Lawn Care Guide

derrick b asked:


I’m looking to start a business in lawn care and landscaping. I know all the tools i need and have them for concrete work. But im also looking to get into retaining walls, mulch beds, blue prints for landscaping, decks and patios, mowing, and of course any other odds and ends. I love doing the work, and im also unsure on how to attract customers without spending huge money on advertisting. Essentially im wondering what tools and equpiment i will need to run a successful business.

Keith

Sela asked:


Does anyone know of any good lawn care professionals in the Indianapolis area and surrounding suburbs? I prefer not to go with large companies like Trugreen. Prefer small individualized companies.

Alvin

Aakash Shah asked:


Everyone dreams to have a beautiful home. A lawn in your home can add five stars to its beauty as well as to your status. Lawns can be of different types. However equal care is important for all types of lawn.

For best results adequate amount of all the operations are needed. St. Augustine is one of the best grasses for the lawns of Florida. For northern Florida turf grasses are better than St. Augustine.

Lawn care starts with a plan. What you want to do with your lawn should be well planned. In different seasons, different ways of care may be required.

Aeration

As the time passes you may need to aerate your lawn. After some time the lawn soil may become compact due to heavy traffic on it or due to some other reasons. Compactness creates many problems like reduction in the amount of water, nutrients and air , increase in the thatch population etc. So aerate your lawn when there is a need. Check the lawn and see whether there is any compaction or not.

Fertilization

Your lawn needs nutrients from time to time. You can use fertilizers and compost to supply the lawn with nutrients. You can use different types of fertilizers available in the areas of Florida. You can use slow release, fast release, organic, inorganic, liquid fertilizers, whichever is required. Find out the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in the fertilizer and use the one which is required for your lawn.

Watering

Watering is crucial for the health of your lawn. Watering in right amount, at right time and in the right place helps the grass grow faster and healthier and will make your lawn look better.

Watering should be done in the morning and in absence of wind.

Mowing

Mowing is important to maintain the aesthetics of the lawn. It helps in the growth of the grass. Mowing should not be done too low. It should be done with a good quality mower only. The mower blade should be sharp. Mowing is to be done on dry grass only.

Weeding

Florida lawns also need weeding to remain healthy and beautiful. Weeding may be done by the use of weeder machines or by pulling the weeds. Use chemicals to free the lawn from weeds.

Pests and diseases

Fungicides and other chemicals will help you to overcome the diseases. For pests use pesticides available.

For any problem or for any clarification, you can take the help of the local gardeners or the garden’s center people.



Leslie

Codynova asked:


I just bought a new house with a basic lawn and was wondering what I could do to make it look perfect. All I’ve heard so far is use fertalizer about once a month. I really need a good go-to referrence. Thanks!

Troy

Traveler asked:


I was given an estimate from a local “lawn care specialist” to put in a lawn: spreading 20 yards of top soil and planting seed over and area that is 1/10th of an acre for $800.00. Just before putting the seed down he told me he forgot to add fertilizer and hay for mulch. He insisted that at the very least I need the hay which will cost and additional $200.00 and fertilizer would be “a bit more”.

I assumed when he gave me an estimate to put a lawn over a bare already graded area, that fertilizer and mulch were included in the price. I have not paid the final half yet and want other opinions as to whether these items are typically part of an estimate.

I feel this to be similar to being told that a visiting nurse will cost $180.00 for a four hour visit that will cover an exam and dressing changes, then after she shows up be told that the sterile gauze and normal saline will be an additional $45 or the wound will just be left open!

Nicholas

Go Hokies (Orange Bowl) asked:


We are starting a lawn care business called the Turf Surfers. Any Idea on a slogan that combines these ideas would be appreciated.

Stephanie

Martin Haworth asked:


And a challenge it can be, especially when there are so many ways to make a difference to your lawn, and so little time.

It’s at this stage that you might think that starting below the surface, with grass roots lawn care, is going a bit far. After all, what with weeding and feeding; manually tugging those obstinate weeds up by hand; not to mention the week in, week out need to mow, why would you want to work on the part that no-one sees?

Well then, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that whatever you do above the surface will be offset by the poor infrastructure that you can’t see.

And by taking your grass roots lawn care seriously, the good news is that your work above will not only be easier, but it will be more effective and better sustained too!

The healthiest lawns are those that get a broad range of maintenance and this will be a beneficial effect that will improve year on year. So, it’s really two good bits of news!

So, then, why is grass roots lawn care so important? Well, the thing is that the roots are where your grass starts to ‘breathe’ (not actually, of course, that’s the leaves), because without the opportunity to move and grow, the roots of your grass will be undernourished and squeezed.

Grass roots lawn care makes this much better and there are several ways that you can undertake the sort of work that your lawn needs.

And, you know what - they can be quite fun!

Here are a few examples that you might like to try. There are others and you can research them on the internet or in any gardening or lawn care books you might have, but these are the most typical and easiest.

1. Raking

First of all, when you rake, especially in the spring and early summer, you want to be sure that you aren’t pulling too hard at the roots of the grass. The same goes for the fall as well. Using a fine rake rather than a heavy one works well too.

Because, heavy duty rakes might seem to get nasty things out of the grass better, but they aren’t particularly good for your lawn care efforts, because they will pull up the grass at the roots.

That will kill some of the live grass off and give you bare patches, where weeds and moss can invade, especially through the winter months, giving you a headache next year.

To make life easier, you can get great little machines that will help you rake gently, evenly and thoroughly They are quick and pretty cheap to buy too, especially when you realize they will last for ages. They can be set up to suit your lawn and practically ensure that you do only good to your lawn.

In fact, you will be astonished at all the garbage that does comes up! It was just sitting there clogging up your grass roots and stopping their healthy development.

2. Hollow Tine

Told you this could be fun!

This is where you get a cool bit of kit - inexpensive again, that you push into your lawn to a depth of around 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) and pull out plugs of earth and debris and dead roots. There are at least two of these ‘hollow tines’ - half inch tube sort of shapes - and often four or six.

This really helps to aerate the soil and is an excellent grass roots lawn care tactic. It’s also a lot of fun to do. In fact so much fun that you might be able to have any kids you have lying around give you a hand.

Though like anything repetitive, it can get boring after a while. So it might be worth doing a bit at a time, especially if you have a big lawn to work with.

3. Sand

If you really want to do a great grass roots lawn care job, you need to follow up the hollow tining with a brushing of sand into the little holes you’ve made. Again a cool job for kids.

It’s important to make sure that you get a good lawn sand that is recommended by your nurseryman or garden center.

4. Water, Water Everywhere!

The icing on the cake is that all the excellent work you’ve done is made whole by ensuring that the new spaces you have created get the water they need. In some countries these days there are water restrictions and you may have to rely on what you get from above - at least what you do get, will be well absorbed and not lie on the top unable to penetrate.

In those countries where water is less restricted, you may find the investment of a good watering system (surface or integrated under your lawn) worthwhile. These can be comprehensively installed for a cost which might look a little steep to start with, but after all, you want a beautiful lawn and this will prove a good grass roots lawn care investment for many years to come.

On the contrary, too much water will not do any good either, tending the roots towards rot and other damage. So, as Goldilocks might have said, ‘just enough’ is the right amount!

So, there you have it, make your lawn treatment complete by ensuring that you have a good grass roots lawn care system in place. The tips above will give you a head start.



Robin

raulkc asked:


Can anyone tell me where one can go to learn about starting a lawn care business? I have found several sources on the web but each charge for a package or course. Do we need to have a license and if so where to go to obtain one in Texas.

Alma

Michelle Bery asked:


For today’s homeowners who struggle to balance work and family life, the upkeep of your home’s lawn can seem like the last thing you want to add to your ever-growing “to do” list. Whether it be the weekly mowing during the spring, the constant watering in the summer, or the fertilizing in the fall, lawn care for those who are less than enthusiastic about it - or physically unable to complete it - can be nothing more than the burden of homeownership. Luckily, there are reputable lawn care services that - for a nominal fee - will happily release you from the bondage of lawn maintenance.

There are however, just as many disreputable businesses that offer lawn care services. It’s important to fully investigate any company in which you are interested. A quick inquiry to the Better Business Bureau will reveal if the business has had any complaints lodged against it. If you find that they are clear of complaints, follow up by getting a list of references who can be contacted for personal accounts of the company’s work.

From those reputable companies who receive appropriate references, narrow your choices by determining what companies can best perform the lawn care services you need. While some customers may just need weekly lawn care services such as mowing, others may need more comprehensive, year-round lawn care services such as fertilization, aeration, and weeding. Further, if you are in need of landscaping services, be sure to choose from those companies that are proficient in landscaping design and maintenance. Also, be sure to keep equipment in mind when evaluating particular lawn care services. While smaller companies with more fundamental equipment may be just fine for your needs, larger, more complex equipment may be required for bigger jobs.

Finally, research standard fee schedules associated with the lawn care services that you need. While it’s important to consider budgetary restrictions, you must also understand that, like anything else, you get what you pay for in many cases. It’s more important to hire providers of lawn care services that are reputable and professional then simply just cheap in price. However, by basing your research on accepted industry standards - in addition to solid references - you may find lawn care services that combine professional excellence with affordable price.



Manuel