Usually, I wouldn't ask a question like this but I kinda don't know, so I'm calling for help. I've got a customer that's asking to have some mulch done in her beds. There are 4 main areas she wants it done to, with a total of about 700 sq ft. Not real wide beds, but long areas along the sides of her property. I have to also bring in about a yard of dirt to fill in some of the lower areas of the beds, and she wants weed screen down in about 500 sq ft of the beds. Now, usually I don't do this kind of stuff but she's a good customer and I'm trying to keep her happy and put some change into my pocket at the same time. So, I'm not real sure on the time it's going to take me. Or how much to charge, total. I'm estimating the cost for the mulch, dirt and screen to be around $350 delivered. So, for those of you who do this kind of stuff more often, how long should this take, and what would your charge be? Thanks. PS: I know this might be in the wrong forum, but I didn't think it would get a lot of attention in the landscape forum. If the mods could leave this here for a bit to get some responses, I'd appreciate it.
Although I wouldn't mind with this particular customer, no it's not an innuendo. I mean her garden beds.
I cant jive you a price without seeing it how much plants if you get in to cutting that weed mat it takes time. I will give you some good advice get your self some pins to secure the weed mat you'll be sorry if you don't especially if its windy.
There are no major plants to work around. I should have said that. It's mostly areas along the edge of her property, which backs up onto a woodsy area. The area between her grass and the trees doesn't grow, she had some kind of weakly growing ground cover in there that I cut out at the end of the season so it's just bare now. She wants to cover it with mulch for aesthetics. I wouldn't have to do much working around plants, except a few small ewes in front of the house. Just plop down the screen and toss on the mulch, after I leveled out one low area. I gotcha on the pins. Thanks.
Charge as much in labor as you have to pay in materials. If materials are $350, charge $700 installed.
Is she really set on having the screen put down? I ask this question because to me it is a waste of your time and her money... The weeds will eventually begin to grow thru the weed screen and then you have the fun part of pulling weeds out of the screen and ground. In addition to that if she ever asks you to plant or she wants to plant something in those beds, you have to cut the screen back and sometimes that is a pain just to plant something. It was just a thought...
700 sq ft at 3" deep is 7 yards FYI $420 to install the mulch $135.00 to install the weed barrior $70.00 to install the topsoil =$625.00 Just an aprox. quick price outlook for you to compare to. Option #2= If you dont do alot of this type of work and might not have the time...Sub it out. For example we are only about 20 min's from you. We would do the job for $562.50, you bill for $625.00 = you make 10% just for having the customer and lining up the work. mike48114@comcast.net
