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How Many Professionals

Mar 10, 2013#1

Ric

The question came up the other night about how many members or what percentage of members here were actually Lawncare Professionals and were doing it for a living? In reality I believe the percentage of true Lawncare Professionals that actually do the job for a living on the forum is probably very few in numbers. Just wondering what others thought?

Mar 10, 2013#2

exotion

Ric said:
The question came up the other night about how many members or what percentage of members here were actually Lawncare Professionals and were doing it for a living? In reality I believe the percentage of true Lawncare Professionals that actually do the job for a living on the forum is probably very few in numbers. Just wondering what others thought?

Well as of april first I will be doing it for a living. Supporting my wife and two kids, I'm. A little nervous because it is ahead of schedule but the company I'm working for put me in this position. I have a decent customer base and am excited to be on my own.

Mar 10, 2013#3

wjjones

I dont know if I would say professional but my other job is seasonal as I work for the school system here so lawncare makes up alot of my yearly income, and I pay taxes on it. So I guess the answer would be yes as I cover most of the areas of lawncare such as planting trees, shrubs, mulch, tree trimming, leaf/ fall cleanup, and grass cutting. I dont know exactly what the definition of a lawncare professional would be?

Mar 10, 2013#4

wjjones

lawn mower fanatic said:
Yep...AGAIN! I reported it. :smile:

We need an extra mod, or 2 its hard for 1, and the admin to keep up with all this traffic. I love banning spammers.:thumbsup:

Mar 10, 2013#5

R

Rivets

Many of you will get mad at me for posting this, just call it more spam. There is a definite difference between a professional and someone who does it for a living. My definition of a professional, is someone who has done the job in their current capacity, for a minimum of five years. At that point they have established themselves as an individual who understands what a professional is and can point out a wannabe. There are many wannabes on this forum and some have more than five years on the job. Just my opinion, which many on this forum will say ain't worth a darn, as I am just a grease monkey, who is not a professional mechanic.

Mar 10, 2013#6

Ric

wjjones said:
I dont know if I would say professional but my other job is seasonal as I work for the school system here so lawncare makes up alot of my yearly income, and I pay taxes on it. So I guess the answer would be yes as I cover most of the areas of lawncare such as planting trees, shrubs, mulch, tree trimming, leaf/ fall cleanup, and grass cutting. I dont know exactly what the definition of a lawncare professional would be?

You say you work for the school system, What do you do for them if I can ask?

Mar 10, 2013#7

R

Rivets

Retired after 34 years of teaching Technology Education. One of my main areas, was small engine repair which was our feeder to the automotive career path. Every student had to do a complete engine rebuild in the course, many with reboring and resizing parts. Hobbies are Hit-N-Miss engines and electrical troubleshooting.

Mar 10, 2013#8

exotion

Rivets said:
Many of you will get mad at me for posting this, just call it more spam. There is a definite difference between a professional and someone who does it for a living. My definition of a professional, is someone who has done the job in their current capacity, for a minimum of five years. At that point they have established themselves as an individual who understands what a professional is and can point out a wannabe. There are many wannabes on this forum and some have more than five years on the job. Just my opinion, which many on this forum will say ain't worth a darn, as I am just a grease monkey, who is not a professional mechanic.

Then I guess I'm professional I have done it for 6 years for a good company who cares a lot about detail and quality not just hauling *** through a job. I excell at what I do and have very happy customers and I pay taxes and everything correctly

Mar 10, 2013#9

Ric

Rivets said:
Many of you will get mad at me for posting this, just call it more spam. There is a definite difference between a professional and someone who does it for a living. My definition of a professional, is someone who has done the job in their current capacity, for a minimum of five years. At that point they have established themselves as an individual who understands what a professional is and can point out a wannabe. There are many wannabes on this forum and some have more than five years on the job. Just my opinion, which many on this forum will say ain't worth a darn, as I am just a grease monkey, who is not a professional mechanic.

I would agree there is a definite difference between a professional and someone who does it for a living or as a sideline, and different definitions as well. As for the wannabes on the forum and a professional pointing them out goes, I think everyone goes through the wannabe stage before becoming a professional if they make it that far. Nobody starts out as a professional if they think they do they're only fooling themselves.

Mar 10, 2013#10

lawn mower fanatic

Ric said:
Nobody starts out as a professional if they think they do they're only fooling themselves.

Yeah I agree! I think there should be another option for a type of member when you join this forum that is a Lawn Care Business Beginner!

Mar 10, 2013#11

R

Rivets

Can be very easily posted in the persons profile, but that would depend on the persons definition of professional, not mine.

Mar 10, 2013#12

wjjones

lawn mower fanatic said:
Yeah I agree! I think there should be another option for a type of member when you join this forum that is a Lawn Care Business Beginner!

Yep I agree too. I never consider myself as a professional but I get by ok after 12 years in the business. As mentioned I do it to supplement my income, and I understand alot of the guys on here that say lawn care is their income. Maybe a new section on here would help but professional, or not everyone who does lawncare if they are serious about their work, and are good at it then thats all that matters. I hate the term scabb, hack, part timer, etc it just brings you down, and makes you look un-professional about your work, and personality. But what do I know.

Mar 10, 2013#13

locolupe77

I am starting my own lawn care service this Spring, Will do mowing, leaf blowing and removal, Small brush or tree removal.

Mar 10, 2013#14

lawn mower fanatic

locolupe77 said:
I am starting my own lawn care service this Spring, Will do mowing, leaf blowing and removal, Small brush or tree removal.

Are you not doing snow removal? Just wondering.

Mar 10, 2013#15

locolupe77

lawn mower fanatic said:
Are you not doing snow removal? Just wondering.

Im hoping to also add that to my business next winter, but just light snow removal. Like home drive ways and walkways. Heck I might even do small business who have small parking lots. I am just trying to focus on getting my lawncare service going. Got all the equipment I need. I recently got my business license in the mail and got some business cards printed out. This week I will get a couple of signs to put on my trailer and some sticker decals on my truck.

Mar 10, 2013#16

lawn mower fanatic

locolupe77 said:
Im hoping to also add that to my business next winter, but just light snow removal. Like home drive ways and walkways. Heck I might even do small business who have small parking lots. I am just trying to focus on getting my lawncare service going. Got all the equipment I need. I recently got my business license in the mail and got some business cards printed out. This week I will get a couple of signs to put on my trailer and some sticker decals on my truck.

OK, nice! Good luck! :smile:

Mar 10, 2013#17

X-man

I just started my lawncare business about 2 years ago. This is my 3rd year. :thumbsup:

I do snow plowing in the winter time and in the summer I mow & weed-whack, edging, hedge trimming and leaf removal.

I don't think I would consider myself professional yet.

Mar 11, 2013#18

wjjones

X-man said:
I just started my lawncare business about 2 years ago. This is my 3rd year. :thumbsup:

I do snow plowing in the winter time and in the summer I mow & weed-whack, edging, hedge trimming and leaf removal.

I don't think I would consider myself professional yet.

If you learn something new everyday then who really truly is a professional. I think veteran would be a better term.:smile:

Mar 11, 2013#19

M

mowerman05

I have been mowing for about 12 years as a second job, 19 lawns a week, some every 4 or 5 days. I don't consider myself a professional even though my business name is Professional's Choice Lawn Care

Mar 11, 2013#20

wjjones

mowerman05 said:
I have been mowing for about 12 years as a second job, 19 lawns a week, some every 4 or 5 days. I don't consider myself a professional even though my business name is Professional's Choice Lawn Care

12 years here too, and I agree 100%.

Mar 11, 2013#21

midnite rider

Ric said:
The question came up the other night about how many members or what percentage of members here were actually Lawncare Professionals and were doing it for a living? In reality I believe the percentage of true Lawncare Professionals that actually do the job for a living on the forum is probably very few in numbers. Just wondering what others thought?

Yes, I agree with you Ric that the numbers in perspective to the membership is low. Seeing as this is the Lawn Mower Forum and not the Lawncare Professionals Forum I would expect that. That does not mean that this forum can not be very beneficial to the lawncare business owner or employee. The forum can give the lawncare professional or novice a wealth of information and knowledge to help him in his or her endeavor. It is all what we make of it. I am glad to correspond with all the members here. Well almost, the spammers can take a hike!

Mar 11, 2013#22

R

Rivets

Guess I should back out of this forum, as I am definitely NOT even a lawn care beginner. Cut and edge when the better half tells me to.

Mar 11, 2013#23

wjjones

Rivets said:
Guess I should back out of this forum, as I am definitely NOT even a lawn care beginner. Cut and edge when the better half tells me to.

No Sir we need you here too as you also have a wealth of information to share with all of us. Actually more so as you have years of hands on working on the very engines that run the equipment everyone on here uses.

Mar 11, 2013#24

M

mowerman05

I agree with wjjones

Mar 11, 2013#25

Carscw

wjjones said:
No Sir we need you here too as you also have a wealth of information to share with all of us. Actually more so as you have years of hands on working on the very engines that run the equipment everyone on here uses.

I agree

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

Mar 11, 2013#26

R

Rivets

Just kidding. I enjoy starting fights with old guys like Ric and keeping the young bucks who think they are "professionals" in line. Just have to remember Toro & Kubota should be at the top of all "professionals" list.

Mar 11, 2013#27

Ric

Rivets said:
Just kidding. I enjoy starting fights with old guys like Ric and keeping the young bucks who think they are "professionals" in line. Just have to remember Toro & Kubota should be at the top of all "professionals" list.

What... old guys like Ric...Who you callin old??? and you better layoff those young guys like - - - - - - who think they are "professionals"

12919-how-many-professionals-biggrin-gif

Mar 12, 2013#28

wjjones

Ric said:
What... old guys like Ric...Who you callin old??? and you better layoff those young guys like - - - - - - who think they are "professionals"

:laughing:....:laughing:....:thumbsup:

Mar 12, 2013#29

pugaltitude

To be a professional do you need qualifications? ie to do a course or gain degree.
Or is professional about how you look and do a job?
Imo you should have a qualification.

I look after various lawncare business and most have been on iog courses or college to gain the appropriate qualification.

I also get the guys who have lost a job as a joiner or plumber and buy a lawnmower to start cutting grass to make ends meet.
The problem with this though is the guys that are doing it for a living are losing out.

Mar 12, 2013#30

Ric

pugaltitude said:
To be a professional do you need qualifications? ie to do a course or gain degree.
Or is professional about how you look and do a job?
Imo you should have a qualification.

I look after various lawncare business and most have been on iog courses or college to gain the appropriate qualification.

I also get the guys who have lost a job as a joiner or plumber and buy a lawnmower to start cutting grass to make ends meet.
The problem with this though is the guys that are doing it for a living are losing out.

You don't need qualifications nor do any collage courses or have degrees for lawn-care, a License is all that is needed in a lot of places. Some places a License and Insurance is required, all depends on location.

Mar 12, 2013#31

pugaltitude

Over here you dont need any license or insurance. Just go and cut grass.
Yes insurance helps if any accidents etc.

What i mean by qualifications is so that the customer can see you know what you are doing and not incompetent.

Lots of dealers over here that dont send their mechanics on courses for updates and various
qualifications. All mechanics should go on the Briggs 4 day school and have the chance of doing the MST Exam.
Why should a customer spend money there if they are not capable of doing a job?
If you have qualifications then your hourly rate might be worth more.

Mar 12, 2013#32

Ric

pugaltitude said:
Over here you dont need any license or insurance. Just go and cut grass.
Yes insurance helps if any accidents etc.

What i mean by qualifications is so that the customer can see you know what you are doing and not incompetent.

Lots of dealers over here that dont send their mechanics on courses for updates and various
qualifications. All mechanics should go on the Briggs 4 day school and have the chance of doing the MST Exam.
Why should a customer spend money there if they are not capable of doing a job?
If you have qualifications then your hourly rate might be worth more.

You talk about qualifications, going to school and passing an MST Exam. The thing is Exams really don't mean anything because their are people that can walk in never studied mower engines never seen a mower engine in there life and pass that MST Exam with flying colors, so does that make them qualified NO it doesn't. To show your qualifications or to be successful in lawn-care you do that by doing the job the customer wants done. You gain customers by showing people the work you do, it's called word of mouth advertising. Now if you want to class that as being a Professional a in lawn-care or not, personally I don't know the answer to that or if it really matters or not.

Mar 13, 2013#33

K

KubotaJohn

Rivets said:
Just kidding. I enjoy starting fights with old guys like Ric and keeping the young bucks who think they are "professionals" in line. Just have to remember Toro & Kubota should be at the top of all "professionals" list.

I do not own or run any landscaping business but I am a store manager for a predominately Kubota based store, but in our satellite stores we carry scag, dixie chopper, and gravely as well as husqvarna and stihl.

I love this forum because I use all of the reviews to help make mower decisions for my clients.

KUBOTA ALL THE WAY:thumbsup:

Mar 13, 2013#34

pugaltitude

Ric said:
You talk about qualifications, going to school and passing an MST Exam. The thing is Exams really don't mean anything because their are people that can walk in never studied mower engines never seen a mower engine in there life and pass that MST Exam with flying colors, so does that make them qualified NO it doesn't. To show your qualifications or to be successful in lawn-care you do that by doing the job the customer wants done. You gain customers by showing people the work you do, it's called word of mouth advertising. Now if you want to class that as being a Professional a in lawn-care or not, personally I don't know the answer to that or if it really matters or not.

But if you are not shown or advised how to do the job properly, how do you know you are doing a good job?
Yes if the customers happy with it then that matters more than anything but dosent mean the job is done properly.
I dont think their is any exam you could just walk in and pass without some sort of education. Even if it is multi choice.

Mar 15, 2013#35

jekjr

Rivets said:
Many of you will get mad at me for posting this, just call it more spam. There is a definite difference between a professional and someone who does it for a living. My definition of a professional, is someone who has done the job in their current capacity, for a minimum of five years. At that point they have established themselves as an individual who understands what a professional is and can point out a wannabe. There are many wannabes on this forum and some have more than five years on the job. Just my opinion, which many on this forum will say ain't worth a darn, as I am just a grease monkey, who is not a professional mechanic.

I am not a professional. I just cut grass for a living. That is kind of like the word expert. Usually an expert is some idiot that is over 500 miles from home with a briefcase.

Mar 15, 2013#36

wjjones

jekjr said:
I am not a professional. I just cut grass for a living. That is kind of like the word expert. Usually an expert is some idiot that is over 500 miles from home with a briefcase.

Yep, or a degree in lawncare college.

Mar 15, 2013#37

R

Rivets

If you're calling me an expert idiot I'll except that as coming from wannabes who haven't been around the block more than once. Yes, I went to college, tech school, and more manufacturers training and update schools than I can remember. I also carried a briefcase for 34+ years. If you can find anywhere on this forum where I call myself a professional or expert I'd like to see it. I will say that I see too many on this forum who are in the lawn care business, who think they also know how to repair all the different types of engines on their equipment. They give out info that is miss leading, wasteful and in some cases wrong. If you notice, I even have to ask for help from the mechanics who know more than I do. I never give advice on how to take care of a lawn, because I wouldn't know what I'm talking about, but I will call a spade a spade when needed. Just coming from a grease monkey who has forgotten more than these young professionals know. As I would tell my students when they finished the program, "Titles and Respect cannot be taken or applied for, they must be earned"

Mar 15, 2013#38

midnite rider

Ric said:
The question came up the other night about how many members or what percentage of members here were actually Lawncare Professionals and were doing it for a living? In reality I believe the percentage of true Lawncare Professionals that actually do the job for a living on the forum is probably very few in numbers. Just wondering what others thought?

OK, this is what i came up with. As far as post counts of 75 posts or more, there are 150 members that apply in that category of most contributions to the forum.
Out of those top 150 members here are the percentages:
77% ------ Homeowners
14% ------ Lawn Care or Landscape Professionals
9% ------ Equipment Dealers or Manufacturers

I would think the homeowner percentage may go up if the member total were carried further. Still the lawn care/landscape pro is surprisingly to me at 1.4 in 10 and dealer/manufacturer at 0.9 in 10 for this survey. :shocked:

Mar 15, 2013#39

wjjones

Rivets said:
If you're calling me an expert idiot I'll except that as coming from wannabes who haven't been around the block more than once. Yes, I went to college, tech school, and more manufacturers training and update schools than I can remember. I also carried a briefcase for 34+ years. If you can find anywhere on this forum where I call myself a professional or expert I'd like to see it. I will say that I see too many on this forum who are in the lawn care business, who think they also know how to repair all the different types of engines on their equipment. They give out info that is miss leading, wasteful and in some cases wrong. If you notice, I even have to ask for help from the mechanics who know more than I do. I never give advice on how to take care of a lawn, because I wouldn't know what I'm talking about, but I will call a spade a spade when needed. Just coming from a grease monkey who has forgotten more than these young professionals know. As I would tell my students when they finished the program, "Titles and Respect cannot be taken or applied for, they must be earned"

You cant help being smart Rivets I find that all your info you post on here to be good.

Mar 15, 2013#40

wjjones

midnite rider said:
OK, this is what i came up with. As far as post counts of 75 posts or more, there are 150 members that apply in that category of most contributions to the forum.
Out of those top 150 members here are the percentages:
77% ------ Homeowners
14% ------ Lawn Care or Landscape Professionals
9% ------ Equipment Dealers or Manufacturers

I would think the homeowner percentage may go up if the member total were carried further. Still the lawn care/landscape pro is surprisingly to me at 1.4 in 10 and dealer/manufacturer at 0.9 in 10 for this survey. :shocked:

Yep but our common goal is lawn mowers so all the (whos a professional) stuff really doesnt matter. We all come here to seek, and provide info for each other. It would be nice to have a section for the guys, and girls that do full time lawncare for a living.

Mar 15, 2013#41

midnite rider

wjjones said:
Yep but our common goal is lawn mowers so all the (whos a professional) stuff really doesnt matter. We all come here to seek, and provide info for each other. It would be nice to have a section for the guys, and girls that do full time lawncare for a living.

I totally agree with you but it is interesting to note the diversity.

Mar 15, 2013#42

midnite rider

midnite rider said:
OK, this is what i came up with. As far as post counts of 75 posts or more, there are 150 members that apply in that category of most contributions to the forum.
Out of those top 150 members here are the percentages:
77% ------ Homeowners
14% ------ Lawn Care or Landscape Professionals
9% ------ Equipment Dealers or Manufacturers

I would think the homeowner percentage may go up if the member total were carried further. Still the lawn care/landscape pro is surprisingly to me at 1.4 in 10 and dealer/manufacturer at 0.9 in 10 for this survey. :shocked:

I wonder how many do not even own a mower.

Mar 15, 2013#43

wjjones

midnite rider said:
I totally agree with you but it is interesting to note the diversity.

Yes it is interesting for sure.:thumbsup:

Mar 15, 2013#44

lawn mower fanatic

midnite rider said:
I wonder how many do not even own a mower.

I did a search and there are only 19 members that have 50 or more posts and don't own a mower or are looking to buy! :shocked:

Mar 15, 2013#45

midnite rider

lawn mower fanatic said:
I did a search and there are only 19 members that have 50 or more posts and don't own a mower or are looking to buy! :shocked:

That is 4.6% of members with 50 or more posts that don't own a mower or are looking to buy . :shocked:

Mar 15, 2013#46

CauZey

I'm not a pro but I started doing lawn care for a living last year with a woman who has been doing it for 20 years and has a horticultural degree. I learned a lot from her and I worked hard this winter to start my own business doing lawn care. Recently sold my mower so I'd qualify in the % that doesn't own a mower rite now or at least until this coming Tuesday. But I'm still here like everyone else to talk about mowers, grass, and the get great advice!!

Mar 16, 2013#47

pugaltitude

The only garden machine I own is a battery operated trimmer.

I use whatever demo machine is available when needing to cut my grass or test run problem machines that are in my workshop.

Mar 16, 2013#48

wjjones

CauZey said:
I'm not a pro but I started doing lawn care for a living last year with a woman who has been doing it for 20 years and has a horticultural degree. I learned a lot from her and I worked hard this winter to start my own business doing lawn care. Recently sold my mower so I'd qualify in the % that doesn't own a mower rite now or at least until this coming tuesday. But I'm still here like everyone else to talk about mowers, grass, and the get great advice!!

But I'm still here like everyone else to talk about mowers, grass, and the get great advice!!

And thats what this site is all about..:thumbsup:

Apr 13, 2013#49

jekjr

Just break the word ex pert down. Ex means used to be and a spent is a drip under pressure.

Apr 15, 2013#50

djdicetn

exotion said:
Well as of april first I will be doing it for a living. Supporting my wife and two kids, I'm. A little nervous because it is ahead of schedule but the company I'm working for put me in this position. I have a decent customer base and am excited to be on my own.

exotion,

I want to be one of the first to wish you a most successful career in lawn service and landscape maintenance(if you do more than just cut grass) and I sincerely hope that your hard work enables you to support you family in a manner that allows you to provide financial stability, harmony and the always increasing needs of your children!!!

OK........now to settle this How Many "Professionals" definition debate(now this is coming from a homeowner that came to these forums in search of advice that will enable me to maintain my lawn & landscaping so that it "looks like I payed someone a LOT of money to do it":0)

1)A Lawn Care Professional:This is the person who owns/manages/works/applied for license/pays taxes & insurance for a licensed Lawn Care service company that charges people to mow their lawns(the same would hold true if Landscaping, and other "property-maintaining" services are rendered by said company). If it is a large enough operation to have "employees" that do some of the work, these employees are NOT Lawn Care Professionals....they are simply employed by and draw salaries from a Lawn Care Professional. These employees "do this for a living"(whether or not it is their only job, full time or part time) but are, I repeat NOT Lawn Care Professionals.

2)If the Lawn Care service company is not still active after several years(I would say at least 5), then "Professional" was a misnomer and that person did not have the skills required to operate that business with enough profit to sustain it.

3)If you have operated in either capacity described in Section#1 for several years(I would say at least 5) and you are still doing that then you have now become a veteran lawn care maintenance worker, very skilled at what you do(or you would have fallen victim to section# 2.......or been fired).

4)If the yards you cut(or other property maintenance services rendered) do NOT look like a "Professional did the job"......see Section#2(no matter how many years your business has been active or you have been doing it:0)

Welllllll.......how did I do(for a wannabe????:0)

Apr 15, 2013#51

Ric

djdicetn said:
exotion,

I want to be one of the first to wish you a most successful career in lawn service and landscape maintenance(if you do more than just cut grass) and I sincerely hope that your hard work enables you to support you family in a manner that allows you to provide financial stability, harmony and the always increasing needs of your children!!!

OK........now to settle this How Many "Professionals" definition debate(now this is coming from a homeowner that came to these forums in search of advice that will enable me to maintain my lawn & landscaping so that it "looks like I payed someone a LOT of money to do it":0)

1)A Lawn Care Professional:This is the person who owns/manages/works/applied for license/pays taxes & insurance for a licensed Lawn Care service company that charges people to mow their lawns(the same would hold true if Landscaping, and other "property-maintaining" services are rendered by said company). If it is a large enough operation to have "employees" that do some of the work, these employees are NOT Lawn Care Professionals....they are simply employed by and draw salaries from a Lawn Care Professional. These employees "do this for a living"(whether or not it is their only job, full time or part time) but are, I repeat NOT Lawn Care Professionals.

2)If the Lawn Care service company is not still active after several years(I would say at least 5), then "Professional" was a misnomer and that person did not have the skills required to operate that business with enough profit to sustain it.

3)If you have operated in either capacity described in Section#1 for several years(I would say at least 5) and you are still doing that then you have now become a veteran lawn care maintenance worker, very skilled at what you do(or you would have fallen victim to section# 2.......or been fired).

4)If the yards you cut(or other property maintenance services rendered) do NOT look like a "Professional did the job"......see Section#2(no matter how many years your business has been active or you have been doing it:0)

Welllllll.......how did I do(for a wannabe????:0)

This Post is food for thought

:laughing::laughing: I just really like how you define the Lawn care Professional but I think there is something you have totally over looked. You haven't thought about the term you're defining.... LAWNCARE PROFESSIONAL and what it applies to. I Mow Lawns for a living, I trim, edge and blow off sidewalks and driveways and most anything else people want to have done pertaining to their lawns but I am Not a Lawncare Professional and never will be and anyone who does the same and refers to themselves as a Lawn care Professional would be misrepresenting themselves. I haven't seen over two, maybe three Lawncare Professionals on this forum.

Apr 15, 2013#52

djdicetn

Ric said:
This Post is food for thought

:laughing::laughing: I just really like how you define the Lawn care Professional but I think there is something you have totally over looked. You haven't thought about the term you're defining.... LAWNCARE PROFESSIONAL and what it applies to. I Mow Lawns for a living, I trim, edge and blow off sidewalks and driveways and most anything else people want to have done pertaining to their lawns but I am Not a Lawncare Professional and never will be and anyone who does the same and refers to themselves as a Lawn care Professional would be misrepresenting themselves. I haven't seen over two, maybe three Lawncare Professionals on this forum.

Ric,
Soooooooo, are you saying only the technicians that work for Scott's and Truegreen that come out and perform an analysis of your lawn and sign you up for a monthly fee program to get a nice golf-course looking lawn are "Lawncare Professionals"???? Can you justify your last sentence(without naming names) and tell us exactly "what" constituted those two or three users being a LCP??? Of course if you describe them well enough, they may know you're talking about them without ever mentioning a user name:0)

P.S.
What descriptive term do you conider appropriate for what you do(aside from "I mow lawns for a living"). I mean everybody that gets paid for what they do has a "Job Title".

Apr 15, 2013#53

Ric

djdicetn said:
Ric,
Soooooooo, are you saying only the technicians that work for Scott's and Truegreen that come out and perform an analysis of your lawn and sign you up for a monthly fee program to get a nice golf-course looking lawn are "Lawncare Professionals"???? Can you justify your last sentence(without naming names) and tell us exactly "what" constituted those two or three users being a LCP??? Of course if you describe them well enough, they may know you're talking about them without ever mentioning a user name:0)

P.S.
What descriptive term do you consider appropriate for what you do(aside from "I mow lawns for a living"). I mean everybody that gets paid for what they do has a "Job Title".

Yes the people or technicians who work for Scott's and Truegreen and those type company's that do the analysis, set up for a monthly program to get that nice golf-course looking lawn are "Lawncare Professionals, that's what they do is care for your lawn. The thing is when I purchase my License every year it doesn't say anything about a Lawncare Professional nor does my Insurance. The term that is considered appropriate for businesses like ours would be Lawn Maintenance Professional we are the people who Mow lawn, trim, edge and clear, maybe trim hedges and put down some mulch, those are the jobs we preform which is Lawn Maintenance.

Apr 15, 2013#54

Carscw

Ric said:
Yes the people or technicians who work for Scott's and Truegreen and those type company's that do the analysis, set up for a monthly program to get that nice golf-course looking lawn are "Lawncare Professionals, that's what they do is care for your lawn. The thing is when I purchase my License every year it doesn't say anything about a Lawncare Professional nor does my Insurance. The term that is considered appropriate for businesses like ours would be Lawn Maintenance Professional we are the people who Mow lawn, trim, edge and clear, maybe trim hedges and put down some mulch, those are the jobs we preform which is Lawn Maintenance.

Ok sit down so you don't have a heart attack I agree with you 100%

So what would you call someone that does the cutting and all that and take soil samples and applies the fert or what ever it needs?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Apr 15, 2013#55

djdicetn

Ric said:
Yes the people or technicians who work for Scott's and Truegreen and those type company's that do the analysis, set up for a monthly program to get that nice golf-course looking lawn are "Lawncare Professionals, that's what they do is care for your lawn. The thing is when I purchase my License every year it doesn't say anything about a Lawncare Professional nor does my Insurance. The term that is considered appropriate for businesses like ours would be Lawn Maintenance Professional we are the people who Mow lawn, trim, edge and clear, maybe trim hedges and put down some mulch, those are the jobs we preform which is Lawn Maintenance.

Ric,

Ohhhhhhh, OK.....I get it........the keyword is "Maintenance" versus "Care". That makes sense.

Soooooooooo, take all of my "defintions" above and replace each occurrence of the word "Care" with Maintenance(in your mind, because I'm not gonna re-type all that just to get "politically correct":0)

Aha......you admitted it.....you ARE a "Professional"!!!!!!

Apr 15, 2013#56

djdicetn

Carscw said:
Ok sit down so you don't have a heart attack I agree with you 100%

So what would you call someone that does the cutting and all that and take soil samples and applies the fert or what ever it needs?

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Carscw,

That's a "hybrid" we will have to call a "Lawn Care/Maintenance Professional":0)

Apr 15, 2013#57

Carscw

djdicetn said:
Carscw,

That's a "hybrid" we will have to call a "Lawn Care/Maintenance Professional":0)

Everyone I know would just say landscaper.
But to be called a landscaper you would also have to install plants and Sod. Or I guess just change the look of the landscape.

(( racing is the only sport that you need two balls ))

Apr 15, 2013#58

Ric

djdicetn said:
Ric,

Ohhhhhhh, OK.....I get it........the keyword is "Maintenance" versus "Care". That makes sense.

Soooooooooo, take all of my "definitions" above and replace each occurrence of the word "Care" with Maintenance(in your mind, because I'm not gonna re-type all that just to get "politically correct":0)

Aha......you admitted it.....you ARE a "Professional"!!!!!!

I consider myself to be a Lawn Maintenance Professional, I have nothing to do with Lawncare. I don't fertilize, I don't do Insecticides, weed killers or any of that, that is what True Green, Scotts and the type company's do it's considered Lawn Care. When I worked for the county we had people that took classes and were licensed to do Lawncare, to use chemicals and such and we had people who took classes for lawn maintenance. The thing is though when I took those classes I really figured it was ridiculous, little did I know at the time I'd be doing the crap for a living or to supplement my income when I retired :smile: and I have too admit some of it has come in handy.

Apr 16, 2013#59

djdicetn

Ric said:
I consider myself to be a Lawn Maintenance Professional, I have nothing to do with Lawncare. I don't fertilize, I don't do Insecticides, weed killers or any of that, that is what True Green, Scotts and the type company's do it's considered Lawn Care. When I worked for the county we had people that took classes and were licensed to do Lawncare, to use chemicals and such and we had people who took classes for lawn maintenance. The thing is though when I took those classes I really figured it was ridiculous, little did I know at the time I'd be doing the crap for a living or to supplement my income when I retired :smile: and I have too admit some of it has come in handy.

Ric,

Thanks for sharing your insights and "Professional experience' with us newbies and wannabees!!! I'm retiring in October, 2013 after 43 years in Information Systems. After I bought my new Lone Wolf Trailer on 3/9 for my 2012 Gravely(and a sundry of other post-retirement needs and projects), my daughter in Alabama commented to my wife..."hey, is Dad thinking about going into the Lawn Care business when he retires?". I'll be sure the next time I talk to her to tell her "No, but I may very well go into the Lawn Maintenance business"!!!!:0)
Not really......I'm gonna be so busy fishing, camping and traveling I wouldn't have the time to mow someone elses lawn!!

Apr 28, 2013#60

exotion

Ric said:
I consider myself to be a Lawn Maintenance Professional, I have nothing to do with Lawncare. I don't fertilize, I don't do Insecticides, weed killers or any of that, that is what True Green, Scotts and the type company's do it's considered Lawn Care. When I worked for the county we had people that took classes and were licensed to do Lawncare, to use chemicals and such and we had people who took classes for lawn maintenance. The thing is though when I took those classes I really figured it was ridiculous, little did I know at the time I'd be doing the crap for a living or to supplement my income when I retired :smile: and I have too admit some of it has come in handy.

I have taken this thread to heart and have done some research and made some contacts. I now have an open account with a soil test lab I will collect three samples from the around the property various depths send them to the lab. This costs 10 a sample he will then tell me what kind of fertilizer to buy in numbers x-x-x. I will then power rake lay fertilizer and over seed in the fall. This service will not be cheap as I will need to buy special fertilizer.

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