New to fertilizing, need some advice

[Nufan]

My brother and I recently increased our side business to a nearly full time job. We have a community of 80 lawns that we are mowing. Most of the work is from me and my brother helps whenever he can for about 3 days work. 20 or 30 have a steep hill leading to a swale, which makes them pretty horrible to mow.

Anyway, we have people asking us to feed their lawns. My brother is the type that likes to say "sure" before he knows what he is getting into. Neither of us have any real experience aside from a Scotts spreader. The lots are about 1/4 acre each. I would like to hear from anyone on what we should do. I gather that whoever is spreading needs to be liscensed. How long does this take, and what type of knowlede is needed to obtain a liscense? Once we are liscensed, what type of equipment should we be using and what type of fertilizer?

I am completely ignorant of all fertilization. So any small bits of info will help.


He's telling me to find schedules and what to use, find out what Lawn Doctor uses...

[steve-o]

i know this does not help , but make sure you get what you need and the proper insurance. i do not have it and do not do it. and yes it is tempting. be honest in what you do and you will be better in the long run.

[Seascape]

1/4 acre ,, a push spreader will work on those. Dont go cheap,, look at lesco for a rough idea of what youll have in a decent spreader. While your there look at a 200 gal. spray tank. I think lesco asks $2400 around here . Youll need this for liquid broadleaf apps. As far as material,,, i wouldnt bother w/ what yard doctor uses. Your lesco store will help you w/ this also until you find a better source for material. A good place to begin looking is farm depots in your area that have turf supplies. Theyre prices are usually 1/2 of what lesco asks.

[Ric]

1/4 acre ,, a push spreader will work on those. Dont go cheap,, look at lesco for a rough idea of what youll have in a decent spreader. While your there look at a 200 gal. spray tank. I think lesco asks $2400 around here . Youll need this for liquid broadleaf apps. As far as material,,, i wouldnt bother w/ what yard doctor uses. Your lesco store will help you w/ this also until you find a better source for material. A good place to begin looking is farm depots in your area that have turf supplies. Theyre prices are usually 1/2 of what lesco asks.

Ah yes More great advice from Mr Trout.

Yes Nufan since you are new to fertilizing you need to spend the money to buy a 200 gallon Lesco Tank that you probably can not get a license to use. While you are at it buy a three year supply of Pesticides that you don't know how to use. Mr Trout is full of excellent advice. Please make notes on all of his advice and follow it to the Tee.

Now the last thing you would want to do is call your County Extension Agent and ask him what Fertilizer your local State University recommends for your area. God forbid that you go to the local Fertilizer Store and Talk with the salesman there. After all Mr Trout knows more about your area and soil type than anyone from a university or fertilizer Store that sells to people in your area.

Yes this is a tongue in Cheek post. Mr trout is trying to impress you with how important he is. In fact he doesn't know his *** from a hole in the ground.

[Seascape]

1) I told him to LOOK at a tank. He asked what he will need should he pursue application programs. Let me guess,,, you think he should run dry broadleaf?
2)i think this guy can get his license,, ill give him the benifit of the doubt anyhow. No matter what his state regualtions ,,its not my problem. He posed these questions,,i answered them.
3)I never told him to buy a 3 year supply. I told him to talk to his lesco shop to get an idea of whats available there in regards to material. Didnt want to see him get to hung up on what lawn doctor uses. Because its show,, not lawn doctors.
4) as far as his area,,im about 800 miles closer to it than you.
5) Call the extension ,,,, sure why not.But lesco probally has a better idea of what guys are using in his area and what direction to steer him.
6)As far as me not knowing my ass from a hole in the ground? I'll tell you i know an a$$ hole when i see one. And you grass hopper are a prime candidate.

Did you recruit this chump Mr. Grassmaster?

[Ric]

Mr trout

Why didn't you tell him to buy a 700 gallon tanker truck to do broad leaves that way he would have plenty of water to fill his back pack. BTW granular weed and feeds do work.

Purdue University has a on line study program that will train applicator on cool season turf. To take this course would not only help you pass the test but allow you the knowledge to do the job right.

[Seascape]

Mr trout

BTW granular weed and feeds do work.

.

Ya like a charm.Go to bed stupid ass.

[lorenzo piedra]

http://turfgrassmanagement.psu.edu/ProTurf.html

http://www.papma.org/

http://www.agronomy.psu.edu/Extension/Extension.html

http://www.ento.psu.edu/extension/extpubs.htm

http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/extension/ornamental.html

http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/category.asp?cat=5

http://hcs.osu.edu/sportsturf/

http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/

http://www.pested.psu.edu/

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/index.html

http://www.pestnetwork.com/manufacturers/manuf.html

http://www.agron.iastate.edu/agron/

[Lawn Dude]

Ric,

Would you please provide a link to the Purdue program?

Ken

[lorenzo piedra]

http://www.cll.purdue.edu/extendeduniversity/selfdirected/correspondencecourses/pestcontrol/detail/index.cfm?Course_ID=3

[Turf Medic]

Has anyone taken the course offered by PLCA? Does anyone know how it compares with the one that Purdue offers?

thanks

[Ric]

Purdue Offers a mostly Cool Season turf on line education and Georgia offers a mostly Warm Season turf program. Both programs touch lightly on the other.

Now interesting enough Some of the biggest Mis-information comes from a person who lives in one of the better University towns. That individual apparently has never taken advantage of the fine education offered their.

[Seascape]

Now interesting enough Some of the biggest Mis-information comes from a person who lives in one of the better University towns. .

Hey cok breath, show me some of this mis imformation you keep talking about. Since you wanna show up here everyday and attempt to make me look bad,, cough it up.

[Ric]

Hey cok breath, show me some of this mis imformation you keep talking about. Since you wanna show up here everyday and attempt to make me look bad,, cough it up.

Mr Trout

You are paranoid I didn't mention your name. How do you know I am talking about you? Lorenzo lives in a town with a college couldn't it of been him? I was talking about OSU and interesting enough a person who lives there asked me about Beech Trees. I gave that person a link to his own home town University, because Beech trees don't grow in my part of the world.

Now interesting enough that same person who has to ask question about his own area, give un informed answers to people in my area.

http://www.lawnserviceforum.com/showthread.php?t=6775&page=1&pp=20

Would you like me to post more links?? I am sure between Lorenzo and myself we could come with many many more.

[Turf Medic]

Thanks for the info ric, I'll check out the purdue course

Judging from the posts here, I take it you and seascape don't get together for lunch too often