Overgrown Lawns

[Billy Goat]

How do you tackle a overgrown lawn. Iam sure I will get calls to quote a overgrown lawn. Iam mainly referring to customers who only need one time service, the lawn is overgrown and out of control. How do you start to quote a job like that. I seen jobs done before and they look like crap. I thought it is not good to cut over 1/3 the length of the blade of grass. How would a profesional handle this and try to make their lawn look nice as possible so you are not labeled as a butcher and kill whats left because you scalped the lawn.

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Lawn care business tips

Theres really not much you can do. These types of jobs are done because the city is about to fine them. Its a fire hazard. Its not meant to look good. If that was the goal there wouldve been maintenance done. I do 5-6 of these a year. The way I handle it is weed wack a zig zag through it. Then I mow with the deck in travel position. I then put it on the highest setting. You would be better off with a brush cutter mower. I estimate how many bi weekly mowings they missed and times the price like that. If it hasnt been mowed in 3 months thats 6xs the normal price.

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[willshome]

What SECTLANDSCAPING said but I use a walk behind trimmer

[kslawn]

Originally Posted by Billy Goat

How do you tackle a overgrown lawn. Iam sure I will get calls to quote a overgrown lawn. Iam mainly referring to customers who only need one time service, the lawn is overgrown and out of control. How do you start to quote a job like that. I seen jobs done before and they look like crap. I thought it is not good to cut over 1/3 the length of the blade of grass. How would a profesional handle this and try to make their lawn look nice as possible so you are not labeled as a butcher and kill whats left because you scalped the lawn.

I have about 5-6 cabin lawns that I do through out the season, (once a month) & I charged them an hourly rate to cut them the first time,& that gave me an Idea of where I should be at price wise each time I cut..but I do these same lawns all season, so If your doing different lawns all the time then I would just charge an hourly/man hour rate for all of them..you would have to in most cases still give an overall bid total,but try & be within 20-30 $ one way or the other with the bid & you should do fine...hope this helps!

[stevef1201]

I figure that the lawn should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches, and growth rate of 1/2 inch per week. so a lawn that is 12 inches long has not been cut in 18 to 20 weeks. times the usual price per cut. The most recent one that comes to mind is a mobile home park lot that would be 10 bucks. times 20 weeks. 200 bucks to mow, trim and pickup the clippings. I cut as high as I can, then slowly lower the cut to 3 inches.

Now I am not sure that this is a good way to do it, I have been turned down on each one I have bid. I really didn't want them, as they tear up my machine, wast my blades, and generally are a pain in the a** to do.

[kslawn]

mobile home park lawns are generally a lot smaller for sure & would definitly require you raking up & taking the clippings,of which you would charge for too.I only have a few small lawns I do, but I have a bunton ztr w/vac & blower attachments so It makes for easier cleanup of lawns,ie; knock it down firs then vac....

[Steve]

figure that the lawn should be about 2 1/2 to 3 inches, and growth rate of 1/2 inch per week. so a lawn that is 12 inches long has not been cut in 18 to 20 weeks. times the usual price per cut. The most recent one that comes to mind is a mobile home park lot that would be 10 bucks. times 20 weeks. 200 bucks to mow, trim and pickup the clippings. I cut as high as I can, then slowly lower the cut to 3 inches.

How much longer do you feel it would take you to mow such a lawn?

[PR-Fect]

Originally Posted by Billy Goat

How would a profesional handle this and try to make their lawn look nice as possible so you are not labeled as a butcher and kill whats left because you scalped the lawn.

How a professional would do it, is try and stay as close to the 1/3 rule as possible. 1/3 of 12 is 4 inches. If you cut 4 inches off a 12 inch lawn the municapality will not find the property owner. You then go back 5 days latter a cut 1/3 of the 9.5 inch lawn. and then go back 5 days latter and cut 2.5 inches off the 6.5 inch lawn. Chargeing for a doubble mow each time or twice your normal rate. In just under 3 weeks you can have the lawn looking pretty good. It will not be hard on your machine, it will not be hard on the turff, and you will be getting a fair price for you expertice.