Lawn Care Business

Lawn Care Business Information

Lawn Care Contracts for 2010

Jan 29

Posted by admin in contracts, lawn care business, lawn care start up

2010 is already one month old. Are you getting contracts for your lawn care business?

Mid to late winter is one of the most target rich environments for lawn care contracts. City governments are bidding grass cutting contracts, apartment complexes are taking competitive bids, and banks & office buildings are thinking about sprucing up their landscaping for spring. If you are not aggressively pursuing these contracts, you may be missing BIG profits and lots of money for your business.

We believe lawn care business owners should strive for a balance of commercial and residential customers. While you can successfully operate a business with 100% residential customers, commercial contracts are needed to bring in additional money and add stability over the course of a year. You need both kinds of customers.

If you are not successfully bidding lawn care contracts this year, you need to purchase the START A LAWN CARE BUSINESS guidebook and video training series by www.StartALawnCareBusiness.com

This guidebook package has a huge chapter telling you how to find, estimate, and successfully bid lawn care contracts. If your business is new or if you just want to make more money in 2010, get this guidebook. It may be the best purchase you have ever made for your lawn care business.

Start A Lawn Care Business.com

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Start A Lawn Care Business in 2010

Dec 9

Posted by admin in contracts, lawn care business, lawn care start up

2010 is shaping up to be a great year to start a lawn care business.

The economy is still in a challenging position, foreclosures are still high, and unemployment is still in record territory. Despite gloomy headlines everyday in the newspaper, things seem to be greening up for a good start to the year.

In our part of the country, the housing market is really beginning to move. We spoke with a real-estate agent recently who told us that their inventory of houses is beginning to decrease as buyers step into the market.

Curb appeal is a buyer’s first impression of a property. If the lawn is cut and the landscaping is maintained, the buyer is more apt to consider making an offer. Lawn care is a much needed expenditure for real-estate offices on their vacant homes. In many cases, a neatly mown lawn makes the sale.

If you are thinking about starting your own lawn care business, right now is a great time to get started. You can take advantage of all the landscaping contracts that are being bid right now for 2010.

Learn how-to start your own lawn care company and bid landscaping and mowing contracts with the Start A Lawn Care Business Package.

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October is a prime Lawn Care Business month.

Sep 28

Posted by admin in lawn care business, lawn care start up

It has been a long hot summer but October is finally here.

Though cooler weather brings slower growth rates, October is a perfect time to start a lawn care business or ramp up an existing lawn care business.

Autumn can be very profitable with Leaf Raking, Gutter Cleaning, and Seeding Jobs. Customers pay lots of money to have these jobs done. They will also hire you for many other jobs during the winter months. Once spring rolls around, these customers will gladly pay you to mow their grass all summer.

If you want to learn how much to charge for Autumn lawn care jobs and increase your lawn care business, check out the lawn care software and strategy guidebook located at:

Start A Lawn Care Business.

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Lawn Care Business Owner Robbed

Jul 28

Posted by admin in lawn care business, safety

In an ever expanding list of cautions for lawn care business owners we now have to add robbery.

When I first heard that a lawn care business owner had been robbed, I thought a piece of equipment had been stolen from his truck or a customer hired him to perform some lawn care work and failed to pay.

According to Fredericksburg.com, a Virginia lawn care business owner was lured to a vacant property with a phone call. The caller claimed to be interested in having yard work performed on the property. When the man came to the property to give an estimate he was robbed of $500 in cash and a few credit cards.

We always try to lock our vehicles and secure our commercial lawn care equipment to guard against theft. Being robbed of the hard-earned cash in our pocket is something we will have to consider when giving estimates in new or unknown areas.

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Lawn Care Businesses Face Wooly Competition

Jul 2

Posted by admin in lawn care business, strategies, weed control

Chattanooga, Tennessee is one of many southern cities fighting a continuous struggle against the invasive vine Kudzu. Kudzu was brought to the southeast in the 1800’s from China as an erosion control mechanism. Kudzu almost worked too well as the weed continues to grow and engulf landscapes.

Since kudzu was planted to control erosion, it was planted mainly on rocky slopes that cannot be cut with conventional lawn mowers. Chattanooga, and other cities, have experimented with goats for a number of years. Goats are released into the kudzu and nibble away at the vine to control its growth.

Goats do such a thorough job tending to invasive vines, they are being employed in other areas where conventional lawn mowing is problematic.

According to a USA Today report, a vineyard in California has begun using goats where lawn mowers have difficulty mowing grass or where chemicals may seep into local water supplies.

While use of goats and sheep often costs less or the same as conventional mowing and chemical weed control, San Jose, California is willing to spend up to 45% more money to have a natural form of weed control than using chemicals and gasoline powered lawn equipment. They are willing to pay extra solely for the ecological advantage.

Readers of this lawn care blog often read our reports of the coming movement toward much more ecologically minded customers. If you haven’t believed it before, willingness to pay 45% more for lawn care (in San Jose’s case) should convince you to introduce ecological strategies into your lawn care business.

If you are looking to operate a successful lawn care business or if you need help with your current lawn care business, click the “Start A Lawn Care Business” link at the top right of this page.

The lawn care business package is currently on sale and recently updated.

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Pruning undercut saves landscape tree

Jun 29

Posted by admin in landscaping, lawn care business, pruning

by: Start A Lawn Care Business

Landscape Pruning Video

In April we posted a video on YouTube detailing the correct method of making pruning cuts to take a branch or limb off a tree without damaging the trunk.

The video describes how to use a three-cut method.  First you make an underside cut.  Then you cut through the branch beyond the underside cut.  Finally, you cut through the stub barely beyond the collared union.  This allows the tree to heal properly and prevents against disease and insects.

Crepe Myrtle Pruning

I was recently pruning a Crepe Myrtle landscaping tree.  Crepe Myrtles only require marginal pruning and do not need to be pruned dramatically.  One branch, however, was crossing another and needed to be removed.

I made the underside cut as described in the video and began the top side cut.  When I was slightly over half-way through the top side cut the branch gave way and tore along the bottom of the branch.  At the underside cut, the branch broke free and fell away from the tree.

Undercut Saves the Day (Small)

Underside Cut Saves the Day

If I hadn’t made the underside cut, the branch would have torn into the trunk of the tree causing significant damage threatening the health and life of that tree.

Properly Pruned Crepe Myrtle

Properly Pruned Crepe Myrtle

Landscaping and Lawn Care Business

If you prune landscape shrubs and trees as part of your lawn care business, you are well advised to learn proper pruning techniques.

For more information on starting your own lawn care business, click the “Start A Lawn Care Business” link at the top right of this page.

Good Luck

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Lawn Care Equipment Trailer

Jun 12

Posted by admin in lawn care business, lawn care start up, trailer

Let’s take a look at a typical setup for a lawn care / landscaping trailer.

landscapetrailer1

1)  Hand tools:  Leaf rakes, shovel, mattock, pole saw, shears.

2)  Auxilliary lawn mower gas tank.

3)  John Deere push lawn mower.

4) Lunch cooler.

5)  20 lb. air tank.

6)  Traffic Cones

7)  John Deere Z-Trak commercial lawn mower

8)  Water cooler.  Drinking lots of water is important.

9)  Leaf blower rack.  Blower is removed as it is currently in use.

10) John Deere Gator.  Good for moving landscape mulch, grass seed, plants, etc.

OTHER SIDE OF THE LANDSCAPING TRAILER

landscapetrailer2

1) Lockable Toolbox.  Equiped with all tools needed to work on lawn care equipment and to work in customers’ yards.

2) Weedeater Racks.  2 Commercial grade weedeaters.

3) Flags on rear of trailer.

If you want to start your own lawn care business, click the StartALawnCareBusiness link on the tab to the right.

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Lawn Care at the Whitehouse, Washington D.C.

Jun 11

Posted by admin in contracts, lawn care business

Do you have some good lawn care contracts that you are proud of and that you would like the world to see?  If you are good at your work and you devote yourself to professionalism you can build a strong base of professional lawn care accounts.

Start A Lawn Care Business staff members visit Washington D.C.

The staff of  “StartALawnCareBusiness” took a recent trip to Washington D.C.  We were there on a fact finding mission to better understand how lawns are maintained in dense urban areas.

Lawns in our area of the country often average 3/4  acre of grass coverage for a typical home in a subdivision type community.  Dense urban landscaping is on a much smaller scale.  Lawn Care Companies must learn how to manage the maintenance of such small areas.

Look for upcoming blogs about how to maintain small urban landscape areas.

This blog posting is about a much larger landscaping job.

How About This for a Lawn Care Contract?

While we were in Washington D.C. we took time to visit many historic sites.  The Whitehouse is one of those sites that is a must see while visiting D.C.  We were lucky enough to witness a lawn care crew working landscaping equipment on the South Lawn.

Lawn Care at the Whitehouse South Lawn

Lawn Care at the Whitehouse South Lawn

There are a couple subjects of note.

1) Look a little to the right of the upper middle section of this picture.  Can you see the blue tractor with a front end loader?  Can you imagine the security clearance of the lawn care company working the South Lawn?  If you think getting your insurance and bonding your employees is a hassle just be in these guy’s shoes.

2)  The striping pattern on the South Lawn is beautifully managed.  The perfect lines are to be admired.

If you have ever wanted to operate your own lawn care business, you can learn practically everything you need to know with our lawn care business package.  Visit our website StartALawnCareBusiness.com

The complete lawn care business package is on sale right now.

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Lawn Mower and Weedeater Safety

Jun 1

Posted by admin in lawn care business, safety, small business

Lawn Care Business operators must observe safe operating practices.

If you have read our course work and materials about how to start your own lawn care business, you know how important safety is when you are operating your own lawn care business.

This morning, as I was driving to an appointment, I heard the familiar sound of a commercial string trimmer and commercial lawn mower.  I detoured slightly out of my way to see if it was a familiar lawn care company.   I didn’t know the guys running the equipment and they seemed to be doing a nice job on the lawn grass they were cutting.

Though they were doing a professional job on the grass, something struck me enough about the scene that I grabbed my camera and took a quick photograph through my window.

What do you notice about this picture?

Lawn mower and weedeater safety
Okay, I am not going to beat up on these guys.  They did quick, efficient work and the grass looked good when they finished.  But,  they need to think some more about safety.

Long-time readers of this blog and of our “Start A Lawn Care Business” program probably already know the safety problems seemingly apparent in this photograph.  Let’s start with the string trimmer safety guard.

1)  Line trimmer safety guards

Look at the weedeater.  Where’s the safety guard?   Apart from holding the line limiter blade, the safety guard provides some protection from flying rocks and debris.  We recommend not removing safety guards.  They are there for a purpose.

2) Lawn Care Operator clothing and safety gear.

The guy with the weedeater is wearing shorts, low rise walking shoes, no hearing protection that I could see, and no safety glasses.  What safety gear/clothing did I miss?

Look at his legs.  He is getting pelted with grass and debris.  What happens if the weedeater slings a rock into his leg causing a gash and then he hits a pile of dog poo that gets into the cut?  (Trust me; I know about weedeaters and dog poo)  I’m certainly not a medical professional but dog poo in an open wound can’t be good for you.

Hearing protection?  “What?”   I SAID “HEARING PROTECTION!!!”  I know hearing protection is uncomfortable and inconvenient.   So what…WEAR IT.

Safety Goggles?  Guys who never wear safety goggle never read this blog….BECAUSE THEY CAN’T SEE ANYMORE!!!   Wear safety goggles!!!!

3)  Awarness of surroundings

The guy operating the commercial walk-behind lawn mower is throwing grass all over the guy who is already covered with grass from his weedeater.  Lawn mowers throw things other than grass.  They also throw sticks and stones…those hurt bones.  Be careful where you aim mower discharge.  Oh, and the guard on the mower?  Yeah, he has it flipped up so it’s not doing any good.

Lawn mowing is dangerous.  Use caution.

If you don’t know all your safety options and obligations, check out the CDC and OSHA at CDC.gov and OSHA.gov.

Good luck guys.  Be sure to check out our Lawn Care Business program.  It is a perfect resource for anyone starting out (and with less than 5 years experience) in a lawn care business.

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Lawn Care Workers Should Drink Lots of Fluids (Water)

May 31

Posted by admin in fluids, lawn care business, safety, water

Place water high on your Lawn Care Business’ safety checklist.

Safety Goggles?   Check
Hearing Protection?  Check
Work Boots?  Check
Sun Screen?  Check

This safety list for lawn care professionals is far from complete but before we go much further we must be sure to place a very important, yet often overlooked, item close to the top.  Water.

Water.  How much is enough to drink?

If you perform lawn care and landscping work outside during hot months you must monitor your water intake constantly through the day.  According to a CDC report*, consumption of approximately one pint of water every 15 to 20 minutes is suggested for most people at risk of heat strain. Dehydration can be insidious and thirst or lack of thirst is not a clear indicator if you are dehydrated or not.  Dehydration can affect the body cummulatively over a period of days therefore if you have not properly maintained your fluid intake during your workday you must catch up before resuming work.  A body weight ratio may help you understand how much water loss occured during your work day.  Again, according to the CDC report, body weightloss during a workday should not exceed 1.5%.  Rehydration should be complete before the next day’s work.

Keep your pee clear.

Another method of monitoring your hydration level is keeping check on your urine.  Urine should be clear, not dark.  If you pee a color approaching that of a school bus you must curtail your work load and properly hydrate yourself.

The CDC discusses hydration in the Lawn Care Business.

Think about what the CDC say the proper hydration rate should be for those at risk of heat strain.  One pint every 15 to 20 minutes.  One pint per 15 minutes equates to 4 pints per hour.  That equals 3 gallons of fluid intake during a 6 hour workday.  This is only a recommendation and your particular need for fluid intake relies on many variables such as personal fitness, general health, outdoor temperature, and level of physical activity required in your work.  You must also monitor electrolyte levels.  People who drink too much water can dilute sodium in their bodies and are at risk of an effect called Water Intoxication.

Water consumption in our lawn care business.

A personal habit we adopted many years ago in our lawn care business was to carry two jugs per person with us each workday.  One jug is filled with water and placed into the freezer the night before.  As the ice melts during the workday we continuously drink from that jug.  The water is always nice and cool and melts about as fast as we can drink it.  The second jug contains a mixture of water and gatorade.  We drink as necessary during the day to maintain proper hydration and electrolyte levels.

Operate a lawn care business?  See your Doctor.

In addition to these suggestions, it is highly advisable that you monitor your health properly.  See a phyician as needed.  Alert your Dr. to your type of employment and have him keep track of your health history with your work in mind.

* http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/FACE/stateface/mi/02mi075.html

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