Lawn Service Client Perspective - New Poster

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

Originally Posted by Smitty911 So to get this correct, Once a week as a minimum and adjust the height so that only the top 1/3rd is cut, and water long enough once a week to get a 1" accumulation. I guess it would have been easier to ask how to fix my lawn and leave the guy cutting my grass out of it. Live and learn. Smitth Thats about right. I'm sure you cut the grass to short before and seen it turn brown? Another suggestion is to send out a soil sample to be tested. You might have to much or to less of something in the soil. Originally Posted by Smitty911 's what I'd like to do. Replace Sprinkler systems to address the over spray concern, remove tree roots that are on the surface, bring in some top soil to even the landscape, put down sod or seed your choice. It will cost about X,XXX.XX when did you want me to start." That is what I'm looking for in a lawn care professional. The guys who know how to diagnose and treat turf damage are far and few between. You need a arborist not a lawn guy. Your climate is part of the problem too. You would really need someone in your region that has experience with your types of grass. Thats what I meant about price. I wasnt saying you were cheap but that the lawn guy might not know these things. When you start dealing with the pricier companies they have irrigation specialist, arborist, and pest control people to address these problems.

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[dougcaskey]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by Smitty911 Doug, I didn't slam anyone that added valuable information, I actually thanked them. For $20.00 he may not, but as a professional, wouldn't you want to take care of someones yard as it reflects on your quality of service? Wouldn't you also make sure that the persons yard is brought up to "your" standards? Wouldn't you also make suggestions and cost to allow for the home owner to have a nice yard. I'm not the professional, I don't know what it would take or the cost involved. Am I willing to pay for a nice Front Yard, certainly if I get value for the money. Thanks for your response. Smitty YES ! YES ! & Yes!! I always give the best service and advice that I can, being a quality service provider is what keeps new customers calling and the current customers happy....In fact,if they need something done that I can't offer, I have many contacts and I make it happen... I think you need a breath of fresh air, search out another service provider that can help you out with everything you need done, The $20 guy is not going to get you there... Good luck and I hope you manage to find someone that can get your lawn in shape for you....

[Smitty911]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

Thats about right. I'm sure you cut the grass to short before and seen it turn brown?

Another suggestion is to send out a soil sample to be tested. You might have to much or to less of something in the soil.



The guys who know how to diagnose and treat turf damage are far and few between. You need a arborist not a lawn guy. Your climate is part of the problem too. You would really need someone in your region that has experience with your types of grass.

Thats what I meant about price. I wasnt saying you were cheap but that the lawn guy might not know these things. When you start dealing with the pricier companies they have irrigation specialist, arborist, and pest control people to address these problems.

Thanks, I'll grab the Yellow Pages and look for an Arborist. They can handle the cities tree in my front yard and deal with the lawn issue. Good suggestion.

Thanks,

Smitty

[Smitty911]

Originally Posted by dougcaskey

YES ! YES ! & Yes!!

I always give the best service and advice that I can, being a quality service provider is what keeps new customers calling and the current customers happy....In fact,if they need something done that I can't offer, I have many contacts and I make it happen...

I think you need a breath of fresh air, search out another service provider that can help you out with everything you need done, The $20 guy is not going to get you there...

Good luck and I hope you manage to find someone that can get your lawn in shape for you....

I think it time to call in a real professional to have them take a look at the issue and make recommendation.

I was working under the assumption that a Lawn Care Professional (this is what his card says) would be able to improve the lawns condition.

Live and learn,

Smitty

[Smitty911]

Originally Posted by CHEESE2009

I'm taking a step back, and putting myself in the shoes of a client, and service provider.

It's actually very interesting when both sides can justify their ways, but it's not too great if we can't find a solution.

Clients POV
I believe that the service provider shouldn't have accepted the job if he is not capable of taking full responsibility of the lawn, even by providing a 'heads up' to any problems with the lawn.

Regardless if he is only paid to mow and nothing more, the service provider should at least point out any noticeable lawn flaws to the client; If the lawn dies, his current service wouldn't be required: lose-lose situation.

Service Provider POV
We do our best to make the most amount of money for our time; however, we will often accept mediocre work to fill up our schedules, and losing one of these jobs isn't a big deal to us.

If we have 99 clients who all pay the premium cost, that 100th client that pays less will not be taken very seriously.

The same goes for complaints; if 99 clients are satisfied while 1 client is always frustrated with our service... Foresight will tell us not to go out of our way to fix what statistically isn't our problem.

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It's an annoying situation, but in the case like this, the amount of money paid to the service provider reflects the priority of the client. It's not "right", but it's business.

I personally wish I could accept any/all jobs big or small, but it's amazing how much money a service provider can miss out on by not focusing on better work only.



If a client wants me to mow their lawn for a low cost, it can be done, but there are other people willing to pay more for the same amount of work, and I'm doing my best to avoid other issues that may arise:

Nothing is worse than a client who not only pays less, but also has impossible expectations; I had a client who's lawn could take me 8 minutes to properly maintain, but she had a habit of jumping in front of my lawn mower every second to point something out. Every time I went to maintain her lawn, I was there for 1-2 hours every week. This client was also paying the right amount, but I was actually losing money because of her personality.


It's not that you are a bad guy or wont pay more, we are just afraid of taking chances and accepting low paying work that could end up demoralizing us for the entire season. All it takes is one client to put us in a bad mood.


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In a nutshell, finding a service provider that can work around your needs is all trial and error. You may want to look into the newer companies, as they wont have any standards yet.... you can probably even heckle them on the price.

You might be switching to a new company every year, but that's because we all become more picky the larger we get. I have nothing against people trying to save money.

Thanks for helping put this in perspective. My intent was not to start a fight or cause bad feelings. I have a problem lawn currently and I want it fixed. I should have left out that someone was mowing my grass. In hindsite, it seem irrelevant.

From a Clients view, I want a nice yard, if I don't know what it takes to acheive than I need to be educated by the person servicing my lawn. I need suggestions on what I can do to correct the things within my power and the LSP should correct the things within his power. Working together to get a health greenn lawn being the goal of both. It will probably take a combination of time and money on both persons parts to reach the stated goal.

From a LCP view, you don't want to work for cheap, me either. A hint would be to ask what the goals for the lawn are, you'll find out real quick what the client is thinking, do they want Golf Course Putting Green lawns or just keep it from getting a City Ticket. Either way you are in a better position to determine price and effort.

Just a thought,

Smitty

[Smitty911]

If I were to start a new lawn, how much dirt should be removed and replaced with Top soil and than either seeded or sod laid out.

or Kill everything in the dirt first?

Thanks

Smitty

[Grass Doctor]

Originally Posted by Smitty911

If I were to start a new lawn, how much dirt should be removed and replaced with Top soil and than either seeded or sod laid out.

or Kill everything in the dirt first?

Thanks

Smitty

how you doing smitty911. grass doctor here i will like to see some pix of ur actual lawn that will help us to give you more input

[CHEESE2009]

Originally Posted by Smitty911

If I were to start a new lawn, how much dirt should be removed and replaced with Top soil and than either seeded or sod laid out.

or Kill everything in the dirt first?

Thanks

Smitty

If there is already a lawn in really bad shape, you can use a tiller to rip it up.

You will most likely be able to reuse the soil, but should be adding more.

To level the soil out, you can use a flat rake upside down.

Apply a hefty amount of seed, fertilize, and water.

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It's a big job.

[dougcaskey]

Originally Posted by Smitty911

If I were to start a new lawn, how much dirt should be removed and replaced with Top soil and than either seeded or sod laid out.

or Kill everything in the dirt first?

Thanks

Smitty

There are several ways to attack your problem but quite a few factors as well, I believe I read that you have exposed tree roots ? if so they would need covered with topsoil...Can you show some photos ? it would help to see the area and where it is located....

[Smitty911]

Sorry for the delay, Its dark when I get home and dark when I leave for work. I'll get photos up tomorrow after I get back from church.

Thanks for the help.

Smitty