Green Industry Great Escape

GIGE

Key Takeaways

The Green Industry Great Escape offers insights and opportunities for growth:

• Networking Opportunities: Brings together industry professionals and entrepreneurs for networking and knowledge sharing.
• Inspirational Keynotes: Features influential speakers discussing innovation and success in the landscaping business.
• Accessibility Concerns: Highlights the need for more affordable access to benefit smaller businesses.

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The beginning of the month was a benchmark for lawn and landscapers across the country. A conference called the Green Industry Great Escape was held in the Bahamas at the famous Atlantis Resort. This event was hosted by the Professional Landscape Network, with several other noteworthy sponsors like Caterpillar, STIHL, and John Deere. The purpose of the event was to bring in industry professionals, successful business owners, and the dedicated entrepreneur to a beautiful resort to experience key note speakers, network, and discuss how to manage for success in 2012.

Looking at the lawn and landscape business over the past few years it is hard to even imagine a conference like this to attract the little guys like myself along with 90 percent of the lawn and landscape business's around. A key note speaker Tom Oyler said, "“I hate to see people come in who can bully and buy, and they’re not innovative,” Oyler says. “They just have capital. I love the small guy." It is strange to hear this come from a conference that is being hosted at a resort that my wife and I could not even afford to go to for our honeymoon, let alone for a 3 day conference. On the other hand this island has probably one of the most complicated landscape designs and up keeps imaginable so the tour of the island with director of landscaping, Tony Burzo was probably worth the money of the trip itself. It just seems that a trip like this is directed for the big wigs, and the industry leader with money, and not for the "little guys" that Tom loves.

A conference of this magnitude would have such an impact for the little guys if it was affordable to attend. It is obvious that in our city and with this economy the lawn care business has resulted to a mass undercutting of your competition and taking anything you can get. Tom Oyler, also discussed at the conference the positives of pooling your different talents and resources together instead of just being focused on acquiring your next client. These are the items that small business need to hear and be educated on for the success of their business in the future, which is why conferences like Green Industry Great Escape should possibly think about having more accessibility to their conference for the "little guys".

Ultimately I have read that this conference was a huge success which allowed people in the states to follow along with their twitter hash tag #GIGE2012. Maybe next year, if Professional Landscape Network decides to host this event in another exotic location they might want to look at video web casting some of the key speakers on their website so people across the world can be educated on ways to help their lawn and landscape small business.

Reno Lawn Dethatching

Key Takeaways

Reno lawn dethatching promotes:

• Healthier Lawns: Dethatching encourages a lush, green lawn by removing excess thatch that blocks water, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching the roots.
• Effective Maintenance: A small amount of thatch is beneficial for moisture retention and protection against the sun, but too much can harm your lawn.
• Optimal Timing: Mid to late spring is the best period for dethatching in cool climates to allow quick lawn recovery.

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If anyone that has not heard of de-thatching or your lawn guy just tells you to get it done yearly, there are some basic ways you can check to see if your lawn needs to be de-thatched before you go spending a lot of money to have it done. Although de-thatching a lawn can be done by a hand de-thatching rake, I would never recommended doing this unless you want to have an aching back after wasting a day. The most prominent way lawn care services de-thatch is by using a motorized de-thatcher also called a power rake. Obviously the ultimate goal for de-thatching is to provide you with a more healthy, lush, and green lawn. So how do I know if my lawn needs De-Thatching?

The most effective way to see if your lawn has excessive thatch is to take a shovel and cut out a small 6"x6" square of turf and examine if the area between the root system and the blades of grass. If this area has over a 1/2" of brown matted build up of thatch as shown in the picture, than it is time to de-thatch your lawn. A small amount of thatch is actually good for the lawn which help retain water and protect your grass from the harsh summer sun. If the build up is too much than it will prevent water, oxygen, and nutrients from getting to the roots. The best time to have de-thatching done for our cool climate is during mid to late spring when the lawn is actively growing and can quickly recover from the stress of de-thatching. More tips can be found once you determine if your lawn needs to be de-thatched.

If you are debating between having your lawn aerated or de-thatched this season, take the quick five minutes to do this test and see if you have an above average thatch layer. Both aerating and de-thatching can be done at the same time and most lawn care companies in Reno like ours, offer more affordable packages if you choose to do both. I have found a good de-thatching video if you want a better idea of how it works.

Reno Snow Removal (Video Blog)

Key Takeaways

Reno snow removal insights:

• Climate Consideration: Selecting a snow blower in Reno doesn't mean purchasing the most expensive; it's about value for your climate.
• Service Delivery: Cory's Lawn Service responds promptly to snow events, as seen with the recent 4" snowfall in Summerset.
• Community Engagement: The company initiates video blogs for lawn care tips and business updates, enhancing customer connection.

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If you live in Reno and over the years have been sick of the back breaking labor of shoveling snow, I have some suggestions of what snow blower you should buy. Our climate it doesn't necessarily mean you should go buy the biggest and best snow blower out. If you want to look at investing into buying a snow blower and want to get the most bang for your buck, watch our video blog for our recommendation. Although downtown Reno received almost no accumulation today, Summerset did get about 4" so Cory's Lawn Service was there to serve our customers. While I was out I wanted to attempt our first video blog which I hope to continue especially throughout the lawn season with lawn care tips, advise, and documentation with whats going on with our business. I hope to upgrade our video quality in the near future, but for any of you that do video blog or have any recommendation please leave a comment for us to help improve our production.

Lawn Aeration in Reno

Aerator Picture

Key Takeaways

Lawn aeration benefits:

• Enhanced root growth: Aeration allows more oxygen, nutrients, and water to reach the roots, encouraging healthier, thicker lawns.
• Optimal timing: In Reno's cooler climate, aeration should occur in spring and early fall, avoiding the stressful summer period.
• Aeration methods: Options include professional services or DIY with rented equipment, emphasizing preparation like watering and marking sprinklers.

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As we approach closer and closer to the time of activating our waters and thinking about mowing the grass it is very important in Reno to aerate your lawn at least once a year, if not more. Reno is known for it hard compact soil which can cause very thinned out grass over time if you do not aerate. Lawn aeration removes cores of soil from your turf which then allows more oxygen, nutrients, and water to penetrate to the roots of your grass. The soften soil allows the roots to grow more rapidly which results in a much more think healthier lawn.

When Should I Aerate in Reno?

Since  Reno is actually known as a cooler climate, hence our dormant winters, lawn aeration should be done before the major growth seasons. This would primarily include aerating your lawn in the spring before the major lawn growth occurs and after the summer growth towards early fall. Although lawn aeration is extremely helpful for your lawn, it is also stressful on the turf so try to avoid aerating during summer.

why_aerate_photo

Whats the best way to go about aerating my lawn?

There are a couple of options for this, and if you are not the do it yourself type of person than just call one of your local lawn professionals and they can take care of it with probably a minimum charge of $40-$60 for lawns with less than 2,500 square feet. If you like to do it yourself, I would recommend asking your neighbors if they would like their lawn aerated and see if they would be interested in chipping in some money to rent an aerator which normally run about $75.00 a day. This is a great way to serve your neighbors and get some major kudos. There are also hand core aeration tools that are significantly cheaper, but also comes with the price tag with some back breaking labor, so I don't even recommend that.

A few Suggestions

Whether your are going to aerate yourself or pay someone to do it, make sure you water your lawn thoroughly the night before to allow the soil to soften up. This will allow the aerators to do their job properly and remove cores 1"-2" instead of just bouncing along the dry soil and hardly remove anything. Mark your sprinklers with flags or just put large rocks over them for protection while aerating, to prevent breaking any sprinkler heads. Finally, make sure the highly traffic areas get a little extra attention from the aeration because theses areas are probably really compacted.

If you have any other questions on lawn aeration in Reno, even if you don't plan on using our service, feel free to send me an email and I would be more than happy to answer questions you might have.

How To Tune Up Your Lawn Mower For Spring.

Key Takeaways

Lawn mower maintenance offers:

• Enhanced Performance: Regular tune-ups can significantly improve your lawn mower's starting and running performance.
• Extended Lifespan: Addressing basic maintenance tasks like changing oil, filters, and spark plugs can extend the life of your mower.
• Cost Efficiency: Performing these simple tune-up tasks yourself saves money on professional service fees.

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Even though your lawn mower has just been sitting these past few months in the garage, side yard, or shed, there are some basic tunes ups to consider before your try and start it up. Lets just be smart and think about this for a minute, the gas has been sitting in that tank for six months,  just like me you probably didn't change the oil or air filter at the end of the season,  and how about  that spark plug? These are 4 basic items that are super cheap, will help your mower start on the first pull, and significantly improve the life of your mower. Replacing these items are super easy so don't waste your time and money going down to your small engine shop to have them charge you $100.00 or more to do this quick 20 minute job. First of all find you lawn mower manual and if you lost it, just Google search ( "brand","your lawn mower serial number", "manual") ie (Toro, 9384751934, manual) and you should find it online. If you are like most people and bought your lawn mower at Home Depot or Lowe's, they most likely have spark plug and air filter packages you can buy together which makes it super easy. Since a picture is worth a 1,000 words I am guessing a how to video is worth way more than that. Since I just changed the oil, spark plugs, gas, and air filters on all my mowers, so I found a couple of quick video's from some experts at Lowe's that are simple and will help you step by step.

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Reno Lawn Care Tip's for Dry Winter

Key Takeaways

Reno's winter lawn care involves:

• Watering Practices: Water during temperatures above 50°F and before 3pm to allow for proper drainage.
• Hose Management: Fully drain hoses and store them correctly after use.
• Grass Care: Implement two twenty-minute soakings for grass, with a pause in between for absorption.

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For anyone that has lived in Reno longer than a year, it is obvious that we are going through an extremely dry winter. In fact according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOA), Reno is experience one of the top 5 driest winters on record books. So what does this mean for your plants, trees, and grass? Well just because it is winter does not mean we should not stop watering. Most winters in Nevada we can count on the rain and snow to normally take care of the recommended one inch of monthly precipitation that is vital to vegetation, but so far we have not been able to count on it this year. Have you been freaking out because you look out the front window to see your "on top of everything" neighbor activating his sprinkler system a few times a week to water his plants? Well it should be a concern that your plants and trees are not getting the water they need but I would no go as far as activating your system in February while we are still having freezing temperatures nightly. KTVN did a recent interview with Steven Fine from, "Reno Lawn and Landscape" about the issues with the dry weather (below).

Although I believe it is helpful information, this is something that can be done by a home owner and does not require the special attention from a professional as long as you keep to a few guidelines. Here are a few things you should and should not do to help your plants, trees, and grass throughout the rest of winter while we continue our dry spell.

DO:

• Water during temperatures above 50 degree Fahrenheit

• Water before 3pm to give time to drain.

• Completely drain your hoses and store them properly.

• For Grass: Two twenty minute soakings with time in between to soak.

DON'T:

• Water while the ground is frozen.

• Water later in the evening.

• Activate sprinkler system, unless really familiar with winterizing the system right after.

Customer Service

Key Takeaways

Cory's Lawn Service enhances:

• Customer Interaction: Prioritizes responsive and personalized customer service.
• Service Quality: Guarantees high-quality lawn care tailored to individual needs.
• Expertise and Reliability: Offers professional advice and dependable service schedules.

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I read an article today on the 8 rules to good customer service, which made me think if Cory's Lawn Service was keeping to these 8 rules? This is a area of a business that is probably the most key for success, because if you don't go out of your way for your customers then your customers will go out of their way find someone who will. I realize there are hundreds of lawn care trucks driving around in Reno everyday, so why should someone choose Cory's Lawn Service to take care of their property instead of the other guy? Before reading this article I prided myself on our over all customer service, and I still do, but I can see there are still some obvious ways we can improve to help our customers. (Quick Story) A few years ago my wife and I were picking out our Christmas Tree from a lot. I have never really thought about desiring good customer service at a tree lot because its a once a year purchase and half the time I forget where we got I tree the year before. Anyway, after selecting our tree I realized I did not have any cash and told the tree guy we would be back to pick up the tree once we went to the ATM. Right then the guy loaded our tree up in my truck and said, "Just bring the money by later this week whenever convenient. You guys have a nice evening". Since that day, I have continued to return to the same Christmas tree lot year after year and recommend my friends there as well.

So, how can a lawn care service provided a similar type of wow reaction? How can we stand out above the crowd? How can we better serve our customers? This is where the lawn care business can not just be about mowing the lawn and getting the job done, because honestly the next door neighbors kid can do that for a lot cheaper. It means, consistently thinking about small things that customers enjoy that you necessarily don't get paid for. It means, owning up to your mistakes and fixing them. It even means, taking the extra time to chat when Mr. Johnson comes outside to pay you.

Although nobody is perfect, as a business owner it is a priority for us to be thinking and applying these steps daily. If you are a current customer who is reading this I want to know if there are ways we are excelling or lacking in our customer service? Let us know your thoughts, good or bad.

Reestablishing The Lawn Care Blog

Cory Bettinghouse

Key Takeaways

Lawn care insights offer:

• Comprehensive Education: Detailed lawn care tips and information for enhanced property maintenance.
• Local Business Insight: Insights into the operations, services, and community contributions of a Reno-based lawn service.
• Customer Service Excellence: Emphasis on outstanding customer service driven by happy employees and accountability.

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Well it has been over 9 months since Cory's Lawn Service has last blogged, and it is time to get back on the horse and try again. The purpose of this blog is going to be about lawn care, obviously. I want to provide my customers, and anyone else who wants to read, with information and tips about lawn care in Reno. I also want to discuss about Cory's Lawn Service as a local business in Reno, what we are doing, what service we are providing, and what things we are working on  to better serve our customers and community. Since starting Cory's Lawn Service in 2006 I have gone from knowing nothing about lawn care or owning a small business to currently having over 100 repeat customers yearly. Over the years I have sought out the tricks of the trade, advise from other local landscape companies, and learned some good old fashion trial and error. Ultimately I have learned to strive for outstanding customer service which translates first to having happy employees and owning up to my mistakes. I believe that it is specifically because of our customer service, that we have repeat customers year after year. Using this blog is another way that I want to continue our excellent customer service by letting people know what things they can do to help their lawns along with other valuable information, discussions, and tips.

Thank you for taking the time to check out Cory's Lawn Service blog. I know according to the calender we are still at the tail end of winter, but we look forward to the upcoming mowing season, along with helping you with anything that you might need done around your property. I am so appreciative of the customers year after year that trust and enjoy the work we do.

What Is Dethatching?

Key Takeaways

Dethatching enhances lawn health:

• Improved Nutrient Access: Dethatching allows water, nutrients, and air to better reach the soil and grass roots.
• Enhanced Grass Growth: Removing thatch promotes healthier and thicker lawn growth by preventing overcrowded roots.
• Disease Prevention: By removing excess thatch, dethatching helps prevent lawn diseases by reducing the environment that pests and diseases thrive in.

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I had some people ask me about what the benefits of dethatching you lawn are. I found a great WEBSITE that will help with some tips of how to prevent thatch, what it does, and when you should have it done. If you are interested in this service for your lawn in Reno, I would be more that willing to assist.

Snow Removal

waist deep snow

Key Takeaways

Snow removal offers:

• Efficient Service: Successfully handled an overwhelming volume of requests during heavy snowfall.
• Team Effort: Trustworthy team members played a crucial role in managing tasks effectively.
• Equipment Use: Utilization and acquisition of necessary equipment to tackle extensive snow removal challenges.

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Just when it seemed that it was almost spring and time to start the mowers and blowers for lawn care in Reno, certain parts of the city got over a foot of snow. We even had one entry way in Del Webb that had over waist deep snow to remove.  Luckily, because of some trusty workers, we were able to tend to the overwhelming amount of phone calls for snow removal. It is amazing how 8 hours of snow removal will turn a consistent night owl into a sleeping baby that must have 12 hours of rest. Over all, Cory's Lawn Service had a very successful two weeks of snow removal. We removed snow from 76 driveways with our deepest removal measuring 32" in the picture to the right. You would think this would come with an award or something, but all it came with was a larger bill and noteworthy photo! In the process we were able to break 2 of our snow blowers, borrow another blower for part of a day, and buy our 6th snow blower.

During this time, I was able to complete the companies first on-site video (below),  followed by a few more that can be found on our youtube.com/lawncarereno site. In the end, I lost 6 lbs in the past two weeks from the exercise and actually had a good time of getting to know both Brandon and Geoff while we worked our tails off. Thank you to everyone who used our services these past two weeks, and please feel free to call me or email me with any other needs you may have.

Luckily, because of some trusty workers we were able to tend to the overwhelming amount of phone calls for snow removal. It is amazing how 8 hours of snow removal will turn a night owl into a baby needing 12 hours of sleep.

Reno Climate Tips

Map of Growing Conditions

Key Takeaways

Reno's climate challenges:

• Unique Climate: Reno's "Purple Zone" climate is tough on grass, featuring cool winters, hot summers, and high winds.
• Grass Selection: Native and drought-tolerant grasses like Buffalo grass and Blue Grama are ideal for local conditions.
• Seasonal Planting: Cool-season grasses are best planted in late spring or early fall, while warm-season grasses thrive when planted in late spring to early summer.

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Reno is located in the “Purple Zone” and is considered to be in the Western Region of the US. While many of us love the climate we live in, it is not ideal for grass. We are known for our cool winters, hot summers, high winds, and relatively dry climates. Cool-Season grasses are commonly found in this area. Due to the dry conditions, grasses that handle drought and extreme weather fluctuations are ideal. However, with proper watering techniques, a few cool & warm season grasses can grow if properly maintained. Mowing typically lasts from early spring through late fall, with watering required for many non-drought tolerant grasses, and during hot summer months. Planting of cool-season grasses is common during late spring and early fall months. Conversely, warm-season grasses tend to plant best during the late-spring and early summer months. Grasses commonly found here: Native Grasses (Buffalo grass, Blue Grama, and Wheatgrasses), Fescues, Kentucky Bluegrass, Zoysia, and Bermuda. Interested in professional lawn care? Call Cory's Lawn Service at (775)-868-0123 to get set up today!

Lawn Care Tips

Key Takeaways

Insightful lawn care insights:

• Regular Maintenance: Consistent care is crucial for a healthy lawn.
• Seasonal Adjustments: Adapting lawn care techniques for changing seasons enhances lawn health.
• Professional Services: Expert services can significantly improve lawn quality and appearance.

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Moving into a new home? Have a damaged lawn? Here are a few tips to restoring your lawn.

Clean it up!

Removing all your weed and brush buildup will improve the quality of appearance and help your lawn grow to it’s full potential.

The best time to clear weeds and brush is the spring or fall, when your lawn is thriving. This allows for the lawn to recover quickly and look its best. In preparation for your clean up, mow the entire lawn. Short grass will make de-weeding and surface preparation easier. It will also improve seed germination rates because more seed will make contact with the soil and seedlings will have greater exposure to the sun.

Take care of depressions and holes

Depressions in your lawn can be caused by poor grading, uneven settling, or the decomposition of buried tree stumps, logs, or roots. Mark any irregularities with a flag or stick so you can find them easily when you are ready to level them.

To level small bumps, raise the sod with a sharp spade and remove the necessary amount of soil beneath it. Cut out at least a 2 by 2-foot section of sod. If you lift smaller patches of sod, they will likely dry out and die. While the soil base is exposed, mix in some compost and fertilizer. Watersoak the area using a hose and press the sod back into place. Keep the area watered to prevent lawn brownout.

Fertilization

Apply the fertilizer recommended by the results of your soil. Use a slow-release fertilizer, putting down more fertilizer than necessary will damage your lawn. The excess fertilizer may eventually pollute waterways. If you did not test your soil, apply a slow-release fertilizer with an Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium ratio of 3-1-2. Apply about 1/2 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn.

Microbes and Organic Material

Microbes digest grass clippings, dead grass roots, and stems, providing nutrients your grass. A topdressing of compost mixed with topsoil will add organic matter into the soil without hurting the lawn. Be sure to aerate your lawn after your application. Topsoil and compost can be found at your local nurseries and landscape centers.

These tips should help you on your path to a beautiful lawn! If you don’t have the time, we would be happy to help. Give us a call at (775) 686-0123.