<![CDATA[GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum]]> http://www.gopherforum.com The largest collection of FREE Lawn care and Landscaping business marketing material. Home of the GopherHaul lawn care business show. en Sat, 18 May 2013 10:41:19 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.gopherforum.com/images/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[GopherHaul Landscaping & Lawn Care Business Marketing Forum]]> http://www.gopherforum.com no-compete agreement http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18704&goto=newpost Sat, 18 May 2013 05:45:03 GMT Does anyone make employees sign some kind of no- compete agreement to keep employees you train from going out and trying to set up shop in your town?... Does anyone make employees sign some kind of no- compete agreement to keep employees you train from going out and trying to set up shop in your town? I think I am going to have to start doing this. Dont get me wrong I am not afraid of competition, but I have had a couple idiots over the years work for me 2 weeks and think they can do it on there own. I find it to be a huge waste of my time. I just found out this morning that the idiot I just fired thinks hes gonna start up his own service. The dealer I buy my mowers and other stuff from was telling me about it. Apparently he thinks I work too hard and too much... and he thinks it will be easier on his own haha. ]]> Lawn Care Employees Discussions CDLAWNCARE http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18704 trailer leaf vac. http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18703&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 15:44:23 GMT I want to build a decent little leaf vac for my small 5x8 snowpro trailer. I will build a box that I can shoot the leaves into but my issue lies with... I want to build a decent little leaf vac for my small 5x8 snowpro trailer. I will build a box that I can shoot the leaves into but my issue lies with the blower unit itself. Where can you buy these individualy? I want one I can attach to my tong on my trailer. Probably 8-10 inch. I see a few on CL here and there but they are already attached to collection boxes that you would pull with your mower. I want to blow them to this or move it around and vac up the leaves. What size motor and blower should I be looking for? ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell t-10yrs2retire http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18703 <![CDATA[It's FRIDAY!!!]]> http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18702&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 10:18:50 GMT How I will feel finishing my last job of the day. Image: http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m25/mad_insane/breezeBoom_zps14537c40.png ... How I will feel finishing my last job of the day.

]]> General Talk CHEESE2009 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18702 Moss in grass in the north west http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18701&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 04:19:38 GMT Noticing its a common problem around where I live in the shaded pine tree filled areas, any tips on battling the moss or how to prevent it? Thanks Noticing its a common problem around where I live in the shaded pine tree filled areas, any tips on battling the moss or how to prevent it? Thanks ]]> Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation tk4454 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18701 Trimmer Line http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18700&goto=newpost Fri, 17 May 2013 00:56:48 GMT I am going though trimmer line like crazy and have been buying it a Lowe's and Home Depot. Anyone know of the best place on line that I can get a great price and product on line? I have been looking but before I buy I would like input from some of you. I use 95 and use it for commercial edging and trimming. ]]> Outdoor Power Equipment Discussion, Repairs, Buy or Sell Shark1611 http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18700 Code violations http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18699&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 17:11:57 GMT This past weekend I rented a excavator for land clearing and at on of the property's I hit a pipe. ( lines weren't marked but the pipe should not be by a tree stump) anyway it broke it in three places I spent the better part of my day fixing the the first two only to turn the water on and find out it is broke in a third spot and in digging up the third spot a hit a drain from a dithch that was several yards away.

Why pipes wernt mark

Because it is against coded to have pipes above 2ft in the ground (I only went a foot in the pipe was caught in the tree stump)

It is also against coded to have the pipe 5ft within a live tree the house is 3 years old the tree was 30 so the contractor put the pipe through the root ball

It is also against cod 603.2 to have a fresh water pipe within 5ft of a sewer

After fixing the third section I found out that this pipe crosses a leech field against section 603.2.1 so now I am suing the contractor for lost time and wages . They violated the entire chapter six and part of 7 in the code book ]]> General Talk http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18699 Undercutters http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18696&goto=newpost Thu, 16 May 2013 01:17:51 GMT Image: https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/460076_382095041909174_160271444_o.jpg How do you deal with guys like these? Just...


How do you deal with guys like these? Just wait until they go away?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg under.jpg (85.9 KB)
]]> jhamilton60@yahoo.com http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18696 1st video. http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18695&goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 22:52:18 GMT stuff ive done 2013 and 2012:D:D:D:D:D:D

]]> Show Off - Picture Post - Photo Gallery Grass Doctor http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18695 Flower bed cultivation price http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18694&goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 21:41:59 GMT I charge a client $25 for a basic lawn cut, she asked me to give her a price for cultivation of her flower beds the size is 30 feet by 7 feet. I... I charge a client $25 for a basic lawn cut, she asked me to give her a price for cultivation of her flower beds the size is 30 feet by 7 feet. I dont know how much to charge her on top of the $25 for lets say cultivation every 2 weeks? ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job Emar http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18694 help pricing sod job http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18693&goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 18:03:52 GMT Ok thanks to this forum I pretty much have my overseeding pricing down. But now I have a customer that wants an estimate on both overseeding and... Ok thanks to this forum I pretty much have my overseeding pricing down. But now I have a customer that wants an estimate on both overseeding and laying down sod. The cost of materials are what they and I give them a 15% mark up.

What I don't know how to price is the labor, tilling, getting ground to desired depth, dropping top soil, starter fert, laying the turf, etc on a small 800 sq ft front yard.


Your help will be greatly appreciated cause my client wants a quote ASAP. ]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job Jayls http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18693 Bi-weekly question http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18692&goto=newpost Wed, 15 May 2013 15:58:32 GMT Hey guys. I'm new and have a new guy question. I've noticed a couple of times in discussions that bi-weekly mows have been "quoted" cheaper on a per-week basis than weekly mows. I was just curious as to the reasoning behind this? I understand that there would be some savings to the LCO in making fewer trips to the site, or perhaps some other savings I haven't thought of (once again, new guy). Aside from benefits to the lawn itself, I was just wondering what the incentive is to the customer to be on a weekly schedule (preferred by the LCO, it appears) versus a bi-weekly schedule if it is cheaper per week for the customer to go bi-weekly? Thanks! ]]> Starting a lawn care business. schnide http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18692 Mulching http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18691&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 19:17:58 GMT question - i cut yards for hud, they want them done every 12 days. basically i am cutting from 9" blades of grass down to 3". problem is, they do not want to see grass clippings. is this too much to mulch? other problem i have is there is no reasonable place to get rid of the grass clippings. open for suggestions

thanks ]]> Lawn Maintenance / Lawn Renovation jeffcs http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18691 Things are looking promising! http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18687&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 14:28:49 GMT I officially opened for business about 4 weeks ago with my only advertising being a website , passing out a few business cards and a few Craigslist... I officially opened for business about 4 weeks ago with my only advertising being a website , passing out a few business cards and a few Craigslist ads and so far so good,I have 7 properties signed up as clients and I only had 2 bids refused.

One refusal was a little old lady that did nothing but complain about her last service provider she had for 17 years. I gave her a reasonable price of 35bi-weekly she wanted it done for 20, not happening lady good ridings.

The second was a guy that lived about a 30 minute drive away from the house he wants cut. It's his 90 year old mother inlaws house and he's tired of making the drive to do it his self. He said he wants it cut about "3times a month or as needed." I told him I do weekly or bi-weekly and the price would be at 40 or 35. The guy gets mad and says he has an acre of grass on his property that he gets cut for 30 (yeah right, I'm supposed to believe that BS)

So in closing 7 properties gained and I'm getting steady calls 2 refuse and by the sounds of them Im glad the refused. ]]> Introduce Yourself Jayls http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18687 New Beginner here starting up lawn care from scratch no exp. http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18686&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 05:05:13 GMT I am starting up my own business in lawn care. Due to I am tired of working long hours for the "man". I want to start my own business. So I am thinking this is best route for me to take. I have no experience. Would like some help. I plan on buying a ride behind mower and a blower. I already have a push mower and a weed eater. Having 500 business cards made up and 1000 door hangers from a site I found on Google plus 2 magnetic signs for my truck. This is the website. http://www.doorhangersetc.com/Guempels_Large.jpg I's this a good start for now? I am located st Louis mo. Also when and if I do land any customers. Having trouble figuring out what to charger per lawn. I'm thinking $20-$50 per lawn which would include. Grass cutting, trimming, edging, and blowing. When should I ask for payment? Should I ask up front are after job is completed any help be much appreciated.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Guempels_Large.jpg (106.1 KB)
]]> Starting a lawn care business. LawnCareProfessional http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18686 Court houses.... http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18685&goto=newpost Tue, 14 May 2013 04:42:06 GMT A co-worker of my father just got this house in a settlement. The previous owner (ex wife) did not mow it at all from December until this week when I... A co-worker of my father just got this house in a settlement. The previous owner (ex wife) did not mow it at all from December until this week when I got the job. He called me kinda frantic as the city was going to fine him in 6 days if it wasn't mowed. So I said I'd take care of it. I charged him $75 just because it was a small lot and easy to do. It only took about 35 minutes with my Stihl Kombi Motor and a Toro SR4. After I cut everything down, I cut it a little more with the Toro ZTR. I'm hesitant on taking jobs like this, because I'm 19, work on the county squad part time, and have so many clients, I'd almost give them to other companies. I'm working my butt off, while keeping the quality better than the other companies, which is surprising. But anyways, here's the pictures. What would you have charged?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 603595_453564448071172_167937381_n.jpg (131.4 KB)
File Type: jpg 946736_453564881404462_687030341_n.jpg (148.8 KB)
]]> Online Lawn Care Estimator - Help me bid this job SouthallMowing http://www.gopherforum.com/showthread.php?t=18685