Where are all the applicators?

[mariner]

This forum is dead. Lets get some conversation rolling.

[CCLS]

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I'm right here!!!


Mariner,

Which company do you purchase your products from???

I'm looking forward to fertilizing again this year. I did about 15 fertilizing estimates last week and I am hoping to get a lot more this week. Things are just starting to green up around here. Two more weeks tops and I will be mowing again.

[mariner]

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I will be buying my products from Lesco this year but I want to check out this United Horticulture Supply in the near future. My soil temp are about 49 during the day and as low as 40 at night. In a week or two I will be putting down Pre-M with the 200 Gallon Lesco space saver i'm purchasing this week. I'm using a 30-3-6 dry fertilizer and Momentum for weed killer. Hopefully I will be full on for mowing in a couple of weeks. The grass here is green in spots but still dormant in others. I have put out over 5000 flyers myself and have received many calls so far for estimates and sign up's. Its going better than expected. I just hope that I can handle it all myself to start. My other job is watching my 3 month old while the wife is at work. Its getting crazy at times but i'm looking forward to the checks coming in.

[CCLS]

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I hear you there. Its getting crazy around here too.

I'm buying my fertilizer from UHS this year, we will see how it works. A buddy of mine uses their products for his company and he likes them. I'm getting my spray rig next month. My first app with pre emergent is granular. My second app has broadleaf, so I will need a sprayer. Good luck with your biz this year.

[mariner]

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You too Buddy! The only reason I'm spraing Pre-M this year is I have a load of fert already so I don't need to buy fert with the pre-m in it. I like spraying better but unfortunately it costs more. I'm only doing mowing/lawn fert/tree and shrub fert/aeration this year because if I offer any other services I won't be able to handle it myself. I did some spring cleanups earlier when it was slow but I am no longer offering it as I am getting swamped.

[CCLS]

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I've done a lot of bids for spring clean-ups this year also. Seems like people are cheaper this year. They don't want to spend near as much as last year. I'm having more luck with fertilizing than spring clean-ups, which I would rather have anyways. I really don't care for spring clean-ups, but they do bring in money.

[mariner]

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Fertilizer and Aeration are my two biggest sellers. Mowing is so so but then again I can't take on too many mowings being only one person.

[CCLS]

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I would have to say that mowing, fertilizing and landscaping are my most profitable services.

Pruning, edging, clean-ups, dethatching, aerating aren't as profitable, because people just aren't willing to spend a lot of money around here for these services. The jobs I do are quite profitable, but I don't get a lot of these types of jobs because I get lowballed all the time.

I'm really running with fertilizing and weed control this year, because there are a lot of companies around here that don't offer the service. It is a great service to offer that gets me in the door a lot of places. Once I get the fertilizing account, I go in for the kill and get the mowing, pruning, landscape ect accounts from them also.

[mariner]

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CCLS

Sounds like you got a good plan. I just bought the Lesco 200 gallon space saver sprayer, so i'm really trying to sell my fert program. I picked up a 1.7 acre commercial account the other day for 4 applications so that sets my mind at ease a little more. Ive got about a little over 3 acres of property total so far for my fert program. This is a result of 5000 flyers. I'm probably not going to pass out any more flyers because we are still about 2 weeks out from mowing and the calls are still coming in. I also have an ad going in the paper for the second week of April. Good luck to you.

[CCLS]

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Mariner,

I just got back from lunch with my UHS rep, we went over a few things and he told me about a few new products they offer. If you want his number, just email me and I will give you his name and #. I think that he would be your rep too, since you live in Illinois. He does most of the stuff in the mid-west, so I would assume he travels to your area often. I really like the products that they offer and the customer service that goes along with purchase. Great people to deal with. Just email me if you are interested.

[mariner]

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I actually spoke to a rep a little while ago but never followed through on it. I probably contact him again when I get some free time. Thanks for the heads up though.