I wonder

[picframer]

What qualifies one in our trade as a lawn expert..... Back in mid March lady contacts me to look at their lawn, I did, I understand it's early in the season but I could see it looked to be 40% weeds and rough would be a gross understatement. Anyhow they built the house late last year and had contacted us to landscape, we couldn't as I was booked at the time into November, wanted me to suggest another company, company policy is we don't. Anyhow I said we would spray it in in mid April, gave her a quote and she accepted. For my first spray I doubles everything, we can do this without hurting when using Organics, said I would be back in mid to late May to mow and overseed. Went back, initial spray had done nothing, grass was brown still 90% and full of weeds, I suggested she call the company that did the work and have them out, I showed here there was next to no top soil and new sod may have a weed or to but hers was mainly weeds and I could tell it was never rolled, she showed me the quote and it was to be 6" top soil and premium sod, No way I said. Anyhow I double sprayed again and overseeded after mowing. She contacted me today, the company that laid it will not honor their three year guarantee, I saw the lawn tonight, it's brown, very little green. She is taking legal action as it's 60,000 sq/ft, she wants a quote to remove the sod and do it right which I can do as we have special buckets on the excavators for this job and it's easy. Now her lawyer calls me tonight and they are going to call me as an expert in small claims court, I said I am no expert, I turn lawns around but I told her from day one it wasn't done per her contract, he said we are calling you as an expert anyhow, so I gave him my background and he says great, we will see you in court and thank you. I am sitting here tonight, I know my stuff but I don;t have any certification but I know someone who is a 30 year family friend and the grounds keeper for the city that is, I am going to have her take a look with me and take the stand along with me as she is a certified Horticulturist. I'm wondering however other than this certification, what makes one an expert?

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Andy
Halifax, Nova Scotia

[swstout]

Lawn care business tips

I don’t know what the requirements are to be an “expert” in Canada, but, here you will be recognized as an “expert” if you blindly adhere too and propagandize GLOBAL WARMING, greenhouse gasses, and support Cap and Trade. Last week, I went to a County seminar on organic lawn care. There, to my amazement, I learned that manure based top dressing increased the emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere (among other things). The “expert” presenting the seminar, was well qualified. He was from the Law Department from Coker College. Oh yea, his home had 3.8 acres of lawn but he had to admit that he outsourced the lawn care. The seminar was 3 hours long and 2-½ hours of it was on Global Warming! I learned that I should use electric lawn mowers, edgers and weed whackers. That I should use mechanical detaching and collect and “properly" dispose of the recovered thatch and lawn clippings because the decomposition would add to greenhouse gas production. I spent $50.00 for the seminar and for attending, I was placed on the County’s approved organic lawn care suppliers. Oh Yea, I also got a copy of “An Incontinent Truth.” So, I guess I’m now an “expert!” Steve

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[Steve]

That is a very good question!

I showed here there was next to no top soil and new sod may have a weed or to but hers was mainly weeds and I could tell it was never rolled, she showed me the quote and it was to be 6" top soil and premium sod, No way I said.

I would think if you work in the field for a number of years, you are going to be an expert in that field.

When we are talking about being able to see if 6 inches of topsoil had been added, this shouldn't be to taxing of a question and not a tough one for you to explain your answer.

It will be fascinating to hear how all this progresses. I am sure the home owners are happy to have your services both for their lawn and for the courtroom.

Keep us posted as to how this goes because most people are fearful of the courtroom and dont get much of a chance to see how it works.

[picframer]

Had a long conversation with the owner of our Organic Soil company, we are a pretty big client of theirs and he really knows his stuff with 30+ years in the Organic Soil Industry, his company is considered the best, next I called the owners son of our sod supplier, they are the largest in Atlantic Canada and he too is super and really knows their stuff, both made pretty much the same comment, Andy you are one of the fastest growing companies around with top of the line equipment and we have seen your work, your growth is because of the quality of your work and your staff. You do not want to be drawn into this problem, this potential client should hire a Horticulturist to inspect the lawn condition and present a report which in turn can be used in court.

I knew this in the back of my mind last night after posting this. A court looks for education in the field, I am pretty much self taught in lawn care, sure I can provide a hundred outstanding references on how we turned the clients lawn around but I don't really want my name or my company name drawn into this.