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Killswitch said:
If it takes some of you guys three years to turn a lawn around then you're in the wrong business with all due respect.

Of course it depends on what the client is willing to do, but from the description of the lawn in the first post with some good slit seeding, and proper control of weeds and crabgrass etc, mowing high, aeration this lawn would look 100% better by May first.

Now is the time to slit seed by the way, or at least by labor day.

Even an aeration and serious overseed with perennial rye would help this lawn tremendously.

Hells bells guys even if the lawn isnt loaded with bare spots or grub damage or whatever just proper feedings, proper mowings, and good controls would make this deal look a ton better.

I dont know where you get the three year deal at all.
No, we're not in the wrong business we just define getting a lawn in shape differently.
It takes time to establish a good root system and a healthy lawn. Period.
Tell me why it takes a sod farm 18 months to produce saleable sod under very ideal conditions............There's a reason for it.
 
Jason Rose said:
Honestly it's amazing the effect that weekly scheduled good quality mowing has on a lawn. I have seen many that look like hell with the homeowners mowing and all I do is cut it once a week and it improves 150% in a short time.
Goes back to cultural practices. Mowing at 2.5 sharp blades, not mowing too fast, proper feeding and controls and you'd be surprised.

Not only does mowing tall make the lawn look better, and give natural weed and crabgrass control due to thickness, it also pays off when it gets hot and dry withstanding the stress better especially if unwatered turf.

Plus theres something to cut when it hasnt rained in two weeks in July as opposed to the lawns that are fried because youve been scalping it since April.

Hell just simply mowing high can turn a lot of lawns around.

:shrugs:
 
Killswitch said:
Goes back to cultural practices. Mowing at 2.5 sharp blades, not mowing too fast, proper feeding and controls and you'd be surprised.

Not only does mowing tall make the lawn look better, and give natural weed and crabgrass control due to thickness, it also pays off when it gets hot and dry withstanding the stress better especially if unwatered turf.

Plus theres something to cut when it hasnt rained in two weeks in July as opposed to the lawns that are fried because youve been scalping it since April.

Hell just simply mowing high can turn a lot of lawns around.

:shrugs:
i agree, i do my lawn that way, looks awsome!!!
 
Not to be rude but if you rounded the lawn up today, aerify the hell out of it, broadcast with perennial rye, and slit seeded(crosscut pattern) apply a starter fert by Labor day, and can be sure its irrigated and mowed properly, that lawn will be beautiful and mature by June next year.

Thats for "beautiful" For much improved which could very well be satisfactory or better to the client considering the expense and watering requirement especially if no system exists can be obtained with the basics.

How big is this lawn?

Is it irrigated?

Whats the soil like?
 
Varsity Lawn and Garden said:
Damn, that looks good!

What was the total materials cost and how long has that lawn been growing.

Approx size?
Direct material cost is 10lb / 1000sqft at $0.82 / lb of seed = $8.20 / 1000 sqft or estimate $10 / 1000 direct material cost. I charge any where from $60 - $150 per 1000 sqft. I charge what I think i can get the customer to pay. The trick is watering. I purchased over 100 programable irrigation timers to do the watering for 3-4 weeks which make the grass start to sprout in about 6 days in September. Timers are expensive, but the results are worth the expense in my opinion. The first fall I made no profit. Everything went to purchasing the timers. Now, I rake it in. Its basically getting paid to advertise. I go after the worst lawns, put in my yard sign and do the work. People just start calling.

The attached picture is 4 weeks after seeding. Blades are still very thin but thick turf. This summer the grass felt like you were walking on springs. I already signed neighbors on boths sides and across the street for this fall. I will probably do about 30-40 of these this fall.

Summer drought hurts the bottom line during the summer due to lack of mowing, but the fall seeding and additional new customer for next season more than pays for the lack of work during droughts.

I currently don't do irrigation systems, but plan on starting in the spring because I keep turning down work. If anyone wants to trade secretes on seeding for irrigation send me a PM. Preferable someone locally or willing to travel to teach. I would like to help install one, or have someone help me install one on my property.
 
Three years??? Takes ONE DAY.............................















Bobcat it to scoop up exsisting lawn, grade it and new sod.................start by 7AM and have everything including sod on hand, enough employees and you should be done by 5PM............... :laugh:
 
Killswitch said:
;)

I dunno man. I just dont get it.

Heres a guy showing you photos of a lawn he resurected from the grave in six months basically and Im telling you it can be done and you guys still say it takes 2 years.

*shrugs*
Ya except that particular lawn will not make it through a drought without constant watering. The root sytem is not established enough to say anything different.

Creating a good looking lawn is easy, creating a healthy lawn is a different story.

Please tell me once again why it takes a sod farm 18 months to produce saleable sod.................Are they in the wrong business as well?
 
First of all I bet sod farms dont mature it 18 months and they sell whats basically root bound way over fertilized turf that IMHO isnt the healthy turf you speak of.

Im not sure where you draw the lines betwixt whats good looking and whats healthy or how you can even differentiate the difference.

Lawn care isnt a big secret and science. Its nutrients, good cultural and mechanical methods IE watering, mowing, aerating , weed /insect and crabgrass control...etc.
 
O.K., whatever.


Chemlawn creates good looking lawns in no time...............until the rain stops falling for a short period of time.

If you don't know the difference after being in business for 20 years (according to your profile) then I don't guess I can explain it well enough.
 
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