Learning to Let Go and Trust Your Employees

Opportunities-Road-Sign3

Key Takeaways

Empowerment through delegation:

• Building Trust: Delegating tasks enables leaders to build trust with their employees, fostering a culture of confidence and mutual respect.
• Enhancing Skills: It offers employees the opportunity to develop new skills and grow professionally within the organization.
• Increasing Productivity: Trusting employees with responsibilities can lead to increased productivity and innovation by allowing for diverse problem-solving approaches.

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There are so many benefits to being an entrepreneur, but at the same time there are also many headaches. For most of us, there inevitably comes a time when we are unable to be in complete control of our business and therefore must trust and rely on the training and leadership of our employees to run it in our absence. This became a reality a few weeks ago when I left the country for two weeks and had to rely on my relatively new employees to complete the landscape maintenance of 268 homes, all while providing the same customer satisfaction that we strive to provide. One of my employees dislocated his shoulder wrestling with friends just days before I left, so I was at a point of absolute panic thinking that my business would implode on itself while I was away. It was not until I returned and saw that everything was still intact that I realized how dumb it was to freak out so much as to whether or not I had trained my employees enough. Below are some pointers, suggestions, and ideas I realized after going through this experience.

1.) Trust your Employees:

If you are the great boss that you believe you are and you have trained your employees to the standards of your business, allow them to take the reigns of your business in different forms. This doesn't mean dropping the business as a whole on their lap and saying "deal with it," but it means allowing them to make decisions that you as the boss would normally make. This can be as simple as speaking with a client, or as big as making business decisions while you are away.

2.) Train your Employees:

In a small business situation it can be the temptation to just train your employees to do the basic things they need to do when you're around. Since you will not always be around, whether you are on vacation or are sick, it is important to train your employees to take over for you when you are gone.

3.) Don't Freak Out:

When the time comes that you are away from your business and have to leave it in the hands of your employees don't freak out. If you have trained them properly and you have trust that they can complete the job or run the business while you are away then there is no point to run the worst case scenario over and over again in your head. Trust that your employees will rise to the occasion.

Central Park

central-by-grandcanyon-freedotfr

Key Takeaways

Central Park insights:

• Vast Landscape: Encompasses 843 acres with diverse amenities like softball fields, lakes, and a zoo.
• Extensive Flora: Home to 24,000 trees and extensive lawns, primarily Kentucky Blue Grass.
• Conservation Efforts: Maintained by the Central Park Conservancy with a $34 million annual budget.

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I had the pleasure to check out and explore Central Park for the first time. In the heart of New York City lies ones of the largest and most spectacular city parks in the United States. The park consists of 843 acres which includes several softball fields, open meadows, bridges, carousels, lakes, ponds, zoo, etc. The park consists of 24,000 trees and 843 acres of land and water that is all maintained by the Central Park Conservancy. Central Park has a $34 million dollar annual budget and was established as a National Historical Landmark in 1962. The list could go on and on about this place and all I have to say is don't miss the opportunity to visit central park while in Manhattan. While at the park I had a unique opportunity to take a quick video to share what I had experienced in the short time I was able to explore. Since Central Park consists of 250 acres of lawn I found it appropriate to find out about some facts of the lawn by calling the Central Park Conservancy while I was was there. Although New York is on the east coast, they are also considered to be a cool climate region like Reno, NV. After talking with the staff from the Central Park Conservancy I found out that the parks lawns are predominantly Kentucky Blue Grass like we have in Reno due to their similar year round climate. According to a study in 2008, the park uses approximately 5.28 million gallons of water a year to water all the lawns in Central Park. If you have a chance to go to New York City, plan on spending a full relaxing day to explore this amazing area and don't rush to take in the amazing scenery and lakes this place has to offer.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGvPye5cqUU[/youtube]

3 Ways to Prevent Bad Business (The Burger King Experience)

burger-king-king

Key Takeaways

Insights from a notable business mishap:

• Customer Focus: Prioritizing customer satisfaction can prevent reputation damage.
• Quality Control: Consistent quality checks ensure product and service standards are met.
• Feedback Loop: Implementing a robust system for customer feedback encourages continuous improvement.

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While traveling back from Canada this week I found myself in LAX Airport searching for food to hold me over till my return to Reno. Since the options were slim and the lines were long, I chose to wait in a 20+ person line at Burger King since I was in no rush for my next flight. While the three cashiers were working hard at pumping people through the line, there was still a limit as to how fast Whoppers can cook and french fries can deep fry. Before I knew it there were more people who had ordered and were now waiting than people in line to order. I found myself holding ticket order #89 as the server said, “Number  62!!!” at which I realized I would be here for  some time.

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While I sat back and watched the angry mob tap their feet, look at their watches, and start to panic, it was evident that Burger King was doing their job as correctly and efficiently as possible, but it was the inpatient customers who were just not smart to order if they were pressed for time before their next flight. There were two specific people that demanded that their food be served to them right away or they would miss their flight. The lack of patience was beyond me and it was obvious that there were just a few customers that realized Burger King was doing everything they could.

So why write about this experience? This was one of the few times that I witnessed a business that was failing by doing everything right! Many people ended up getting their food and walking away frustrated even though the employees at Burger King were working as fast as they possibly could. Although this is a unique situation due to the different customer base in an airport, other businesses should know how to react if the demand is way greater than what can be supplied.

1.)    Be real with your customer up front:

In the case with the Burger King situation, it would have been helpful for the cashiers to give the customer a heads up regarding the approximate wait time before the customer committed to buy. With my business, this means being honest with a customer that if I am busy it might be a few weeks till I can get to a job, even if that means losing the bid anyway. I would rather lose the job than have a person pissed off because it took me an unreasonable time to complete. What does this look like for your business?

2.)    Keep the customer informed:

Since patience is so hard to come by these days it is important to keep the customer informed on what the holdup is. In the Burger King situation, there was a delay on the fries to be cooked so the server was smart to make an announcement to the angry mob as to why it looked like everyone was standing around (this was due to waiting on an item to cook).

3.)    Smile and Apologize:

It is strange how this step does so much and is understandably hard for an employee to swallow his/her pride and apologize for something they didn’t do wrong. Sometimes you can rectify the situation by just being nice in the end.  A simple, “I am sorry sir for the wait, I hope you enjoy your meal” might just make up for the impatience of the customer. Although a pissed off customer probably won’t hurt this specific Burger King, due to it being in an airport without a consistent customer base, it hurts the business as a whole if a customer walks away believing that “every Burger King has slow service” which will prevent them from returning to any Burger King in the future.

How to Mow Straight Lines on Large Yards

Key Takeaways

Mowing techniques offer:

• Visual Appeal: Straight lines enhance the lawn's aesthetic beauty.
• Efficiency: Methodical patterns reduce time and effort.
• Health Benefit: Consistent mowing direction promotes grass health.

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While training new employees I have found that mowing straight lines in larger yards is not something that comes easily for some people. It almost seems inevitable that if you are using a walk behind mower and traveling a longer distance your first line is going to be crooked. This is problematic because it's the line used to base the rest of the mowing pattern off of. I have created a brief video to show how I used a crooked first line as a means to develop straight lines. Although this might seem basic to some people, I have seen many home owners and lawn care companies mow entire yards based off of an initial crooked line, ending up with a wavy pattern in the grass.

The video below demonstrates how to produce straight mow lines after starting off with an "S" shaped line.

Once the crooked first pass has been completed, look for the section of it that has the straightest line. In this case, the beginning of my first pass had the straightest point, so I lined the wheel up with the wheel pattern of the first 50' or so and overlapped the end of my first pass. Now, after two passes, I have corrected the latter half of the first line.

I complete my third pass by repeating what I did with my second line, overlapping the final portion that remains crooked. After three passes I now have two straight lines as well as a straight reference point from which to mow the rest of the lawn.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/3uKQSYX_UDU[/youtube]

How to Save Money on Your Lawn When it Rains.

National Weather Service

Key Takeaways

Efficient irrigation insights:

• Water Savings: Adjusting irrigation systems after rainfall can significantly reduce water usage and save money.
• Rain Sensors: Installing rain sensors for irrigation systems optimizes watering schedules, enhancing water conservation and financial savings.
• Practical Steps: Simple actions like setting irrigation to "rain delay" post-rainfall contribute to substantial water conservation.

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This memorial day weekend has reminded us that it actually does rain in the high desert. We have seen two straight days of rain, and, depending on your area, according to the National Weather Service you have probably accumulated somewhere between .30 and .50 inches of rain. We do not get that much rain during the summer in Northern Nevada, so we should use what God has provided us wisely and not waste water. This will inevitably save money. The cool season grasses that we have in Reno normally require between 1" and 1.5" of water per week to maintain health. It is very hard to pin point the exact amount of water that comes out of an irrigation system, but a rough average I have found is somewhere between 4 and 12 gallons per minute. This completely depends on the size of your piping, sprinkler heads per zone, number of zones, and types of nozzles you use, but for most residential homes we can give this ballpark estimate. If you actually want to calculate how much your irrigation system uses, this LINK can help you determine that amount.

So How Do You Save Water and Money?

First things first. For those of you that do not want to calculate it out, just check with the National Weather Service to see how much rain your region accumulated, and, if it is around .5", then it is probably safe to assume that you can change your irrigation timer from "AUTO" to "RAIN DELAY" or "OFF" for your next assigned watering day. Just don't forget to turn it back on later in the week! For my home with 4 zones I water for 10 minutes each zone, 3 times per watering day, and an average of 8 gallons per minute is used. This comes out to be 960 gallons of water saved just by shutting my irrigation system down for one day.

More Advanced Ways to Save Water and Money:

Rain-Bird-ESP-Controller-with-a-Rain-Bird-WR2-Rain-Sensor

For anyone who is looking at a more permanent way to save money and water throughout the season, you can install a RAIN SENSOR that works with most irrigation timers. Instead of assuming how much water your lawn needs, this system will determine the amount of moisture in your lawn and will activate the sprinklers when watering is appropriate. The upfront cost of this might be a little hard to swallow, but I have had customers that have saved up to 30% on their water bill over the season, which means the Rain Sensor will eventually pay for itself overtime.

Golf Course Review 1 (Grizzly Ranch)

full golf photo

Key Takeaways

Grizzly Ranch offers:

• Exclusive Location: A hidden gem in the Sierras, providing a secluded and picturesque golfing experience.
• Value for Money: Competitive rates for exceptional course quality, despite occasional coupon disputes.
• Course Conditions: Impeccably maintained greens and fairways, offering a challenging yet rewarding play.

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One of my favorite hobbies is golf. I freaking love golf. Although I do not have a registered handicap, I normally shoot in the mid to high 80's and get the pleasure of playing many different courses in northern Nevada. So I am going to blog about the courses I play to offer an opinion on two things: 1.) The condition of the course itself, and 2.) the "bang for your buck" experience at the course. While it seems that many courses can charge whatever they want because people will pay it, I have watched three courses in my area close down in the past five years. It seems like golf courses have not adjusted their strategies to fill up tee times and still insist on charging an arm and a leg rate. In my golf review blogs, I intend to give my 2 cents worth to people who enjoy playing nice, fun, challenging courses without sacrificing their first born for the cost of 18 holes. I also hope to speak with some grounds keepers to get some of the ins and outs of golf course maintenance. I'm a lawn guy, I care to know how some of these courses stay in such great condition.

GrizzlyRanchLogo

This week, a few friends and I had an amazing opportunity to play Grizzly Ranch Golf Club. Most people have never even heard of this place because it is tucked away in the Sierras near Portola, CA, but it is one of the most beautiful golf clubs around.

It is well worth the short 50 minute drive from Reno to play this beautiful mountain course if you can find a good rate that the club house will honor. I say "honor" because Grizzly Ranch recently offered a text message coupon for a 2 for 1 round (which would equate to $40 per person), and my foursome planned to use two of them.  They only accepted one.

The stipulations were that you had to text the coupon that said "share with friends" to your friend, then show it at the club house.  However, they denied one of our discounts because we did not send the text message until after we arrived on site, rather than before we got there. We debated the club house attendant over this unstated detail, but we lost.

After all the time spent driving we did not want to turn back to Reno, so we just sucked it up and paid three rates between the four of us, which came out to $60 a piece. I do have to say, however, that unlike other courses that charge $60.00 Grizzly Ranch is still a great deal. (Their peak season rate is $109.00). Still, we were pretty pissed because no matter how nice your course is, you honor an advertised coupon to draw first time players back. Their stubbornness left a bad taste in our mouths.

grizzly ranch

After our club house debacle, we teed off with only 10 other players on the course for the whole day. While this is amazing for the players, this shows why courses like Grizzly Ranch need to find better ways to attract mid-week golfers when no members are around. The course conditions were near perfect and had little to no evidence of wear from the dry winter, like many of the courses in Reno are experiencing, but there was virtually no one there.

The greens were in great shape but were very slow due to the morning dew, as well as the fact that they had not been cut in a few days. The course was challenging and in such great shape that I would go back with another discounted rate. Their twilight rate of $89.00 is too rich for my blood, but I would recommend taking the time to drive up there and play if they offer another coupon. If you do go with a coupon, just be prepared to read the invisible fine print before you make the drive.

Dethatching Lawns in Reno

thatch

Key Takeaways

Dethatching in Reno offers:

• Seasonal Timing: Typically performed in Spring to coincide with aeration, enhancing root system access to nutrients, air, and water.
• Thatch Management: A light layer is beneficial, but excessive thatch from Kentucky bluegrass needs removal to prevent damage.
• Proper Technique: Unlike aeration, dethatching should not be done on wet lawns to avoid turf damage and ensure thatch is effectively removed.

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Dethatching is something that is normally done in the Spring and often coincides with the aeration process. Just like lawn aeration, dethatching is done in to allow nutrients, air, and water to have better access to the root system. Areas of the country consisting of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass do not have to worry as much about a heavy thatch layer build up, but unfortunately Reno consists of mainly Kentucky blue grass, which does tend to have a quicker build up of thatch growth. A small layer of around 1/2" thatch growth can actually be beneficial for your lawn because it can help protect the turf from the hot summer sun, help prevent weed germination, as well as reduce water evaporation. Although there are some great benefits to dethatching, it is important to make sure that if you hire someone to "power rake" the lawn it is not done right after the lawn has been watered. Unlike lawn aeration, which normally gets better core penetration just after a good soak, dethatching a wet lawn can leave you with damaged and ripped up sections of turf. Another important factor after power raking is to make sure that the loose thatch is properly raked up instead of left on the grass or mowed over. Some companies attempt to just mow over the loose thatch, but this will mulch up the dead stems and roots and put them right back into the lawn. The other day, we took a minute to shoot a quick video to show you just how much thatch is pulled up after dethatching a single 30 foot strip. From a distance this lawn does not look like it has a thick thatch layer, but once the power rake gets rolling you can see just how much dead stuff has been removed. Check out the video to get an better idea of what dethatching is and whether or not your turf might need it done. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3eLWyVjoDI[/youtube]

The Secrets to Ballpark Turf Perfection

Reno Aces

Key Takeaways

Ballpark turf perfection offers:

• Year-Round Dedication: Maintaining perfect turf requires full-time, year-round effort to ensure quality and consistency.
• Visual Consistency: The goal is achieving a field appearance that looks equally impressive regardless of the season.
• Early Season Readiness: Techniques enable the turf to appear vibrant and green even when other lawns are still dormant.

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Nothing other than "perfection" can describe the Reno Aces baseball field. Whether it is the checkerboard mowing patterns everyone wishes their front lawns had, or the ideal shade of green turf, the Aces ballpark is as good as it gets.

I had the extreme pleasure to meet up with Head of Grounds Eric Blanton to briefly discuss what it takes to keep this ballpark looking as good as it does. Eric assured me that it takes more than just showing up a couple hours before game time a few days a week to mow and fertilize - it takes a full time job year round to ensure a quality field for players and fans. Eric said, "Our goal is for someone to take a picture of the field and not be able to tell if the photo was taken in February or August."

Aces

The picture above was taken on April 3rd during the Aces vs. UNR game, just two days before a snowy season opener. It was this photo made me wonder "how do they make it look so good so early in the season?" While every lawn and golf course in Reno is still dormant, the Aces ballpark has completed their mission to make it look like this image was taken in August. In the video below, Eric and I spend a few minutes discussing some of the ins and outs of maintaining Aces ballpark, along with what it takes to become an award winning Head of Grounds for a minor league baseball team.

Fall Fertilizer Helps Spring Growth

fall fertilizer

Key Takeaways

Fall fertilizer promotes spring growth:

• Root Strengthening: Fall fertilizing is crucial for root fortification, setting the stage for robust spring growth.
• Early Green-Up: Lawns treated with fall fertilizer green up more quickly and vigorously in spring.
• Visual Benefits: Despite dormant periods, fall fertilization results in noticeable visual improvements when the growing season begins.

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Now that the grass is growing it is obvious to see what lawns were taken care of during the off season. What does this mean? There are some lawns that just green up right away and others that take weeks to even show signs that the turf is still alive. So what is secret? Fertilizer! Many people like to skip the final application of fertilizer in the fall because they know that their lawn will go dormant shortly after, so why fertilize if there is no visual benefits? The reason fall fertilizing is very important is because it helps strengthen the roots and will prepare the lawn for the next spring.

Below is a quick video of one of our customers who has the greenest lawn in the neighborhood. Fred has appropriately fertilized which has encouraged his lawn to spring up quickly and look amazing this early in the season.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMHppHg7jpo[/youtube]

Irrigation Disaster: Do it Right!

Licensed and insured

Key Takeaways

Irrigation insights:

• Professional versus Amateur: Opting for a professional ensures your irrigation system is installed correctly, avoiding costly mistakes.
• Cost of Errors: Amateur installations can lead to significant issues, such as leaks from improperly joined pipes.
• Quality Assurance: Hiring licensed professionals can prevent future complications and ensure the system's longevity.

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Dilemma: Where should we draw the line when deciding to hire a professional or save money and hire an amateur? This question is simple if we are talking about who to go to if you have a broken arm, or even who to hire to build your house, but at what point does the grey area come into play where you might be more focused on getting a job done, rather than getting it done right?

Broken PVC pipe

Quick Story:

I pose this question because when I activated my irrigation system the other day I noticed I had a leak. This was not just any leak, it was coming from about 3' underground in a very random place that should never be damaged. After an hour of digging I was expecting to find some cracked PVC pipe, but to my surprise I simply found that the pipe had separated from its joint. Whoever installed the system forgot to use any glue on this small section, which basically means it was being held together like two pieces of Legos. This was just one of many issues that have come up with my irrigation since we moved in, so it's clear that whoever installed this system took many shortcuts and installed things incorrectly.

Solution:

So just as you might be ready to hire anyone to install your irrigation system, think about being in this situation in the future. I have had several customers ask me to fix underground piping issues that have broken or were installed incorrectly, and although I know how to do it I normally direct them to call someone who is licensed for this type of work to make sure it is done right. I can fix my own irrigation - but I am no expert.

Ask yourself this question - Does fixing my irrigation fall within the grey area between hiring an amateur and hiring a professional? Before you go with an amateur, think twice about the consequences and possibly spend the extra buck to have the job done right.

5 Steps to Activate Your Water

anti siphon valve

Key Takeaways

Efficient watering methods:

• Step-by-Step Activation: A methodical approach ensures optimal water system functionality.
• Seasonal Adjustment: Tailoring water usage to seasonal needs promotes lawn health and saves resources.
• Inspection for Leaks: Regularly checking for leaks prevents water waste and protects the system.
• Professional Consultation: Expert advice can enhance system efficiency and lawn vitality.

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The most basic way to tell if you need help activating the water is determine if you know what the picture to the left is? Not a clue? Then yes you might need help turning your irrigation back on after a Reno winter. If this is something you want to be able to do yourself and have a similar system than these directions and video should be able to help you out. 1.) Tools:

To activate your water you will need a small to medium size flat head screw driver and a irrigation key that can be purchased at your local Home Depot.

2.) Test clocks:

This is where the flat head screw driver comes in handy. The two smaller valves that stick out of the back pressure system have spot where you will use the flat head screwdriver. During the winter these slits should be in parallel with the valve, but you will now want to close the valve by turning the screw driver a quarter turn until the slits are perpendicular with the ground.

3.) Open the valves:

Now you will want to turn the two large valves to be parallel with the pipe. In the picture above they are currently perpendicular with the pipe, so by using the picture as a reference you would want to twist both valves a quarter turn until in parallel with the pipes.

4.) Close drain valves:

In the video we are dealing with a two drain system. Your system might have more drain valves so you will want to make sure all drain valves are closed before activating the system. To close the drain valves you will need to use the irrigation key to turn the drain valve clockwise until it stops. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN.

5.) Activate the System:

Finally you will need to use the irrigation key one last time, but just like in the video below you want to turn the key counter-clockwise until the valve is fully open. At this point you should hear all the water fill the pipes and pressurize. If there are no leaks and all drain valves have been closed then this your system is good to go!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlZZsU8nD7o[/youtube]

Help Me, Help You

lawn agreement

Key Takeaways

Efficient lawn care enhances:

• Communication: Prompt and clear communication fosters better service customization.
• Preparation: Pre-service preparation by homeowners, such as providing access and addressing pet concerns, ensures smoother operations.
• Feedback: Constructive feedback post-service allows for continuous improvement and personalization.

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It has become evident to me that in the lawn care industry there is a much better approach to make money, but I am not sure if the hard economy would allow people to be open to the idea.  What is it?  Help other businesses make money. Yes, I know that owning and operating a small business in this country is rather cut-throat, but there are some very effective ways that lawn care and landscaping professionals could help each other make money.

After talking today with a fellow friend and landscaper Joe Colacurcio, owner of Hillside Landscape in Reno, it became very obvious that we had an opportunity to help each other make money. Joe, being very experienced in the landscaping and snow removal realm, had heard that this previous year I was contacted by Cabela's in Reno for a snow removal contract. Since our business is not equipped to take on such a large contract, I simply told them "Thank you for contacting us, but we are currently not able to provide service for you." After the discussion with Joe today, I realized that I had a potential gold mine for someone that could handle a contract like this.

light bulb

Joe and I generally work in the same field, but we have two completely different business models. Joe focuses on high end landscaping jobs while my business mainly focuses on the weekly lawn maintenance contracts. However, each of our businesses get calls for both types of work because the public does not always know the difference between our companies. At this point in time I was reminded of Steve Carrell's character from the movie Despicable Me saying, "Liiiiiiggght buuulllllb!!!"

Whats the Solution?

This is when I realized that so many lawn care companies stretch themselves thin by trying to serve homes/businesses all across Reno. We each find our niche in a specific part of town that allows us to cut down on drive time (and therefore gas), enabling us to complete more jobs in a shorter period of time. So I propose, "help me, help you." I honestly don't want to be driving to Sparks or south Reno to do a lawn maintenance job just as some companies believe that the NW area is out of their way. If we are able to refer business to each other it would allow us to offer lower rates, drive less, and in the end provide better service for our customers! In my opinion this is a win win situation for both the business and the customer.

3 Steps That Got Our Business Recognized

social media

Key Takeaways

Innovative strategies enhance visibility:

• Website Creation: Establishing a basic online presence via a user-friendly website.
• Google Places and Yelp: Utilizing free platforms for increased discoverability.
• Encouraging Reviews: Actively seeking customer feedback to improve online reputation.

"Check out our lawn care services."

The benefits of social media have become more and more evident since our business jumped on the bandwagon last year. Because of this, our marketing focus has changed from trying to blast people with unwanted messages and forcing discounts, to discussing and connecting with others about lawn care tips, tools, and tricks through social media. While it has taken a lot of time and effort to improve our overall search engine optimization (SEO), there are a few quick things we did to get our name on the front page of Google in a moderately untouched market. If you are not quite ready to commit or spend money on social media marketing, here is what I did with limited knowledge to get my brand name recognized on the web. 1.) Get a Website:

Before I had enough money to hire a webmaster to create my website, I did some searching and ended up creating an intuit website. This was not great, but it at least created a home base for people to find me. Depending on your situation I would probably suggest creating a wordpress blog instead. The great thing about both of these is they are user friendly, practically free, and create a hub spot for people to find you.

2.) Get your business on Google places and Yelp:

Another FREE tool, Google Places, is where you maybe noticed first if your competition has not flooded it yet. When we signed up for this, Reno area Lawn Services had swamped this tool, but since this was all they had done Google had no reason to put them higher up on the search engine list. In a key word search now you will find Cory's Lawn Service somewhere between letter A-D on almost any search for "lawn service" or "snow removal." Is it because we're a huge business? NO! It just because we utilized some of the tools the internet had to offer.

Google Places

3.) Get 5 start reviews:

I can't give away all our secrets to how we landed 13 five star reviews on Google places, but I can say this is easier than it looks. Don't wait for your customers to review you on their own because you may not like what you see when they actually do (many post because of a bad experience, rather than a good one). Ask your loyal customers to help out, maybe offer 10% off, or a buy one get one free if they go review you on Google. It is much more likely for a random person to try out your business if they see 5 star reviews, as opposed to the company that gets 3 stars.

I am no type of social media expert, and I am honestly just learning how to use social media marketing as well, but these were the first 3 things I did to get Cory's Lawn Service some type of visibility on the web that actually had people calling to get more information about our services. Try them out!

Lawn Aeration Part 2 (get it done right)

Coreaeriation

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Key Takeaways

Lawn aeration benefits:

• Optimal Timing: Aeration is most effective when performed after lawns are thoroughly watered, allowing for deeper soil penetration.
• Equipment Type Matters: The choice between a self-propelled drum aerator and a piston-driven aerator can affect the aeration quality and timing.
• Quality vs. Speed: Rushed aeration, often due to low-cost services, may result in insufficient soil aeration, emphasizing the importance of choosing quality services.

Check out our aeration services.

Over the past two weeks I have seen several lawn care companies doing all the prep work they possibly can before the lawn mowing season starts. Starting all the way back in the first week of March, I began to see different companies in town start their services to commercial and residential properties, which includes lawn aeration. Although aeration is one of the single best things you can do for the health of your lawn, if it is not done right you may be wasting your money. In Reno, water activation is normally done around the first to second week in April due to the freezing temperatures during early spring nights. The best time to aerate is normally after a lawn has been soaked throughout the night.  This enables deep cores to break through the thatch layer and allows water and nutrients to penetrate all the way through to the soil. The problem with aerating your lawn so early in March is that the ground can still be frozen and has not had a chance to be watered. Due to Reno's extremely dry winter this year, many of the lawns that were aerated before the irrigation had been activated have produced very minimal soil penetration, which results in extremely small core removal.

Since I have not activated my water yet, I just went outside and attempted to aerate my lawn to show exactly what I am talking about. The cores that were removed are extremely small compared to the picture above and have hardly even penetrated through the thatch layer. Since most companies, including myself, use a self propelled drum aerator, it is necessary to have moisture in the lawn so as to get deep core penetration and the maximum benefit for the time, money, and effort.

What should I do?

If you have already had your lawn aerated and your cores are small because the irrigation had not been activated yet, you can either: 1) get it done again, or 2) just wait until the fall to get it done right. If you hire a company to aerate your lawn, ask if they use a self propelled drum aerator or a piston driven aerator. If the company uses a piston driven aerator, then the aeration process can be done at any time, as long as the ground is not frozen.

Finally, you get what you pay for! A neighborhood boy this year went and rented an aerator for a day and was only charging homes $20.00 to aerate their lawn. Due to the amount of people that signed up for this cheap rate, his aeration jobs resulted in very few plugs being removed because he was in a rush to return the aerator by the end of the day.

Just make sure when you aerate this season that the process is done right!

66,600 Lbs. is Thinking Outside the Box

elephant

Key Takeaways

Innovative strategies enable:

• Innovative Revenue Streams: Developing unique services, like the Decomposed Granite Refresher, can compensate for income lost due to unforeseen circumstances.
• Adaptability in Business: Flexibility and creative thinking are crucial for maintaining operations during challenging times.
• Planning for Contingencies: Having a backup plan ensures sustainability and avoids the need for workforce reduction or business closure during off-peak seasons.

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As many green companies are wondering what to do about replacing the lost income from this past winter, it is crucial to think of a way to substitute for the lost revenue caused by the lack of snow removal. For some much larger companies in parts of Wisconsin, and other snowy states in which half their income comes from snow removal, this was significantly harder to do than for companies in Reno. This year, I found myself going out for one single snow storm, which didn't even cover the cost of parts to tune up our snow blowers. Since our snow removal profits normally pay for lawn equipment tune ups as well as new equipment, I had to figure out a way to replace this lost revenue. It was at this point it became evident that Cory's Lawn Service needed to think outside the box to try and replace our lost revenue. We decided to offer our customers a "Decomposed Granite Refresher", which can be read about in a previous BLOG. After emailing our customers about this offer, we spent 2 weeks installing 18 cubic yards of decomposed granite for 14 homes, which weighs in around 66,600 pounds. After doing some quick searching on the internet we found out that this is the equivalent of moving 5.5 African Elephants by shovel and wheel barrow.

Whats the Point?

Although this number may seem like nothing to the green companies that actually move rock as part of their yearly business, for our company it enabled us to purchase and maintain our lawn care equipment this year. The point being, all companies need to think about extra "outside the box" services to offer customers in times of hardship. Although we normally count on snow removal service, it is not up to us what weather God is going to provide. Just as corporations plan out a yearly budget based on the money they expect to have, many small businesses count on work that is not actually guaranteed, such as snow removal.

It is vital is to have a back up plan for rough times so you don't have to downsize your workforce, offer less hours, or shut down shop entirely. This back up plan might not be your bread and butter, but it will keep your head above water during a poor season and allow you to be ready for when things improve.

Finding Success in Traditional Marketing

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Key Takeaways

Traditional marketing boosts business:

• Targeted Delivery: Focusing on specific regions increases response rates and client conversion.
• Effective Strategy: Customized door hangers have led to significantly higher engagement and new clients.
• Origins Matter: Even simple, traditional methods like Word document flyers can effectively launch a business.
• Efficiency Tips: Hiring help for flyer distribution can optimize both time and results.

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It was an exciting moment at the Bettinghouse residence today when the loud sound of a diesel engine stopped in front of my home and UPS delivered our door hanger flyers for the 2012 season. Although I have redirected most of my marketing efforts to different social media platforms (which is free) I have stuck with one form of traditional marketing for the past 3 years - door hangers.  They have helped my business tremendously, but it has taken more than just running around all parts of the city and blanketing a large area with a generic message. This year, I used the base of an old design from Sara Millim and, with the professional help of Donald Zimmerman, came up with some new ideas that I believe will have a response rate in Reno, NV that is greater than the national average. For a lawn care business like mine the national response rate is somewhere around .4%-2%. In 2010 I had a response rate of about 4%, with 2.3% actually signing up. Although these numbers seem extremely low to the naked eye, this meant 19 new clients that I did business for over the course of 7 months in 2010, as well as in the following years.

The key is to not waste time blanketing all neighborhoods, but to seek out a few areas of the city that are looking for what your business has to offer. We design our door hangers to fit a specific region of the city. This way we are not driving all across town, but are staying clustered and doing business for one location.

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Cory's Lawn Service was originally established by handing out Microsoft Word flyers in the right neighborhood in 2005. Before I knew it I had 30 customers and had not bought a piece of equipment yet! Although we have come a long way from Word documents and used equipment, I would still recommend using this traditional way of marketing if you are looking to start up or help grow a business.

If you are concerned about the amount of time spent walking around and hanging flyers, I understand completely. I realized after the first year that handing these out personally was not the best use of my time, so for the past two years I have hired Trevor Hallum, who tells me "you realize you are paying me to go on a run." I also realized it will get done even quicker when I am paying him per flyer, rather than per hour. Now Trevor gets paid to go on a faster run!

Please look for our new flyers in the NW Reno area. Also, if you got one of our flyers and read this blog contact me and I will give you a free mow!

A Day of Golf at Whitney Oaks

Whitney Oaks

Key Takeaways

Whitney Oaks experience:

• Challenging Course: Whitney Oaks is noted for its challenging layout, making it an interesting play for golfers.
• Course Quality: The quality of the turf and greens, despite recent aeration, shows promising upkeep and potential for excellent conditions.
• Staff Accommodation: Exceptional staff hospitality, especially in offering discounts on special occasions, enhances the golfing experience.

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This week I had a chance to take a break and go golfing with some good friends at Whitney Oaks golf course in Rocklin, CA. Although I was there for a beautiful day of golf, I really wish I would have chance to meet up with the grounds crew to interview them about the upkeep around the course.  Whitney Oaks is probably one of the more difficult courses I have played in the past few years outside of Reno. I do not have a registered handicap and normally shoot in the mid 80's, but the two times I played here I have shot a 98 and a 92. As far as the actual quality of the turf at the course goes, I can't say I was disappointed. However, most holes were not in the greatest shape. I do have to give credit to the fact that the greens were just aerated and things have greened up more in the past 3 weeks. I guess part of me just expects California courses to be  immaculate in the winter/spring compared to the golf courses we have in Reno.

I really want to start meeting with the grounds crews at the different courses I play to find out the reasons why their courses look the way they do. When do they activate the full time watering? What fertilizer do they use? And when do they apply it? I think this would share a glimpse of how and why golf courses stay in great shape throughout the year. After driving out to Whitney Oaks twice from Reno, I would give this course a overall score of 7 out of 10 for spring golf. It is challenging but fun, and the pace of play was decent. Also, the staff was super nice the first time to hook us up with a discounted rate for a friend's birthday, even though our coupon was not valid on that day (read the fine print Rob!) I would like to return to Whitney Oaks in the summer and I bet my rating would go up when everything is green!

Although it might seem stupid, I wanted to take a little video of the guys we were out with and give a little shout out to my buddy Christian's amazing restaurant SUP in Reno, NV. Christian has only been playing golf seriously a few months and with his garage sale bag of mismatched clubs this guy is just around the corner from consistently shooting in the 90's.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DwcmQJp1dQ&context=C4e51814ADvjVQa1PpcFPx7JAKY9g4keXtgbnMg3LFetFh9D1Z5Uk=[/youtube]

Top 5 Considerations Before Signing a Lawn Care Service

upset lawn kid

Key Takeaways

Lawn care service considerations:

• Community Feedback: Utilize neighbors' experiences to find reputable lawn care services.
• Professional Credentials: Ensure the service is licensed, indicating reliability and accountability.
• Trustworthiness: Personal interaction with providers offers a measure of their reliability and the security of your property.
• Contract Awareness: Read contracts carefully to avoid being locked into unsatisfactory agreements.

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If this is the first year you are considering hiring a lawn care service or are in need of a change from the same crappy service year after year, here are the TOP 5 things to consider before  hiring a lawn care provider. These recommendation are not the guaranteed way to hire the most stellar lawn care provider around, but since this is a business that practically anyone can start up there are some things to watch out for.  I will admit and know for a fact that Cory's Lawn Service may not be the best fit for what you're looking for, but after being in the business for some time I can tell you some things to look out for and avoid so you can hire a service that does fits your needs. 1.) Talk to your Neighbors:

There is still no better way to find a good business than through word of mouth. Whether its a restaurant or a vacation spot we don't trust anything more that what others have to say.  Have you noticed that your neighbors use a lawn care services? Be a nice neighbor and bring over a plate of cookies and ask them how they ended up choosing the service they currently use, how they like them, and what downfalls there have been to using the service.

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2.) Hire Someone with a Business License:

If you're hiring little Timmy from down the street who is trying to make money to go to summer camp this year then ignore this one and have the kid wash your car as well. But if you're hiring a small business to take care of your property this year, then that's what they should be, a licensed small business which all business are required to places in a visible spot for anyone to see. This insures you that they are registered with the state and city in case of any injury or damage is done to your property they will be easy to find and are most likely insured as well.

3.) Hire who you trust:

Almost all lawn care providers will come to your home for a free estimate and if they don't that might be a red flag already. This allows you the opportunity to meet them first hand and ask any questions before you commit to signing any type of contract. See if they will be the person who will be on your property weekly, and if not try and meet the people that will. Your lawn care provider will get to know your property quickly and when you're home or not. If you can't trust them in person with you home, can you trust them on your property when your out of town?

lawn guys

4.) Check reviews online:

This day in age so many people are using social media. In a matter of minutes you can check online if they are reputable and trustworthy. Review sites like Google places and Yelp will bring up reviews from past customers along with a 1 to 5 star rating according to past work done. If you don't want to spend the time asking a neighbor, this is the second best way to find a little bit about what you're dealing with.

5.) Read the fine print:

Unfortunately this is where I have heard people getting into trouble. If you have to sign a weekly lawn care contract read the fine print. Make sure you are not locked into your contract in case the company is awful. Also make sure that the company is not going to charge you the regular rate during winter when the grass is not growing and they are now mowing on a weekly bases.

DG Installation in Reno

DG 2

Key Takeaways

DG installation enhances landscapes:

• Low Maintenance: Decomposed Granite (DG) is a low maintenance landscape material, ideal for property enhancement.
• Visual Appeal: Applying a 1 1/2" - 2" layer of DG around shrubs and perennials offers a clean, aesthetically pleasing look.
• Easy Application: Adding more DG to landscapes is simple and can significantly beautify your property.

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The time of year has come to start taking a look around your property and seeing what needs to be done. So this weekend stand out on your front porch as your grab your morning paper in your bath robe with a cup of coffee in hand and take a quick look at what might need to be done around your property before the mowing season starts. Most homes in Reno have parts of their property surrounded by Decomposed Granite (DG for short). Even if you didn't realize it, your property probably has DG somewhere on it, and although it is the lowest maintenance portion of landscape you have, it is something that still needs to be attended to every now and then. DG is Granite Rock that has decomposed over time, or been crushed down to become another type of low maintenance decorative rock that is used on most properties in Reno. The problem is, over time the DG decomposes even more and is either just blown away or thins out. Although it is not necessary to add more DG to your landscape it is a very easy process you can do on your own or hire someone to do beautify your property. For a nice clean look around your shrubs and perennials, it is recommended that you have between 1 1/2" - 2" layer of DG. This will last for several years and allow you to decoratively rake your DG so your landscape looks like the sand traps of a PGA golf course.

Cory's Lawn Service is currently adding DG to 15 homes in the northwest Reno area, and wanted to take a quick video of what we have done on a local customers property, to help beautify her desert-scape for years to come. If your DG coverage is looking a little thin please feel free to contact us for any help you might need.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgZXd4LoRL0&context=C4e51814ADvjVQa1PpcFPx7JAKY9g4keXtgbnMg3LFetFh9D1Z5Uk=[/youtube]

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.