Just trying to get others perspectives on this for curiosity's sake. To a customer, what makes their lawn look better with you doing it as opposed to them or someone else doing it? Give details on what steps you take to make your lawns stand out.
Business is Good
When I walk around handing out fliers, three things (or the lack thereof) always catch my eye:
1) A nice clean edge around driveways and walkways.
2) No clippings all over the driveway.
3) A nice even cut with no clumps of grass all over the lawn.
I went out the other day and every 15th house had edges that were done with a trimmer and about 2" back from the concrete and tons of clippings EVERYWHERE. I don't know who has those accounts, but they are about to lose them. I talked to about 100 people this weekend and immediately signed up five of them.
1) A nice clean edge around driveways and walkways.
2) No clippings all over the driveway.
3) A nice even cut with no clumps of grass all over the lawn.
I went out the other day and every 15th house had edges that were done with a trimmer and about 2" back from the concrete and tons of clippings EVERYWHERE. I don't know who has those accounts, but they are about to lose them. I talked to about 100 people this weekend and immediately signed up five of them.
I have never had a perspective customer ask me about stripes.....so I don't think that is it.
I think alot of it has to do with details, cleaning up any grass off the streets around the property, picking up trash, and being nice. Reliability is very important. I work hard to keep grass out of beds, I always walk behind the house to blow grass off of back porches. I also try to answer any questions the customer might have.
.02
Derek
I think alot of it has to do with details, cleaning up any grass off the streets around the property, picking up trash, and being nice. Reliability is very important. I work hard to keep grass out of beds, I always walk behind the house to blow grass off of back porches. I also try to answer any questions the customer might have.
.02
Derek
I have to agree with the last two posts. These are the elements that weigh in way before "striping". While striping is great, and it looks good and all, if the trimming looks bad, then the whole place looks bad. The same thing goes for the cleanup. you can have the finest stripes in the world - performed with the world's greatest mower. All the trimming can be even, meticulously done, and perfected on the edges. If you l;eave grass laying all over the drive, walks, or curbline, then the whole place looks bad. This is the absolute truth.
I think edging impresses customers most of all.
Now the things that make ME proud are:
1. Nice Stripes
2. Even cut with no skippers or clumps or visible clippings
3. Cutting when the grass is ready to be cut, no later (nothing looks crappier than grass cut down from 10")
Now the things that make ME proud are:
1. Nice Stripes
2. Even cut with no skippers or clumps or visible clippings
3. Cutting when the grass is ready to be cut, no later (nothing looks crappier than grass cut down from 10")
I've actually searched for this on this site, but I always end up finding threads about edging with a trimmer. I just try to mow as close to everything as possible and trim the rest as neatly as I can. Got any tips?hole in one lco said:
go slow and take your time I see to many people taking it to the dirt so they don't have to trim next week. If you are just starting you can put a piece of extra plastic on the bottom of the head so you don't take it to the dirt.
Holy crap! I feel much better. The other day I actually reached down and plucked a blade that was too close to a tree to get with the trimmer. I'm sure as hell not taking the trimmer down to the dirt.hole in one lco said:
I always keep the trimmed grass level with the height of the mowed grass..
I work with my best friend and he will always outline the fence line and house with the mower before I start trimming, or I always go behind him as he mows.
I think weedeating and edging are 2 of the most important things.
I work with my best friend and he will always outline the fence line and house with the mower before I start trimming, or I always go behind him as he mows.
I think weedeating and edging are 2 of the most important things.
My friend just bought a new shindaiwa le261
CLICK HERE
We were using a redmax.
The new shindaiwa is lighter with the wheel than the redmax is without its wheel, I like it more with the exception of the new shindaiwa handle.
CLICK HERE
We were using a redmax.
The new shindaiwa is lighter with the wheel than the redmax is without its wheel, I like it more with the exception of the new shindaiwa handle.
I've seen a couple of posts here wher the guys trim after it's been mowed. I trim first, throwing the clippings back into the yard to be mulched by the mower.
The guy I first worked with said "the difference between a good trim job and a bad trim job is the good trim job doesn't look like it's been trimmed"...sounds counter intuitive but what he was getting at was that the timming is at the same height as the mower, you don't "scalp" the edges with your trimmer. I think trimming is really what sets a good cut apart. Just my 2 cents.
The guy I first worked with said "the difference between a good trim job and a bad trim job is the good trim job doesn't look like it's been trimmed"...sounds counter intuitive but what he was getting at was that the timming is at the same height as the mower, you don't "scalp" the edges with your trimmer. I think trimming is really what sets a good cut apart. Just my 2 cents.
If it's really tall, I've been going over it with the mower after I trim and edge, to mulch it up like you said. After I have been there once, the trimming is light enough that you don't really see the clippings.grassrootsinab said:
Cutting certain grasses at the right height can make a huge difference in how the lawn looks. Also, cutting in straight lines can help give a lawn a more professional look.
I have to agree with those who posted already that said nice clean edges make a considerable difference in how professional the finished product looks.
I have to agree with those who posted already that said nice clean edges make a considerable difference in how professional the finished product looks.
Just to show that different areas prefer different things. I only know of probably 2 companies that edge on a regular basis. It is one of those things that just aren't wanted around here. I offer edging (i dont do it regularly but if someone wants it i'll come and do it) and in the past 2 years i've had to edge 2 lawns, the one wanted it one time the other two times.
as for what customers want, no ruts/tire marks from being too wet and mowing, don't want the yard torn up, trimming, everything blown off. I've had some people that were picky and wanted the yard cut a certain way, but stripes aren't ever mentioned. Cutting height is another thing here, everyone wants it short (think they're trying to get their moneys worth), had one customer when i worked for a company that always wanted the mower on the lowest setting, or she would yell for 15 mins about it and the owner wanted us to do it, so we'd lower them to.... 1.5" and go to it, looked good but would cut into the dirt in some spots, she loved it though? i hated that lawn.
as for what customers want, no ruts/tire marks from being too wet and mowing, don't want the yard torn up, trimming, everything blown off. I've had some people that were picky and wanted the yard cut a certain way, but stripes aren't ever mentioned. Cutting height is another thing here, everyone wants it short (think they're trying to get their moneys worth), had one customer when i worked for a company that always wanted the mower on the lowest setting, or she would yell for 15 mins about it and the owner wanted us to do it, so we'd lower them to.... 1.5" and go to it, looked good but would cut into the dirt in some spots, she loved it though? i hated that lawn.
Its the small details, Nice straight lines, no clippings left over, a nice clean edge on sidewalks and driveways, clean up after you leave. Its a whole bunch of things that makes the difference. Another is equipment, is it in good working order (blades sharp?) etc.
HAHAHA.... Around here, you used to see people taking the blades all the way down to the dirt so they would'nt have to MOW the next week. :laugh: This was back in the day though.hole in one lco said:
I would also have to say edging and trimming to. I do a neighborhood where I have seven houses on one street. I've got the first three and the last four, there's one in the middle that mows his own yard. He has a nice green yard, cuts it every week. Even puts down decent stripes with his murray. But no trimming or edging. The grass is overgrown six inches onto the sidewalk. Theres a light pole by the curb that the grass is probably ten inches tall. Even though he cuts it good it still looks like crap because of this. I've offered to edge it for him once a month for ten bucks. But no dice. What can you do.
This year Edging has become very important to me. No grass in the road. or walks. A CLEAN EDGE
I started into a sub development that I have 6 accounts in. My prices start
I started into a sub development that I have 6 accounts in. My prices start
- weekly Mow Trim Edge and blow clean.( includes cornerlots and center lots) 27.00
- Biweekly mow trim and edge and blow clean $35,00
- We now have 17 houses in this neighborhood and average 3 lawns an hour
- with a 62 inch z and a 36 inch belt. This is close to my man hour goal of 35,00 an hour
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