Ok, first of all, you want to bring fresh clippings from the last 3 lawns you have done and begin spreading them over their entire lawn…ok, may not, but I’ll bet as a lawn care professional you have thought of this at least once or twice!

The fact is, while many of your customers may be more than happy to see you and pay on time and even tip in some cases, other ones, well, let’s just say things don’t go so well. Dealing with a lawn care customer that doesn’t pay is a difficult issue and one that must be handled with care. Let’s look at few tips to help you work through the situation the next time you are starting it in the face (and if your business is busy enough, chances are it will happen at some point in the future…)

1. Start by looking INWARD- It is human nature to not want to be at fault. We would all love to believe we are perfect. I mean, hey, it is THEIR fault, right? Not always. Sometimes, as a lawn care professional, a mistake or a misunderstanding can cause the customer distress and because of it, they may refuse to pay. It is POSSIBLE that you work has something to do with the situation…I know, it’s hard to swallow, but it might be true. Start by talking with the customer to find out EXACTLY why they are unhappy. Oftentimes, you can get to the real issue of why they are upset and by resolving a simple issue, the customer releases payment and you are both happy again. Communication is key, try it FIRST.

2. Try to negotiate or offer terms- Sometimes, people are just broke. Maybe they thought they would have the money, maybe they just lost their job, or any number of situations arose where they find themselves cash poor. If you feel that lack of funds is the real issue, try to negotiate. Let them know that their lack of payment causes a hardship for you and your business and that perhaps there is a way to work out a deal that would be sufficient for BOTH parties. Maybe you can postpone payment for 30 days…maybe you can give a large discount to the client, letting them know for future services you would expect a deposit on work completed or even payment in full before the job is completed, or maybe you simply offer them to pay inexpensive weekly or monthly payments until the balance is complete. Oftentimes, your customer will appreciate your trying to work with them and you will come to an agreement. SOME money is better than no money.

3. Write it off and put the issue behind you- Now, I’ll be some of you just went “WHAT? Is he crazy?” It might seem crazy to only take two steps before you simply let the client slide, BUT, at what cost do you pursue the issue? Do you take the time to continue calling and mailing them? Do you pay regular visits to their house? Do you hire a lawyer and sue? Not only are there intrinsic costs involved with these methods of action, but while you are performing them, you are NOT working  or marketing  your business. You often end up losing MUCH more money simply by choosing to pursue the issue way past the point of being reasonable. As a business owner, it is sometimes a wiser approach to let the issue go, make note of the customer and that you will never perform services for them again, and get back to marketing your business and completing jobs. NOW…if you are owed $20,000 for a huge landscaping job, you still may want to pursue, certainly. You might even spend as much as $5000 or more trying to recoup something from the client. But even then, you MUST establish a STOPPING POINT or you very

As a professional landscaper, using a leaf blower is often vital to the job. Clearing off sidewalks, blowing leaves in the fall, and blowing out debris in gutters are just a few of the jobs that these air monsters are good for. Choosing the right blower for your business is crucial to ensure your work is profitable and your body doesn’t take too much wear and tear.

Let’s look at the 3 main types of leaf blowers and check out the positives and potential negatives of each.

1. Electric Leaf Blowers- Electric blowers are the most commonly used by homeowners for smaller jobs. No need for gas, they start right up every time, and they are usually quite inexpensive to buy. As a professional landscaper, however, these will probably not offer the best solution. Being attached to a cord will limit your freedom of movement not to mention that the fact that many of these blowers provide little more than a puff of air equal to the power of one of your sneezes…not recommended for bigger jobs.

2. Handheld Gas Leaf Blowers- Now we are talking a little more power. Handheld gas blowers offer a great solution for many homeowners and landscape professionals as they allow more flexibility and power than their electric counterparts. They are usually a bit more expensive, but their additional power more than makes up for the additional cost. One of the downsides is, their gas powered motors are heavy and carrying one around all day will certainly takes its toll on your body. In addition, you have to use both hands at all times with these babies and don’t even THINK of trying to climb a ladder to blow out some gutters…no serious professional would dare try it…I though there are more than a few stories of folks doing it, many turned out badly…

3. Backpack Leaf Blowers- The big boy on the block is the backpack leaf blowers. Never mind the fact that you look like Bill Murray from Ghostbusters, the fact is, if you want serious equipment for your landscape business, then a backpack blower is the way to go. Backpack blowers are on average much stronger than the handheld variety. In addition, because they are backpack mounted, your hands are free which will come in handy as you move about your business. Moving stuff out of the way, picking up larger debris etc. are possible using these models. Also, risky jobs such as using a blower to clean out a gutter or remove debris from a roof become much safer when using a backpack leaf blower. Because of their additional power, these models are usually much louder, so make sure to wear ear protection when using a backpack blower. IN addition, these models are a little (if not a LOT ) more expensive, so make sure your business can absorb the cost of the higher priced machines.

Leaf blowers…while not rocket science, they can play an important role in the operation of your landscaping business. Make sure to choose a model that can handle the jobs you need it for and fits within your budget. Don’t go overboard right away…you can always start with a lesser expensive model and buy better ones as your revenue increases.

Running a landscaping or lawn care business can be quite expensive. You have to deal with the overhead of marketing, employees, and of course equipment. If your equipment doesn’t work properly and frequently needs to be fixed or even replaced, this can seriously affect your bottom line. Not just in the expense of repairing or replacing the equipment, but also in the revenue lost while the equipment was out of service. Because of this, it is important to choose a lawn care equipment manufacturer that products high quality products for your business.

There are a multitude of companies that produce lawn care equipment, so how can you make certain you are choosing the right one for you? Here are some criteria you can use to help narrow the choice and ensure the equipment you buy will stand up to the abuse and service you will put it through:

1. What are other clients saying about the company? It is important to listen to what others are saying about the company you are researching. If you can find qualified testimonials from lawn care professionals, this will go a long way into help you make your choice. The internet is an open area of information these days and chances are, there are some forums featuring postings about exactly what you are looking for. If it doesn’t take you too long to find negative info posted by clients, this could represent a bad sign. But, if most of what you read is positive, then you may have found a winner.

2. What type of guarantee is offered with the equipment? One huge area of concern when purchasing anything is what type of guarantee is included with the product. The longer and stronger the guarantee, the more you can feel secure you are purchasing a quality piece of lawn care equipment. If the guarantee is represented in hours…then stay away. If instead the guarantee is followed by the word YEARS, this is probably a solid company and a solid piece of equipment.

3. What kind of customer service does the company provide? A quick phone call or email will help get this question answered for you easily. Do they pick up or answer you quickly? Are they friendly and informative? Do they help get you the answers you need quickly or do they act as if you are bothering them? Customer service can be a HUGE issue especially if you ever DO have a problem with equipment you purchase. A company that stands behind their products often offers stellar and thorough customer service.

4. How easily can you obtain replacement parts or get your equipment repaired? Nothing is worse than finding yourself holding a piece of equipment that no longer works with no way to repair it. Does the manufacturer you are researching have a quality parts and repair department? Can you order the parts easily or better yet, pick them up locally? The bigger the company, the more likely it is that parts will be available to you at a local distributor. The fact is, you aren’t making money while holding broken equipment. Make sure the manufacturer you choose can help you in this area should the need arise.

Choose the lawn care equipment manufacturer that is right for you is not a decision to take lightly. This equipment will help you earn your pay as well as run the entire company. Follow the simple tips above, do your due diligence, and you can surely choose a company that provides the best combination of service, quality, and reputation for your lawn care business needs.

To best understand how to grow Zoysia grass, we must first evaluate what it is and why it grows the ways it does. Zoysia is a type of grass that is often a medium sized leaf, but can also sometimes come as a thicker and coarser leaf. Zoysia grass grows best in warm weather temperatures, generally preferring climates that hover around 80-90 degrees. Although the grass can live in shady places, it prefers sun, and is fairly tolerant of a variety of temperatures.

Zoysia grass is a favorite of many landscapers because it grows well in a variety of soil types. Where other types of grass are more difficult to grow, Zoysia can grow in rocky or sandy types of soil, and in a variety of ph levels. Also the grass does best in the South East regions, it can survive in many other parts of the country with similar climates.

The first tip to growing Zoysia Grass is to have patience. It is often tough to get started and takes a while to get the grass established. Many people give up from trying to plant Zoysia grass using grass seed. Most people who try to get a Zoysia lawn started find the best success using sod to make it simpler. Because Zoysia grass is a grass that grows in a clumping sort of way, it usually takes more than a year to get your lawn started if you use plugs or seeds. So using a sod may be a good idea to help get your lawn started.

Once you get your sod planted, you will quickly see that the grass starts to run out any weeds that may show in the beginning, because it creates a very dense, closely packed amount of grass that forms a mat over the soil. To plant Zoysia grass with a high level of success, it is best to do during its regular growing season and not when it is cold. Although if you choose to use sod, you can lay it at almost any time to get things started.

Once you get your Zoysia lawn started, you will be relieved to know that it does not take a lot of maintenance to keep it healthy. People have seen the best luck in watering the grass by waiting until the grass stalks look as though they are beginning to wilt slightly, and then watering.

To keep your Zoysia grass healthy, you should aerate your lawn twice a year, usually best to alternate in both the fall and the spring. Sometimes, Zoysia grass has unfortunate thatch problems, but this can be rectified by using a vertical mower and by being religious about aerating. You should not remove more than 1/ 3 of the grass blades in any one mowing, and it is a good idea to keep the blades of you mower very sharp to avoid damage to the stalks.

Zoysia grass is a great idea for people who want a beautiful, even, and maintenance free lawn. Learning how to grow Zoysia grass is not difficult if you are willing to learn the tricks that keep it in the best condition, and if you can get through the first and most difficult growing year.

Sometimes, a lawn just doesn’t want to cooperate. You mow it, trim it, fertilize it, and water it but it STILL doesn’t look right. In some areas, the grass just won’t get green. In other areas, water just stands but refuses to sink into the soil, and in other areas, the yard just looks flat as compared to other areas of the lawn. The fact is, the lawn might need to be aerated.

Lawns need to be aerated when soil becomes dense and compacted. This can happen for a variety of reasons but is often because of the type of soil in the ground and how much traffic the lawn gets. Let’s look at some quick tips on how to easily aerate a lawn and get it looking green and vibrant in not time:

1. Check for soil deficiencies- Start by testing the soil for lime, sulfur or fertilizer needs and apply as necessary. No reason to aerate first if the lawn will not be healthy anyways.

2. Set your mower a notch higher while additives take effect- Just try to keep the grass a little higher than usual and watch to see how your additives take effect.

3. Wait approximately one month, then aerate with a manual or mechanical aerator- A manual aerator is basically a t-bar handled piece of equipment that has a shaft with four pipes at the bottom. You plunge the pipes into the ground and it pulls up cores of soil. A mechanical one is basically a spike covered wheel that you walk behind, similar to a walk behind lawn mower. In both cases, you are simply turning the soil to allow oxygen to enter, the soil to be less compacted, and encourage nutrients to enrich the soil so that your lawn will grow healthily again. In some cases, you may need to replace the soil if the machine you use digs large cores. In this case, you may need to mix the soil with peat moss or compost to make sure the hole is properly filled in. Make sure to only aerate each area of your lawn only once to prevent serious damage from occurring.

4. Once aeration is complete, fertilize with a slow release turf formula and wait about 3 weeks before mowing again- The key at this stage is to just leave it alone aside from resuming a regular watering schedule. Let it grow, let the additives do their job, and just watch and see. In most cases, the lawn will come back and will be bright green again in no time. In stubborn cases, you may need to switch fertilizers or even aerate one more time.

Professional aeration is a service that many homeowners are looking for now. They want to hire a qualified professional who has experience in this area and who can bring their once vibrant lawn back to life. Make sure to properly test the soil and provide on the amounts of additives recommended. All the aeration in the world can’t help if the soil won’t support healthy growth. By following the steps above, you can pull of your next aeration job with ease and turn over yet another happy, satisfied client.

There are many reasons to prune trees and shrubs and it is one of the best preventative maintenance ways to ensure beautiful and healthy growth. Pruning to remove dead or dying stems or branches, branches or overgrown shrubs that may pose a danger to people, and pruning overgrown shrubs and trees to maintain a more uniform look are all reasons that this activity should be done on a regular basis.

Let’s look at a quick list of tips as to how to prune trees and shrubs and the tools necessary to get the job done:

1. When to get the job done: Pruning is best done in late winter, just before spring growth begins. This will ensure that any open wounds created are repaired quickly once new growth begins. In addition, the lack of leaves and new growth will help to make the process easier to perform as well.

2. Small Shrubs or bushes: Pruning should begin soon after a plan begins to grow. This will encourage growth in a certain fashion and lessen the possibility that misshapen bushes will result. Look to prune branch growth that focuses inward, or overlaps with surrounding grown. Also, immediately remove any growth that is dead or dying. Always prune just above a bud that is facing to the outside of the shrub to encourage full growth. Pruning shears are great for small shrubs and pushes whereas hedge shears should be used as the plant gets larger. These will helps to shape the overall shrub once it gets bigger as well.

3. Small trees: Pruning a small tree is no different in principal than trimming a bush or shrub. It is extremely important to maintain the overall form of the tree in the early stages though as deformities and lopsided growth can often occur at this stage. Again, in most cases, a quality set of pruning shears will be all that is needed.

4. Larger Trees: Pruning larger trees poses a bit more of a difficult scenario merely because of the size of the branches themselves. In most cases, lopping shears is what is required. These are simply pruning shear with longer handles, but they provide much more leverage to cut through thicker branches. It is important to not damage the bark of the tree when taking out branches so when pruning trees, it is often necessary to make multiple cuts to a branch to ensure it is removed easily without damaging other parts of the tree. To do this, choose a spot about 18 inches from the tree base and make a cut that is about 1/3 of the way through the branch. THEN, move out about an inch or two from that and cut all the way through the branch. This will ensure that the weight of the entire branch does not pull the branch down and pull bark as it rips free. Now, you are left with a branch that extends about 18 inches from the base of the tree. You can now safely cut the branch at its base, which is JUST beyond the outcropping known as the branch collar swelling. This will protect the integrity and health of the main tree itself.

Pruning is certainly not difficult if you take your time and learn a little more about the specifics of each tree or bush you will be working with. Every growth varies in its ability to repair itself and continue to grow healthily. Make sure your cuts never damage the main growth stem and you cut ABOVE buds of growth that you want to sprout and add to the shape and fullness of the tree or shrub itself. In addition, make sure to use the right tools for the job…sharp shears will give you quality SAFE results the next time you are called for a pruning job.

Did you just ask, “What the heck is a lawn edger?” It seems that many homeowners today don’t pay attention to the fine lost art of lawn edging but if you are a landscape professional, you had better! Lawn Edging provides that nice, tight, crisp and FINISHED look to any well cared for lawn. It is the process of cutting a perfectly (or near perfect) straight line on the edge of the perimeter of your lawn that borders your driveway, curb, or street.

There are two kinds of lawn edgers, the manual kind and the motorized kind. Both can work quite well if used correctly and many lawn care professional still opt for the manual ones as they are completely noise free, don’t require gas or electric, and if the blade is sharp, they work extremely well.

Manual lawn edgers have a long handle and at the end there is a wheel and a blade. To use them, you simply walk along the edge of your lawn with the wheel side to the grass and the blade next to your lawn, curb, etc. Now, simply walking won’t give you the edge you want…you need to put a bit of force into the edger. This will force the blade to cut of any grass that overlaps from the yard into the other area. It will also force the blade deeper into the ground slicing a nice deep groove that will help keep the job looking nice for weeks to come. Usually, a nice firm back and forth motion is what is required to achieve a deep groove. The manual edger can be a little work, but the results will be well worth it. Keeping the blade sharp is the key to making this tool for you.

For those who wouldn’t be caught be caught dead using anything that is not motorized, there are those types of edgers as well. Many weed eater type trimmers allow you to do edging with them, but using a tool that is specialized for lawn edging will often provide better and more easily achieved results. Many allow you to use the nylon string, but serious landscapers often opt for the hard plastic or even metal blades. These blades produce deep, straight grooves and tear through the grass and dirt like it wasn’t even there. The settings on the machine are what is most important to ensure that the groove it not TOO deep, but produces a tight, clean edge. Most have guards or some type of measuring attachment so you can regulate how deep the groove you are cutting is. In addition, keeping the machine at about a 45 degree angle will help you to achieve the desired results as well. The key for the motorized lawn edgers is to GO SLOW! If you try to rush the job, you might wind up with the jagged mess of dirt and grass rather than the straight clean line you were after.

One key safety tip here, like with all landscaping tools, is to make sure you use eye protection. When edging, it is common that debris will be thrown upwards and if you don’t have eye protection, this debris is likely to find its way into your eyeballs making for a less than enjoyable lawn edging experience. Remember, take it slow…edging requires a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it, edging will be the final step that sets you apart from other companies and will give your jobs an incredibly high quality professional appaearance.

Have you ever gotten so tired of weeding flowerbeds that you just wanted to lay down some wall to wall carpet and be done with it! Well…you aren’t the first one and that same through was probably would brought about the existence of many soil coverings to prevent weed growth. While stopping weeds is a good goal indeed, you need to keep in mind the health of the surrounding soil and flowerbed and what process will truly be best.

If you are looking at keeping out weeds, there are a variety of covers you can choose from. Black plastic is DRASTIC! It is really just about one step away from the carpet idea above. Sure, weeds can’t get through, but neither can light, moisture or oxygen. This is not necessarily the best thing for the soil below, especially if you expect to be planting into that soil at a later date. Rocks can provide a nice alternative, but as the rocks worth themselves into the soil over time, it can present a future hassle to deal with. In addition, the heat that the rocks attract is no good for the soil or surrounding plants. Mulch is certainly a preferred alternative for many, but organic mulch breaks down quickly and provide fertile growing grounds for those pesky little weeds. So, is there a better alternative?

Landscape fabric may just provide the best of all worlds when it comes to a soil covering to prevent weed growth. Unlike other coverings such as black plastic, landscape fabric is actually porous and will allow the penetration of light, moisture, and air. This provides a great alternative in that it can help to keep the soil below healthy and nutrient dense while maintaining a weed free environment. In addition, by adding a layer of mulch over top of it, the mulch will not break down as quickly as it would normally and you can have an attractive weed free environment for a long time to come.

In general, landscape fabric can be fairly expense compared to other types of soil coverings, but when looking at the positives it provides, coupled with the fact that it can last 5 years or even more, landscape fabric may just be the weed preventing solution you have been searching for. It is important to keep in mind that if a layer of mulch is not added, landscape fabric begins to break down in the presence of UV light. Also, on areas of uneven ground, the mulch may slide down causing patches of fabric to show. The solution it not completely maintenance free but if you take the time, care, and attention required, landscape fabric can be an effective tool in your landscaping arsenal. Clients love it, it is fairly easily to install, and it lasts for year. If you and your clients are still plagued by annoying weeds, there is still the option of hitting the carpet store…

Have you heard about rubber mulch and are wondering why using rubber for flower beds may be the perfect solution to your landscaping needs? There are many reasons why rubber mulch may be the right choice for your flower bed. Although it is a good idea to read testimonials from happy rubber mulch users, here we will go over 6 reasons why rubber mulch is a great alternative for your landscaping needs.

First, if you are into protecting the environment, you’ll be glad to know that rubber mulch is the leading use for recycled tires. This protects our environment and is a great way to reuse tires instead of allowing them to pile up in our landfills.

Another reason rubber mulch is popular is because of its wide variety of uses. Besides just flower beds, you can also use it throughout your other landscaping projects and even in the flooring of playgrounds for your children. It is extremely safe for kids, and is non-toxic. It is extremely resilient to weather conditions and is difficult to destroy.

Many gardening professionals also like using rubber mulch because of its insulating qualities. Rubber mulch manages to allow nutrients and water in, but it actually keeps weeds out of it. Unlike traditional mulch, rubber mulch doesn’t disintegrate and will be there for years to come

Rubber mulch is also extremely long lasting. Because it is made out of recycled tires, it does not disintegrate or deteriorate like wood mulch. For people who are used to mulching every year, rubber mulch will be a welcome change, as many people go years and years without having to re-mulch. Because tires are put through a process to make them almost indestructible to water, heat, and the elements that tires face on the road. To have this long lasting material protecting your flower beds instead is a great and useful alternative. You can count on rubber mulch not to fall apart or disintegrate into smaller pieces.

One of the most shocking qualities of rubber mulch is that it actually combats weeds! This is a welcome sound to any landscaper’s ears. Rubber mulch manages to suffocate weeds, because weeds are unable to grow on rubber like they do in wood mulch. With wood mulch, weeds use the nutrients they can pull from the mulch to live. With rubber mulch, weeds die off because they have nothing to feed on.

Lastly, rubber mulch is extremely cost effective. While it may seem expensive if initially comparing it to wood mulch, what you have to keep in mind is that there is no reinvestment! You will no longer have to purchase mulch year after year, but can instead invest a little more up front to save yourself time and money in the future.

If you aren’t convinced as to why using rubber for flower beds may be the perfect solution, check out rubber mulch for yourself to see if it works for you.

Why worry about grass seed? Rollout the perfect lawn with sod! If you want beautiful lawn with low maintenance in a small amount of time, sod may be a perfect alternative for you. If you aren’t familiar with sod, first let’s provide a brief introduction into what sod is, and then we will provide you with several ways that sod can make planting your lawn, or the lawns of your clients, easier.

Sod, which is also sometimes referred to as “turf,” is actually a number of layers. The top is grass, and then underneath there are roots and a layer of dirt just below the root. The turf, which is held together by the strength of the roots, forms a blanket mat of grass. This can often be used to plant lawns quickly in areas where people can’t wait for typical grass seed or plugs to grow, or where it may be difficult to get grass seed to take. It is most often grown on farms which are local to your area, because sod cannot take long trips simply because it dries out quickly. Farms are able to grow the sod, and then cut the grass several inches under where the grass begins, to provide a blanket effect when laying it down on the ground. Most often, new home builders or landscapers purchase sod because it allows them to plant a lawn very quickly without much maintenance. Sod usually has to grow for at least a year before it is dense enough to be harvested and sold.

Sod farms are extremely successful in growing the grass because they are committed to treating the grass in the exact, proven methods that help the grass grow quickly. This includes constant watering and mowing, along with proper fertilization, all of which is done with equipment that is specialized to creating the perfect lawn. Most individual homeowners do not have the time or dedication to grow their own lawn, so utilizing sod is a great fix if you want a great looking yard in a hurry.

Sod is a great option for a variety of other reasons as well. Often if you plant grass seeds, they can be washed away by heavy rainwater. Birds also have a tendency to eat the seed, and even the wind can blow it away. Because of these reasons, much of your seed may disappear before it has a chance to soak into the soil and start to grow, so sod is a great way to guarantee that your hard work will give you something to show for it.

The only significant downside to sod is that because of the convenience and built in quality, the cost is much higher than simply planting seed. Many people find it unaffordable, but if you consider all the hard work you get to eliminate and that your lawns looks beautiful from day 1, many people feel like it is certainly worth the investment.