LawnMowerFanatic's 2015 Equipment/Work Thread

[TaskForceLawnCare]

Things aren't to bad we had a little dry spell but are back to running a full schedule. We where just trimming bushes and treating for a few weeks though. We use the BP blowers to help with leaf removal get them out of beds, bushes and off drives but do the bulk of the cleanup with vac systems.

 

[Lawnboy18]

Atleast you kept busy!

 

[jekjr]

Things aren't to bad we had a little dry spell but are back to running a full schedule. We where just trimming bushes and treating for a few weeks though. We use the BP blowers to help with leaf removal get them out of beds, bushes and off drives but do the bulk of the cleanup with vac systems.

What sort of vac systems do you use?

I am researching for something to get leaves up now but have not come to any conclusion yet as to what I want to do.

 

[TaskForceLawnCare]

What sort of vac systems do you use? I am researching for something to get leaves up now but have not come to any conclusion yet as to what I want to do.

We use billy goats, the clam shell baggers on the big mowers and the accelerators on the walk behinds and of course BP blowers for those tight spots

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

We use billy goats, the clam shell baggers on the big mowers and the accelerators on the walk behinds and of course BP blowers for those tight spots

Seems like an efficient setup. I just use the simple things. Backpack blower, rake, and tarp. Without getting big baggers its the most efficient for what I do.

 

[jekjr]

Seems like an efficient setup. I just use the simple things. Backpack blower, rake, and tarp. Without getting big baggers its the most efficient for what I do. <img src="http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/attachments/commercial-residential-lawn-mowing/27475-lawnmowerfanatics-2015-equipment-work-thread-leaf-blowers-png"/>

Due to the size of properties and volume of leaves blower with tarps is really not too efficient for us. A bagger on a mower is not really great either because it has to be dumped too often.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Due to the size of properties and volume of leaves blower with tarps is really not too efficient for us. A bagger on a mower is not really great either because it has to be dumped too often.

It seems like all of the decent sized properties that I will be performing leaf cleanups on this year have some obstacle that prevents a big mower with a bagger (or something big like that) from being used. My biggest job I just got is in a heavily wooded property. There is very thin grass, with lots of small flat rocks, and acorns everywhere. I would surely break a window doing it with a mower (although I might break a leg doing in with my blower because it is very uneven and rocky terrain). Other yards it might just be a certain part of the yard that I can blow directly to the street. So for me the backpack will work best. I just want to get out and use it. I am talking with some of my customers now about what they want me to do with the leaves. Their options are A) they take care of the leaves and I continue mulching the grass like I do April-September. B) I just mulch up the leaves as best I can and whatever it looks like it looks like, or C) I take care of bagging/blowing the leaves to the curb, for a price added on to the regular mowing price. All have chose "C" so far. Which is fine with me, as I like leaves.

 

[TaskForceLawnCare]

Due to the size of properties and volume of leaves blower with tarps is really not too efficient for us. A bagger on a mower is not really great either because it has to be dumped too often.

The baggers hold 17 bushels of finely mulched leaves. Some of the larger properties have large amounts of mulched leaves dumped once we're done, but they also get billed for that. I also have a dump trailer that can be brought to these (for additional cost) sites. I've a large compost area on my property and already have of customers wanting to purchase the compost when we start getting it piled back up.

The walk behinds with the small hoppers don't hold much but they are only used in smaller yards with maybe one little tree. The billy goats help with tight areas I.e fenced back yards ect.

We where covered up with leaf removal until the week before Christmas last year. Then went straight into snow removal had about a 2 week reset period then right into treatments.

 

[Lawnboy18]

Good idea LMF! You are going to make good money!

Small yards around here (1-5K mostly). A mix of the 30" mowers and BP blowers. Gets it done good.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

Good idea LMF! You are going to make good money!

Small yards around here (1-5K mostly). A mix of the 30" mowers and BP blowers. Gets it done good.

The calls keep coming in. This year I'm going 110% as late as possible, because I know in less than 2 months I will be done just waiting for an occasional snow.