlights for the night. Remove or trim trees if it would improve the value and safety of the property.
Of course, cover with bark chips if you do not want any ground cover plants.
 
#11 ·
[QUOTE="hal, post: 6825635, member: 608Just hand pull, see what you got, once the Virginia creeper and the saplings are pulled see what's left and go from there...
[/QUOTE]
Correct Just don't hand pull the poison ivy growing up the trees.
 
#12 ·
Jake Boes said:
Hello, this is my first time doing a flower bed as bad as this one and am wondering what others would charge for it. Everything goes expect oak trees and
the crape myrtles. The bed is about 60- 80 sq ft. I only have a weed eater and small hand clippers; not sure what else I would need. If anyone has any suggestions of the best way to clear the vines/saplings by the root that would be great. Thanks! View attachment 514709


What is the plan for after? New bed with new plants, simple ground cover, an attempt to grow turf? Is the edging coming out? Does the property owner want a new bed with landscape fabric, plantings or just bare soil? Are you doing the new plantings? Are you doing any soil amendment, placing any drainage fixtures. extending any sprinkler pipe?
If it is remove all plants present except trees and Crape Myrtle, I am assuming they mean roots/rhizomes. You might as well dig out 6 inches of soil and replace that. Does the client have a budget?



View attachment 514708
Click to expand...
 
#13 ·
Doubtful you'll kill that off via weed whacking- it will grow back.

If everything other than the oak & crepe myrtle trees go, I'd spray the weed foliage with triclopyr OR glyphosate if you are licensed. Wait 10 days, hit it again. Wait a week, weed whack and remove everything. I'd be at about $120 - $150 just to clear that area (including haul off to compost).

Then move forward with desired ground cover plants, mulch, bird bath, etc of homeowner's choice. That's an additional charge.
 
#14 ·
Jake, looks like you're a lawn care guy. This is NOT lawn care. Do you really want to get into this kind of work?
This is my 3rd year in green industries business. I myself am lawn care (mow/fert/weed control), but dabbled in garden, mulch, trimming etc TIME PERMITTING as I got going.

I'm pretty much as full as I want now with lawn care, so am very limited on taking on this additional type of work. It's NOT the focus of my business. Many customers ask for it, but I'm starting to turn this type of work down since I'm not really geared for it.

BE CAREFUL OF ANY DIGGING! If you dig, have the area marked. Often lines are NOT buried as deep as they should be.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
SlowMowTurf said:
Jake, looks like you're a lawn care guy. This is NOT lawn care. Do you really want to get into this kind of work?
This is my 3rd year in green industries business. I myself am lawn care (mow/fert/weed control), but dabbled in garden, mulch, trimming etc TIME PERMITTING as I got going.

I'm pretty much as full as I want now with lawn care, so am very limited on taking on this additional type of work. It's NOT the focus of my business. Many customers ask for it, but I'm starting to turn this type of work down since I'm not really geared for it.

BE CAREFUL OF ANY DIGGING! If you dig, have the area marked. Often lines are NOT buried as deep as they should be.
Click to expand...
Pays better in my area. A lot better. I’m not sure if I will accept the job tough, very booked with mowing. She also wants 50 bags of mulch.
 
1 - 16 of 16 Posts
About this Discussion
15 Replies
12 Participants
Last post:
Jake Boes
Lawn Care Forum
posts
7.2M
members
230K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lawn Mowing Pesticide & Herbicide Application 🔧 Mechanic and Repair Business Operations Lawn Mowing Equipment