aerating help

I had a customer ask today about aerating their lawn, seeding and fertilizing the lawn. what is the best way to do all of this. going to do this end of sept.

[swstout]

Lawn care business tips

Originally Posted by ukcats I had a customer ask today about aerating their lawn, seeding and fertilizing the lawn. what is the best way to do all of this. going to do this end of sept. There are 2 different ways you can aerate the lawn. Mechanical aeration or liquid aeration. I no longer employ mechanical aeration. It's effectiveness is minimal compared to liquid aeration. Mechanical (Core) aeration penetrates only 3" max about one every 6". Liquid has 6-12" penetration over 100% of the lawn. Results for core aeration take up to 6 weeks - overnight with Aerify. As far as over seeding and fertilization goes, it depends on the turf type (warm season or cool season) , your location, and soil conditions. I am familiar with the warm season grasses (Centipede, St Augustine, Bermuda, Bahia, and Zoysia) and two transitional cool season grass (Tall Fescue, and Bluegrass). The methods are slightly different for the various turfs (example: Centipede requires no nitrogen). Tell me more and I'll try to help. Steve

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[StartALawnCareBusiness]

It's been said 100 times on these boards but it bears repeating for the newbies here...

Before aerating or fertilizing you need to perform a couple soil tests. First, you need to take representative samples from several areas of the yard. Mix the soil together and send a sample of that mixture to a lab for analysis. Many garden centers will do the test for free or a small charge. There are also self tests.

A second test, which I find very helpful if you have the potential on selling your customer landscaping work, is a drainage (percolation) test. This test tells you the rate of drainage which helps you determine types of grasses and landscape plants to use for your customer.

Use the information garnered from these tests to guide your customer in the right direction.

Keith

I am going to be aerating 3 lawns this friday. What can i do or say to future customers to get them on board with your program? I feel i should try this out on my own lawn and take some before and after pics. I have a heavily compacted clay back yard from years of football and baseball abuse. Im tempted not to do my back yard with the aerator and try this product

I see that you are a trusted member on this site and have learned a lot from your posts and definitely respect your opinion. my only question to this would be..wont the customer see how easy this process is and not want to pay me to do it? My customers are under the impression that this is back breaking labor and want nothing to do with it. or dont own a truck to bring the aerator from the rental store. seems to me that it would just become part of my daily ritual with the fertilization program that i offer.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Seann

I see that you are a trusted member on this site and have learned a lot from your posts and definitely respect your opinion. my only question to this would be..wont the customer see how easy this process is and not want to pay me to do it? My customers are under the impression that this is back breaking labor and want nothing to do with it. or dont own a truck to bring the aerator from the rental store. seems to me that it would just become part of my daily ritual with the fertilization program that i offer.

Well, first off the product isn't available in stores so they would have to search hard to find it. Second, It's less expensive than mechanical aeration and more effective. Third, it is usually only done once a year and would be a bother to the customer as it must be stored at 41 to 78 degrees F (it is a living biological substance.

The results are amazing. You will get a lot of neihbor calls. I use a referal system that pays referrers up to $100.00 in Lowe's or WalMart gift cards. 1-10$, 2-$20, 3-35$, 4-$50, and 5-$100.

Steve

How come more people haven't jumped on board yet? Or is this something that is done down south and not up north?

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Seann

How come more people haven't jumped on board yet? Or is this something that is done down south and not up north?

Core aeration has been the standard for years, many years! Unless you're in the business and looking for new and improved methods you won't hear about it. Continual improvement means continual change and most people don't want to change. I got into it via organic lawn care. Chemical lawn care is getting harder to service. People are much more environmentally directed now andf I foresee the US going the Canadian route (banning it). The regulations required for using it is getting more comples every day.

Steve

Thanks for all the info. Im definitely going to try it out!

[Fresh Cut]

Originally Posted by swstout

There are 2 different ways you can aerate the lawn. Mechanical aeration or liquid aeration. I no longer employ mechanical aeration. It's effectiveness is minimal compared to liquid aeration. I use Aerify by Nature's Garden http://www.natureslawn.com

Mechanical (Core) aeration penetrates only 3" max about one every 6". Liquid has 6-12" penetration over 100% of the lawn. Results for core aeration take up to 6 weeks - overnight with Aerify.

As far as over seeding and fertilization goes, it depends on the turf type (warm season or cool season) , your location, and soil conditions. I am familiar with the warm season grasses (Centipede, St Augustine, Bermuda, Bahia, and Zoysia) and two transitional cool season grass (Tall Fescue, and Bluegrass). The methods are slightly different for the various turfs (example: Centipede requires no nitrogen).
Tell me more and I'll try to help.

Steve

Steve, again, where do you get this stuff? I'm in Atlanta, and I need to add this to my arsenal.

I have done only 3 or 4 aerations and the machine rental is a bit much for me in addition to the time inconvenience. It also works you, the aerator, it's like wrestling a Chevrolet 350 with arms, and I'm a young adonis.... 28, 6'2", 210 lbs.