De Thatch

[qualitylandscaping]

It is junk! As long as it pulls something out of the ground, I can tell the customer I'm dethatching..

And I was really tired when I posted last night.. I charge about $12 per 1,000sqft + cleanup and removal of debris...

[Scott]

Not sure of how much experience you have with dethatching but here's a good page on how one company does it.
Thatch Busters

here's a link with several different brands of verticutters
Green Media

Husky/bluebird makes a 22in cut,
Husky

another link, not sure of the cut width
Billy Goat

[Seascape]

thanx scott. I didnt know it would be that hard to find a rental machine over 18" . I surly hope we dont have to do these 3 acres w/ a 18" machine.
mike

[Scott]

hopefully you can find a pull-behind that you can borrow/rent.

Just curious, how much are you charging for the 3 acre job?

[Lawngodfather]

Originally posted by Seascape
checked 3 places today. The biggest unit i could find was 18".
any suggestions?

If this is a true dethather rake, then for the area said, you should be charging right in the $3000 range for said property.

It will take you 4-5 days to do it with that machine. It's not all the machine, it's the time it will also take to gater up the debris, and get rid of it.

I won't get into what thatch and dethatching is, but the JRCO tine rake will not do it period.

[Scott]

have you looked all over town? can you rent like 3-4 of them. Not sure how many guys you got but if I couldn't get my hands on a larger pull behind, I might pass unless this is your "money is no object" customer. Then I'd rent every dethatcher I could get and line em up and have two guys follow with yard vacs (not recommended if it's any bit wet) or some riders with baggers. Drop the deck and try to pick up as much as possible. Like LGF said, it'll take a few days and I'd price it close to 4k. If you had the pull behind, life would be better for both customer (lower price) and yourself(save time)

[Seascape]

i called about 10 other places today and the biggest i can find is a 22 inch walk behind. I told my client i didnt have a final # but that he was going to have at least 2 k in it. Im thinking of 4 units and trying to kill it in 1 day. I have 4 full timers but pulling my mowing crew for a day isnt an option. Im going to make a incentive offer to my guys to work sat and sun to get this done. ill inform my client tomorrow of a final # and probally complete it next weekend. Im thinking 3000. This guy spends 30k a year so its not like i dont make money on the site. Plus this gives me another week to locate a better unit.
mike