Landscape Implement Advice

Rockdog · Oct 26, 2002

I, along with my sons are going to be starting a small landscape and lawn care business next spring. Our primary focus will be on new yard construction and maintenance. They are about 100 - 200 new home lots in new subdivisions within 3 miles of our house. I am getting a new 35 hp 4wd tractor w/FEL, 6' box blade, 7' rear blade, and a 5' pulverizer. Thinking of getting a 5' tiller and possibly a landscape rake. I would like to offer aerrating and fertilizing too. The advice I need is...
1). What implements should I get?
2). How much to charge?
3). What about insurance?
4). Any books, websites or other sources of info on how to
do new lawn construction and maintenance.

Thanks for your advice!

ScottAR · Oct 26, 2002

Besides the tractor/FEL I'd get:
a boxblade wide enough to cover the rear wheeltracks.
A harley rake. (see Bushy's thread in the JD section for a link about these wonderful things)
Perhaps the tiller for gardens etc.
Skip the rear blade unless snow plowing is in your future.

micromike · Oct 26, 2002

Here is an excellent message board site for professional landscapers.

http://lawnsite.com/index.php?s=1c7fdf69e231d74d4dc4cbbe054e6246

It has boards for commericial yard maintence and landscapeing, fertilizer and pesticides, different types of grasses and shrubs, equipment, welding and fabricating equipment, elements of business (what to charge), irrigation, ponds and watergardening, etc. etc.

These guys are very generous with advice for newbies too. Also, you might do a search on the site for "hydromulch" for yard installs. It's quite interesting. Good Luck.

Mick

BeeBop · Oct 26, 2002

Rockdog, I usually charge in the neighborhood of $1700.00 an acre for preparing a seed bed and all the materials included w/the exception of top soil. If I do not use existing soil and have to add top soil then the price jumps to $400 for every 12 yards wich includes amending/grading it As far as implements I'd say a FEL is a must then a Harley rake or Landpride power rake is a must as well. I also would suggest a commercial quality tiller, pulverizer and a Landscape Rake. The insurance depends on how much help you incorporate. General $1,000,000 liability is fairly cheap. For info you can go to Lawn-site.com but the best learning method I used to use is to keep my eyes open everytime I saw a Landscaper work and even ask questions but the best teacher is hard and doesn't suffer mistakes many times in this Biz and that's trial and error. A client like to feel relaxed first and foremost. Rules to follow are:
1) Never drive in driveway, park in culdesac, it's a psychological thing on the part of the owner, something to do w/invading space/territory.
2) Never and I mean never ask for tools from client that you should have.
One thing to help a Biz is to have shirts w/company logo on them and give one to each client you do a job for and this can really aid in advertising. One more thing, make sure the FEL has a 4in1 bucket, this is a must when Landscaping. Good luck