Making POS yard nice w/o full kill.

[Dreamaloud1]

Customer's yard is a mix of clover, fescue, bermuda, wild pansy, chickweed etc. Although they have the $$$ they aren't willing to invest the time watering and they won't put in irrigation...So a full kill and reseed isn't really an option.

Are there any other ways to make this yard nicer? Its by far the worst yard I mow, but it's in a killer neighborhood so if I can turn it around it would be good for business.

[Seascape]

Simple broadleaf app followed by some slow release probally wont hurt. Its gotta help. If that dont control with results contact a application company and get some suggestions.

[MASTERMOWER]

Supposedly clover thrives in low nitrogen soils...I can't confirm this though...only heard it. With regular mowings, along with proper fertilization, the lawn will begin to look a lot better than it does today.

If you're certified to spray offer them a good discount on a weed killer app. Since this is a 'killer' neighborhood you'll want to impress the neighbors with turning a cruddy lawn around into something other than the shame of the 'hood...even if you won't make as much as you normally would elsewhere. Earning more business in the same neighborhood is where you'll make up the difference.

[Dreamaloud1]

Yeah I'm not certified, so I wasn't sure if anything existed which could help. They're willing to spread something so what would ya'll reccomend from a consumer place like Home Depot? Something like Scotts with Plus 2 or the like?

[MASTERMOWER]

You'd still have to be a certified applicator even to apply that Scotts fert plus 2. The "Plus 2" is a herbicide, thus the reason you'd have to be licensed.

At a minimum, let a chemical company come and apply a granular post-emergant herbicide (your plus 2). However, ganular herbicides rarely work well. Your best bet would be to have them pay more for a liquid application which will bring much better results. Afterwards fertilize the lawn with a quality fertilizer.

[silvermaxd]

in my area you "do not" have to be certified to apply "any" granular product. You have to be certified to apply any tank mixed spray's. This is what my state(IN) chemist told me.

[spotremix]

in my area you "do not" have to be certified to apply "any" granular product. You have to be certified to apply any tank mixed spray's. This is what my state(IN) chemist told me.

is this correct because i live in IN and i might have lost my first commericial account i bid on this year because i told them i couldn't spread fert/weed apps. this account only does 3 app's per season.

[INlawns]

Spotremix I will send you a pm with some info that should help. Anyone in IN who wants the same info just ask. Im no expert, I just know who to contact.

[Woody]

in my area you "do not" have to be certified to apply "any" granular product. You have to be certified to apply any tank mixed spray's. This is what my state(IN) chemist told me.

I find that hard to believe. Actually, I find that IMPOSSIBLE to believe, since Indiana has reciprocity with Ohio. Especially since THIS LINK goes into great detail about licensing, and does not differentiate between granular and liquid applications.

Sorry, Silvermaxd, you are incorrect and have been misinformed. If sued, you will be 100% liable, will have no legal recourse, and will be up the proverbial creek.

You guys really need to know THE FACTS before shooting your mouths off.

[jrservices]

in my area you "do not" have to be certified to apply "any" granular product. You have to be certified to apply any tank mixed spray's. This is what my state(IN) chemist told me.

You are totally incorrect. Do your research correctly, then report back with the correct answer.

[MASTERMOWER]

I find that hard to believe. Actually, I find that IMPOSSIBLE to believe, since Indiana has reciprocity with Ohio. Especially since THIS LINK goes into great detail about licensing, and does not differentiate between granular and liquid applications.

Sorry, Silvermaxd, you are incorrect and have been misinformed. If sued, you will be 100% liable, will have no legal recourse, and will be up the proverbial creek.

You guys really need to know THE FACTS before shooting your mouths off.

He listened to the state chemist....what would you expect.

He should have called the dept of ag. I mean com'on, how f-ing hard is it to call your dept of ag and ask, "what are the requirements for applying pesticides?"

Hell....today even I called up the dept of ag here with a question. No more than 5 minutes later I had an answer.

Gee Whiz, talk with a more authoritive figure than a guy that works inside a lab all day.

THIS IS THIS THE DAMN PROBLEM
He knew he wasn't supposed to apply granular pesticides, but as soon as he heard that crock of crap out of the chemists mouth, he felt he the permission to do so. Doesn't this happen all the time? Idiots *try* to find an easy way out.....and when they do....they're damn proud of themselves and exploit the erraneous facts.

"But I buy Scotts Weed and Feed from Home Depot. Anyone can buy that stuff. Why do I have to be licensed to apply it on my customer's lawn? I thought you only needed to be licensed to apply that restrictive use stuff? Seems to silly to be licensed to apply Home Depot merchandise."

[Scott]

I think it's safe to say that to apply any pesticide, which includes herbicide, rodenticide, fungicide, etc..., on any property other than what you own, you should make sure you're legal to apply it. When you put yourself in a position to make money or "for hire", you need to be properly licensed/certified by the state laws.

do you know what kinda bermuda that is? It'll never reach it's potential w/o irrigation but you can try.

[spotremix]

I find that hard to believe. Actually, I find that IMPOSSIBLE to believe, since Indiana has reciprocity with Ohio. Especially since THIS LINK goes into great detail about licensing, and does not differentiate between granular and liquid applications.

Sorry, Silvermaxd, you are incorrect and have been misinformed. If sued, you will be 100% liable, will have no legal recourse, and will be up the proverbial creek.

You guys really need to know THE FACTS before shooting your mouths off.

He listened to the state chemist....what would you expect.

He should have called the dept of ag. I mean com'on, how f-ing hard is it to call your dept of ag and ask, "what are the requirements for applying pesticides?"

Hell....today even I called up the dept of ag here with a question. No more than 5 minutes later I had an answer.

Gee Whiz, talk with a more authoritive figure than a guy that works inside a lab all day.

THIS IS THIS THE DAMN PROBLEM
He knew he wasn't supposed to apply granular pesticides, but as soon as he heard that crock of crap out of the chemists mouth, he felt he the permission to do so. Doesn't this happen all the time? Idiots *try* to find an easy way out.....and when they do....they're damn proud of themselves and exploit the erraneous facts.

"But I buy Scotts Weed and Feed from Home Depot. Anyone can buy that stuff. Why do I have to be licensed to apply it on my customer's lawn? I thought you only needed to be licensed to apply that restrictive use stuff? Seems to silly to be licensed to apply Home Depot merchandise."

i know i need to actually call the dep. of ag. but i just wanted to know what other area's are doing. i read diff. posts that say diff. things like what i put in red in the quotes.

woody makes it seem like all granular and liquid apps need to be spread by a licenses person (and he probably is correct)

mm uses just the word pesticide

so which is? is it all granular and liquid apps or just pesticides? can i go to lowes and buy scotts 5 step program and put that on a customers lawn? i'm no chemist and i really don't know much about the fert/weed apps end but i don't think the 5 step program has pesticides does it? i know theres a crab grass preventor, 3 ferts i think and i'm not sure the other 2 off the top of my head.

like i said i know almost nothing about this end of the business which is why i don't do it. i just go to lowes buy the bags i need for my lawn and put them down the months i'm suppose to, but i might have very well lost an account because the previous service did 3 fert/weed apps a year which i told them i could not cause i was under the impression i had to have a license

[jrservices]

i know i need to actually call the dep. of ag. but i just wanted to know what other area's are doing. i read diff. posts that say diff. things like what i put in red in the quotes.

woody makes it seem like all granular and liquid apps need to be spread by a licenses person (and he probably is correct)

mm uses just the word pesticide

so which is? is it all granular and liquid apps or just pesticides? can i go to lowes and buy scotts 5 step program and put that on a customers lawn? i'm no chemist and i really don't know much about the fert/weed apps end but i don't think the 5 step program has pesticides does it? i know theres a crab grass preventor, 3 ferts i think and i'm not sure the other 2 off the top of my head.

like i said i know almost nothing about this end of the business which is why i don't do it. i just go to lowes buy the bags i need for my lawn and put them down the months i'm suppose to, but i might have very well lost an account because the previous service did 3 fert/weed apps a year which i told them i could not cause i was under the impression i had to have a license

From what you're posting here, you really don't know the requirements for your state, so you better look here........http://www.btny.purdue.edu/PPP/

[MASTERMOWER]

Sorry, I should have said pesticides AND fertilizer. Heck, if you use table salt to kill garden slugs in your customers hosta beds.......you had better be a licensed pesticide business.

Pesticide: any chemical or biological agent that kills plant or animal pests; herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, rodenticides, etc. are all pesticides.

Here in Kansas you don't have to licensed to apply fertilizer (though I believe they need to change that). BUT....if you're applying a fertilizer with some sorta pesticide in it, (without being certified) that'd be illegal.

Your beloved Scotts program only has TWO applications without pesticides.

Step 1. Pre-emergent
Step 2. Weed killer
Step 3. Insecticide

Check your local laws....and thank JR for finding you that link.