The Heat:
We have had 83 over 100 degree days this year and less than 5 inches of rain. The worst drought on record by far. I guess I picked the wrong time to start a business? It has still been fun learning everything, but depressingly hot. Customers can now only water once a week and people's lawns are awful. I used to enjoy working on peoples lawn and then look at the finished outcome and be proud of what it looks like, but now there is nothing to mow anymore. I go every 2 - 3 weeks and I can't even see where I last mowed. Customers are moving (and I'm offering it to customers as well) to every 3 weeks or once a month or even those who say I'll call you when it needs it.
The Shift:
So this has caused me to move in a new direction. I don't know about you guys, but I can get very comfortable especially with mowing and to be honest I really don't enjoy mowing. I like doing gardening more than anything and enjoy learning more on landscaping. I have so much more to learn though. The drought has caused me to think about what is yet to come as they are saying this drought is going to continue into next year. So I'm trying to be optomistic and see is as a way to learn more things. I am now approaching my customers and telling them that I can do projects for them. I still go every 2 weeks, charge them the same amount and spend the same amount of time, but doing other projects... The problem is I'm not experienced in a lot of different things and I want to do things right and not a half-*&*)& job.
The Future:
So what is the future of Austin? Do we all move to pea gravel yards? Soding is going to be a thing of the past as we can't water enough to keep grass alive. St. Augustine grass is screwed, Bermuda is dormant and Zoysia is struggling. Maybe Buffalo Grass will be the answer.
Anyway, sorry about the rambling. As I'm typing this I just received another call from customer suspending service as there is no grass and it has been 3 weeks since I mowed hers. Crazy depressing, but hopefully it can only move up from here. :-)
Take care,
Matt
We have had 83 over 100 degree days this year and less than 5 inches of rain. The worst drought on record by far. I guess I picked the wrong time to start a business? It has still been fun learning everything, but depressingly hot. Customers can now only water once a week and people's lawns are awful. I used to enjoy working on peoples lawn and then look at the finished outcome and be proud of what it looks like, but now there is nothing to mow anymore. I go every 2 - 3 weeks and I can't even see where I last mowed. Customers are moving (and I'm offering it to customers as well) to every 3 weeks or once a month or even those who say I'll call you when it needs it.
The Shift:
So this has caused me to move in a new direction. I don't know about you guys, but I can get very comfortable especially with mowing and to be honest I really don't enjoy mowing. I like doing gardening more than anything and enjoy learning more on landscaping. I have so much more to learn though. The drought has caused me to think about what is yet to come as they are saying this drought is going to continue into next year. So I'm trying to be optomistic and see is as a way to learn more things. I am now approaching my customers and telling them that I can do projects for them. I still go every 2 weeks, charge them the same amount and spend the same amount of time, but doing other projects... The problem is I'm not experienced in a lot of different things and I want to do things right and not a half-*&*)& job.
The Future:
So what is the future of Austin? Do we all move to pea gravel yards? Soding is going to be a thing of the past as we can't water enough to keep grass alive. St. Augustine grass is screwed, Bermuda is dormant and Zoysia is struggling. Maybe Buffalo Grass will be the answer.
Anyway, sorry about the rambling. As I'm typing this I just received another call from customer suspending service as there is no grass and it has been 3 weeks since I mowed hers. Crazy depressing, but hopefully it can only move up from here. :-)
Take care,
Matt
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