How Long Should It Take?

[GREENER CUT LAWNCARE LLC.]

I have found a lot of information on rates; but can not seem to find anything on how long it should take to do things. 1.LAYING MULCH 2.LEAF CLEAN UP 3.PUTTING SOIL IN FLOWER BEDS 4.ETC. If anyone can help with this; it would be greatly appreciated.

[cruzgardening]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by GREENER CUT LAWNCARE LLC. I have found a lot of information on rates; but can not seem to find anything on how long it should take to do things. 1.LAYING MULCH 2.LEAF CLEAN UP 3.PUTTING SOIL IN FLOWER BEDS 4.ETC. If anyone can help with this; it would be greatly appreciated. i can only speak on what i have done 1.Laying mulch - 1cb yd takes about 30 minutes if you have to unload with help double that if you are doing it alone. 2. Adding soil takes a bit longer 1hr for 1cb yd sicne you need to mix it in some what, wthis is with help, longer if you're alone. i dont do leaf clean ups sorry

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by GREENER CUT LAWNCARE LLC.

I have found a lot of information on rates; but can not seem to find anything on how long it should take to do things.

1.LAYING MULCH
2.LEAF CLEAN UP
3.PUTTING SOIL IN FLOWER BEDS
4.ETC.
If anyone can help with this; it would be greatly appreciated.

Laying Mulch
I don't pick up a dump of it, I buy the bags and charge the customer.
It's pretty simple. Just stab open the bag and poor a nice line and even it out by grabbing a handful each time. Don't roll the mulch as you level it out - it will become mixed with the old crap and look bad.

I can't give you a duration, but it's fast and worth doing.


Leaf Cleanup
I try to avoid this during the spring, as the leafs are wet and wont lift with a blower when trying to shoot them out of flower beds. You'll need to get in there with a rake or your hands.

Though, if you don't have a tractor to pick up the leaves, I wouldn't advertise this service if you only have a bagger walk behind mower. It'll take a very long time.

*If you have a tractor with a bagging feature, you can eat up the leaves very fast. Jobs don't take that long (where I live) e.g; 45 relaxing minutes per 6000 sqft.

If you want to use a walk behind mower, raise your wheels to the max setting. Push your mower so only the back tires are touching the ground and you will "super mulch" the hell out the leaves. Do one pass, then put the bag on your lawn mower and do the lawn over again - this time picking up the leaves. The leaves with be mulched/compact and you wont need to worry about wasting so many garbage bags.

Putting Soil In Flower Beds
It's fairly simple and possibly easier than laying mulch - if you have the right tool for the job (size depending) it wont take very long. The most difficult part is lugging the bags of soil from your vehicle to the job. The rest is simple.



Everything but the Leaf Removal is very fast. It's a matter of taking the soil/mulch and placing it.


If you give us an idea of what projects you may have coming up, I can better judge the time it will take you.

[brian'slawncare]

If you want to use a walk behind mower, raise your wheels to the max setting. Push your mower so only the back tires are touching the ground and you will "super mulch" the hell out the leaves. Do one pass, then put the bag on your lawn mower and do the lawn over again - this time picking up the leaves. The leaves with be mulched/compact and you wont need to worry about wasting so many garbage bags.

I'll have to try that some time. Although I'll have to dig my old push mower out of the garage. This thing is ancient....older than me (14) and it has been passed down from my grandpa -> my dad (his first mower) -> me

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by brian'slawncare

it has been passed down from my grandpa -> my dad (his first mower) -> me

LOL.

[Steve]

Laying Mulch
I don't pick up a dump of it, I buy the bags and charge the customer.

What's your view on why you prefer bags instead of in larger quantities?

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Steve

What's your view on why you prefer bags instead of in larger quantities?

I find it easier to use;

I don't need a wheelbarrow

I also can prepare a project ahead of time and not worry about the weather. The bags can be stacked ANYWHERE without a customer worrying about a mess.

It takes longer to move around a mound of dirt, then it is to organize several bags across a project.

Receipts allow me to see exactly what was used, which is good for tracking how many bags you may need next year.

I am also able to return unused product/material

I am able to show a customer the receipt without him/her feeling ripped off by pulling a materials charge out of my arse.

$1.25 per bag (says the receipt) + delivery fee + hourly wage = simple.




MORE REASONS;


You can stock bags for later use over long periods of time. You don't leave a mess in the truck, or trailer.

You don't require an expensive dumper which is only necessary to own to "wow" customers or create your own high price.

[GREENER CUT LAWNCARE LLC.]

I am trying too figure for a job that consists of three beds.

1.18'x6' with 2 bushes mid size

2.25'x2'

3.18'x5' with two dead rose stumps to be removed

The bed are pretty much non existent from lack of care. The customer would like raised beds with a couple shrubs and bulbs planted.

[Steve]

Did you use the mulch calculator located here to figure out how much mulch you will need?

[JP Landscaping]

I calculated about 27 sq feet. which comes to about .27 yards of mulch. In other words about 1/4 yard. For me this is too small of a quantity to go out and get bulk mulch. If I were you I would get it in bags and it will be easy to spread.

I figure about 1 labor hour per yard of mulch to unload and spread. so you could charge 1/4 times your hourly rate to figure out the mulch plus delivery plus cost of the mulch.

on soil, for me its about the same so I charge the same. In your case I would also just get bags of topsoil instead of bulk since it is a small area.

This is what I would charge:

mulch: .25 X $65(per yard) = 16.25
soil: .3 X $55(per yard)= 16.50
delivery = 30
Tear out = 30
Total 92.75 plus tax