Introduction of a newbie

[ids properties]

Hello all,

I've been reading/researching the past couple of weeks on your fine website. There are lots of great tips from all of you...thanks so much for your experience.

I'll introduce myself. My name is Mark and I plan on starting a lawn care company in the spring of next year. I'm moving to a town in New York that has affluent neighborhoods....tons of them. The kicker is, there is only one lawn service in town. Why, I don't know. Anyways, I've been a firefighter/EMT full timeffor ten years and am in a position to go out and work for myself and family. I've taken courses on turfgrass management, and worked for a couple of lawn care companies the past six or seven years on the side. I plan to start residential, get my pesticide license, and go commercial within five years, while building both a crew and a reputation.

A couple of quick comments and questions: Where I've worked, we've never edged a lawn with an edger, is that commonplace? We've always just used trimmers and angled the edges. Secondly, it appears there's a controversy on bagging clippings. Again, all the places I've worked for bag, but what's "the norm"? I do know that mulching/discharging saves both labor and dumping charges. Lastly, I'm spending upwards of $20k on equipment. Please give me your advice on what type of mower should be my workhorse?

Thanks for your advice, it's a pleasure to hear all read all your advice.

Mark

[MrMojoRisin]

For residential properties I use the customers Green Waste bin for the clippings. I put it in the written agreement so they know up front what will be done. Never leave any questions in the customers mind, be specific on the services that will be performed for the customer. That way everyone knows what is expected.

[MASTERMOWER]

I use a trimmer for edging. I dont understand why people use a dedicated edger....its an extra expense and other tool to lug around. I can edge with my trimmer just as good as an edger. Just keep the trimmer line at a 90 degree angle with the curb/ sidewalk.

And a remark to mrmojorisin's post, that sounds like a good way to lose clients! Immediately after you cut grass, the grass clippings begin to decompose. Heat is generated during the decompostion process and the grass REALLY begins to STINK if left in a bag, trash can, or even your truck bed! I dont think a client would appreciate taking out the trash to a horriblly foul smelling trash can -- even if the clipping disposal method was agreed upon!

[RRS]

Grass clippings can spontaneously combust if left wet and covered in a can.

If you ever work on a farm you'll learn quickly that you never stack wet hay in a barn becuase you run the risk of burning down the barn. Bailing hay was a week long process on the farm I worked on especially if it was wet. Cut, kick, rake, kick, rake, bail, stack in barn, and repeat (hopefully).

Back on topic. One downside to edging walks with a trimmer (especially bricks and pavers) is that the trimmer will go deeper and deeper each time the walk is edged eventually causing the base to washout. A blade edger will only go but so deep. Not saying I don't do it, but something to watch out for.

[jimslawnservice1]

You My friend have the key

Well as a FF/EMT myself, you have the ultimate situation. I've been doing fire/ems for 10 years now, I went to work for a municipal FD 3 years ago. I started back up my lawn service at that time. I am not sure what your schedule is like however with the time we have off you can build a profitable and respected business very effectively.

1. Don't buy equipment you don't need. (buy the best you can without debt.)
2. Start small work up.
3. Be a professional, even though you are part-timing it (insurance, taxes ect)
4. People respect your choosen profession, do not F that up.
5. Get people at the dept to work for you on their days off, (new guys are best because they aren't making really good money at the FD yet) they usually don't work the same days as you (no getting behind because of rain) well less likely I guess.

Good luck and welcome to the fourm.

OH yeah, an edger is nice to have but not necessarily a requirment