To bag or not to bag

[CHEESE2009]

I bag up until mid June. This is so that the grass growth slows down and I can keep up with it. People tend to over fertilize in the Spring because they think throwing down seed and 10 tons of fertilizer should create instant results.

[rockymtnnut]

Lawn care business tips

make it so cost prohibitive that they never want to bag. it's a losing proposition for you especially if your schedule is full. when you're backing you're not taking care of your customers on the other end. but if they really want me to bag I will give them exactly what they want.

[LawnBoy0311]

If they really insist on it being bagged, I will. I try to stear them in the direction I want first though. If they ask, I will tell them I don't. If they say they want it bagged, then I will do it. The customer is always right. No sense in arguing or hiking rates up just because they want it bagged. BUT, there is nothing that says you have to take that customer on next year!

Charge accordingly. Jacking rates up just because they want something will only give you a bad name.

[rockymtnnut]

Originally Posted by LawnBoy0311

If they really insist on it being bagged, I will. I try to stear them in the direction I want first though. If they ask, I will tell them I don't. If they say they want it bagged, then I will do it. The customer is always right. No sense in arguing or hiking rates up just because they want it bagged. BUT, there is nothing that says you have to take that customer on next year!

Charge accordingly. Jacking rates up just because they want something will only give you a bad name.

There is a considerable amount of extra work in bagging. So how will charging extra for extra work give me a bad name? I dont work for free and no.one else should either.

[LawnBoy0311]

Originally Posted by rockymtnnut

make it so cost prohibitive that they never want to bag. it's a losing proposition for you especially if your schedule is full. when you're backing you're not taking care of your customers on the other end. but if they really want me to bag I will give them exactly what they want.

Didn't you say this?

[xandrew245x]

Charge for what ever time it would take you to empty your bags out and then disposal of the grass, I wouldn't charge them an outrageous price just because they want it bagged.

One of my new clients wanted it bagged, but I told her I didn't have a bagger and she was okay with it, she just wants me to keep the grass out of her flowerbeds.

[ratchetmaster2]

Originally Posted by Sprinkler Buddy

I think it depends on the equipment used and the individual who's running it whether the clippings need to be bagged.

I never bag the clippings, it doesn't matter how bad the yard is if you have the right equipment and know how to use it. It's much quicker to mulch it up than it is to pick it up. :-) I have a few bi-weekly hay fields, they always look great when I leave, without picking up a single blade of grass. :-)

I agree whole-heartedly.

If you know what you're doing, you should never have to bag it. I haven't used the bag on my mower in years. I mulch up the clippings, and if the clippings are thick, then I use my blower and spread them around the yard.

I used to bag everything, but I got sick of that really quickly. I always mow at 3inches or above, so that's probably half of the battle right there.
Then, I have a really good mower with a sharp blade, so it does an excellent job mulching.
Then of course, the blower does the remaining work, if there is any.

Only like 20% of the customers even bring it up. I just tell them honestly, I don't do it, because (tons of reasons) and it would cost less.
It costing less is usually enough for them.