End of mow season ??

[cleancutlawncare5382]

Being my first year I have a question about the end of mowing season. Is there a cut off date when you offer your last mow for the season? I live in Pa. and the grass has really slowed down. I have moved my customers to a 2 week schedule - just doesn't need anymore then that. Just wondering if you tell your customers "this is the last mow" and about when that might be.

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www.montgomerysqualitylawncare.com

[mark123]

Lawn care business tips

When I do my scheduling in the spring, using Gopher, what I do is set up mowing from April 1 to the week before Thanksgiving. When it gets close to the end of the season like this many call and ask me to skip their lawn but I tell them that if they continue to let me cut I'll pick up the leaves at the same time and save them money on any leaf cleaning they may want. Some call and ask me to stop altogether in October and then rethink and call when the leaves start to get deep and it ends up costing them more than the money they saved by skipping the mowing. I noticed that the customers that I have on monthly contracts don't mind me cutting when it doesn't really need it. (note to self, get everyone on monthly contracts!) I also decide to skip lawns that don't need cut and only have a few leaves. I try to leave that up to the customer though because when they are having company over or a party they want the lawn freshly mowed for the weekend and they'll call if I skip. It's rare but I love that sort of customer. Basically, leaf cleanups cover for the loss in income from mowing but each customer has their own style.

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Boughter's Lawn Care Services Mowing and Fertilizing in New Castle, PA

[Steve]

When it gets close to the end of the season like this many call and ask me to skip their lawn but I tell them that if they continue to let me cut I'll pick up the leaves at the same time and save them money on any leaf cleaning they may want.

So for customers that aren't on contract, as long as they keep wanting you to mow the lawn, they will end up having all their leaves cleaned up within the mowing price and wont have to pay a leaf clean up fee?

[mark123]

Originally Posted by Steve

So for customers that aren't on contract, as long as they keep wanting you to mow the lawn, they will end up having all their leaves cleaned up within the mowing price and wont have to pay a leaf clean up fee?

As long as there is no extra work the price is just a mowing. If I have to haul away any debris I'll charge a few extra bucks. This is mostly to discourage those that let the leaves get up to my belt line before asking me to clean up. If I pick them up as they fall it's quick and easy. If they make me wait until they're all down one lawn takes all day.

[cleancutlawncare5382]

Wish me luck; I took a little different approach. My Sept invoices go in the mail today and I announced that October will be my last mowing month.
I haven’t had one customer commit to leaf removal, so I’m thinking “no interest “. Maybe like you say that will all change when they see the lawn 2 feet deep.

I like your idea of staying on a mow schedule during the leaves falling. Just mulch them back into the lawn.

Maybe if interest develops after they start falling I will do things differently next year. I just wasn’t sure this year.

[Steve]

My Sept invoices go in the mail today and I announced that October will be my last mowing month.
I haven’t had one customer commit to leaf removal, so I’m thinking “no interest “

I would think they will definitely need this service so should this be something you need to be proactive with and call them to get them to agree to a fall cleanup? There is money in those leaves and I'd hate to see you wrap things up and leave a lot of extra services the ability to slip away.

[B-2 Lawncare]

Originally Posted by cleancutlawncare5382

Wish me luck; I took a little different approach. My Sept invoices go in the mail today and I announced that October will be my last mowing month.
I haven’t had one customer commit to leaf removal, so I’m thinking “no interest “. Maybe like you say that will all change when they see the lawn 2 feet deep.

I like your idea of staying on a mow schedule during the leaves falling. Just mulch them back into the lawn.

Maybe if interest develops after they start falling I will do things differently next year. I just wasn’t sure this year.

I love it when my customers let the leaves get deep. I charge per load, that's per load with the vac. the vac wasn't cheap and people are will to pay $$$$ to have it done. The way i see it this is my last big opportunity to makes some cash be-four winter.

[jasonw]

My mower usually picks up all the leafs and by the time the season is over the trees are bare. Works out for everyone as I really dont like cleaning leafs up, especially if they let there dog crap on them.

[cleancutlawncare5382]

Yeah it seems two ways to take care of those leaves and make money at the same time.
1. Continue to mow until the leaves are done falling and mulch them back into the soil. Collecting mowing rates even that the grass has slowed way down.
2. Stop mowing when the grass stops growing and collect on a one time leaf pickup.

I think option #1 will be my direction next year. Live and learn.

[B-2 Lawncare]

Originally Posted by cleancutlawncare5382

Yeah it seems two ways to take care of those leaves and make money at the same time.
1. Continue to mow until the leaves are done falling and mulch them back into the soil. Collecting mowing rates even that the grass has slowed way down.
2. Stop mowing when the grass stops growing and collect on a one time leaf pickup.

I think option #1 will be my direction next year. Live and learn.

Yep that works if you only want to work for your regular clients in the fall. I want to make some money, so for me the vac works. And as far as the dog crap goes i charge extra for clean up of equipment, and people are willing to pay it.