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Replies

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  David Cox November 15, 2010 at 9:54pm

  As a side to this, does anyone include this in the price of the regular Maintenance? As I have done, and have priced accordingly - however I'm re-thinking the benefits of this for future customers, as it reduces other Upsell chances.
  As for the treatments, I've been following advice from D.Hessayon's books, regarding feed/weed.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening November 15, 2010 at 10:21pm

  I add on feeds to the costs, apart from a couple of commercial sites which get costed in. Some lawns are beyond realistic improvement so I just cut when they get long and leave it at that.
  
  3 feeds per year, and 3 mulches per year, 1 weed control treatment per year. Ideally 1 scarify per year early spring. Additional hollow tining as and when. would ideally do this every year and topdress, but most people don't want it this frequently.
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  Greenlawns November 15, 2010 at 10:39pm

  Just a cheap one , usually Westland or Levington weed feed, mosskill, , twice a year for the customers who want it,
  I do it on the maintenance visit, although I have some small gardens who because they stick with me all year round, and theres not much to do early spring, i'll give them a free feed, customers are well happy as they're getting something for free, probably costs me 3-4 pounds.
  This might change next year as I've just bought a scarifier and I'm contemplating buying a hollow tiner, maybe to do a bit more lawncare.
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  Marc Cole November 17, 2010 at 5:54pm

  Cheers guys appreciate the advice.
  
  Greenlawns just being nosey but what scarifier did u buy? only asking because I'll be doing a mail shot after xmas and I'm considering offering the service, I'll hire a hollow tine if I need to - far too expensive
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  Matt Brown November 17, 2010 at 7:10pm

  the trouble i find with moss killing is a few of my customers have got more moss than grass and the lawn looks awful when treated i usually dont offer the service but i do tell them what the lawn would look like if treated and if they ask me i will do it. there is a franchise in birmingham started up called trugreen they treat two of my customers lawns and i'm not very impressed, there isnt as much moss but there is still a lot of moss, they scarrified in the rain after a week of constant downpour before the moss had blackened it was like a swamp.
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  Greenlawns November 17, 2010 at 7:13pm

  I was going to buy a Dori but i bought this one
  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLUEBIRD-PROFESSIONAL-PETROL-SCARIFIER-AERATO...
  From T & H in Burscough, that where i get all my machines from, they offered it to me for £300 and I giving it some thought when i saw that he had it on Ebay, so i sniped it at the last minute, only tried it once cos its a bit late to scarify, although not if your names Greenthumb, it works great, Hollow tiners are about £2500, not getting one till i've bought my new bike, (saving like mad).
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  Marc Cole November 17, 2010 at 7:59pm

  Indeed last week went round to a few regulars who have had their lawns scarified vry recently absolutely awful. Made me realise that there is a possible market
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  Matt Brown November 17, 2010 at 8:04pm

  when its done well and regularly and properly it looks great but when you get someone with no common sense and knowhow it looks awful, i'm not trained on lawncare but i know the basics and i'm honest to my customers when i'm out of my depth
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  Lawnman November 18, 2010 at 4:47pm

  I recomend you join the lawn care group, guess what they discuss?