Post by Tumbleweed on Sept 5, 2010 13:12:19 GMT -6
I have always taken care of my own lawn: Mowing, edge trimming and general care of my yard.
When I first moved here I intended to do the same. Ha, ha, ha. The backyard was a piece of cake but the front was not so easy.
<<<Sorry link was removed due to photobucket's new stupid policy>>
The above picture is of the front of my house. That hill may not look horribly steep, by the picture, but believe me when I tell you, I was hanging onto the fence for dear life and trying to push the mower at the same time. It took me about two seconds to realize I couldn't do this front lawn.
So I talked to my neighbor about the guy who cut his lawn as he did a wonderful job. I hired him and enjoyed his beautiful work for more than a year until one day I looked out my window and realized the grass was very long. I talked to my neighbor and he said my lawn mower guy was in jail. Wonderful! Well, it seems that every so often my lawn mower guy falls off the wagon. A couple of days later a replacement lawn mower guy shows up, so even in jail, my lawn mower guy was concerned about his customers (and I'm sure himself for when he got out of jail...would he have any customers). Fast forward, the replacement guy did a fair job and once my original lawn mower guy got out of jail, I decided to give him another chance.
Again, I enjoyed having my lawn look immaculate at all times, for another good year and you know where this story is going. Yup, he fell off the wagon again and I only knew this when the "replacement" guy came around.
So my dilemma was, do I give this guy another chance? I decided no. I decided tough love was in order.
Finding a new lawn mower person:
I love this guy and I've told him so many times. Since he is so considerate doing the extra little things for me, I want to do something nice for him. I'm plan on giving him a Christmas present of professional business cards. When I first talked to him I asked if he had a phone number I could reach him at. He handed me this piece of lined paper that had a little cute phrase on it advertising his business. I want to copy his exact ad he made by hand but put it on professional cards. I hope he'll like it.
Maybe one of these days I'll tell you my story of hiring "lawn care" companies.
When I first moved here I intended to do the same. Ha, ha, ha. The backyard was a piece of cake but the front was not so easy.
<<<Sorry link was removed due to photobucket's new stupid policy>>
The above picture is of the front of my house. That hill may not look horribly steep, by the picture, but believe me when I tell you, I was hanging onto the fence for dear life and trying to push the mower at the same time. It took me about two seconds to realize I couldn't do this front lawn.
So I talked to my neighbor about the guy who cut his lawn as he did a wonderful job. I hired him and enjoyed his beautiful work for more than a year until one day I looked out my window and realized the grass was very long. I talked to my neighbor and he said my lawn mower guy was in jail. Wonderful! Well, it seems that every so often my lawn mower guy falls off the wagon. A couple of days later a replacement lawn mower guy shows up, so even in jail, my lawn mower guy was concerned about his customers (and I'm sure himself for when he got out of jail...would he have any customers). Fast forward, the replacement guy did a fair job and once my original lawn mower guy got out of jail, I decided to give him another chance.
Again, I enjoyed having my lawn look immaculate at all times, for another good year and you know where this story is going. Yup, he fell off the wagon again and I only knew this when the "replacement" guy came around.
So my dilemma was, do I give this guy another chance? I decided no. I decided tough love was in order.
Finding a new lawn mower person:
- Lawn mower person one: Was a fast talker, which I didn't like, right off the bat. (Should have went with my gut instinct.) Needless to say, my lawn needed mowing so I hired him. He ended up mowing too often making the cost to me too much. He would skip mowing places he thought I probably wouldn't notice. He would come to mow just after pouring rain and when I told him I didn't want my grass cut when it was still wet, he argued with me saying it was just fine to mow. Needless to say, since I just didn't like the guy in the first place, I decided to let him go.
- Lawn mower person two: Seemed like a likable guy and I was quite certain he was mentally challenged so I was really wanted to give him a chance. As I talked to him I found out he was just starting out and didn't have a good lawn mower or any of the extras needed to do a nice job. Still, I wanted to give him a chance so we made a deal he'd just mow and I'd do the rest in hopes giving him work would help him afford the needed equipment, in the future, to do everything so I didn't have to.
Problems Arise:
He would call early in the morning to say he was coming but then didn't show up until the afternoon. I asked him not to call so early. He didn't listen and kept calling with the excuse he forgot. I told him, he didn't need to call. If the lawn needed mowing, just come and mow it. He kept calling. I was getting pretty irritated as early mornings are very hectic for me.
His lawn mower blade was horrible. My lawn was torn to shreds. I mention this to him and he said he will sharpen it. Next lawn mowing...same thing. Grrrrr!
Tip:
Your lawn mower needs sharpening when you see ragged edges on the ends of the grass. Take a blade of grass and cut it with scissors. Now compare it to what the lawn mower did. It will be obvious if your mower blade needs sharpening.
One day, (yes, early in the morning) he calls saying he got a weed whacker, that he was outside my house ready to do the lawn and he could start doing the weed whacking. Fine, I tell him, as I'm too irritated and not awake enough to care.
So a while later I hear him out there doing his thing and I look out the window to see where he was in the mowing process so I could go pay him. There I saw him happily weed whacking all my clematis' that grew along my fence and step railing on my porch. I think it would be obvious to anyone that these "vines" were intentionally planted. I really felt bad that I would have to let him go but it is so expensive to have your lawn done and I wanted someone that does a good job and isn't irritating. Cutting my clematis down was just the last straw. - Lawn mower person 3: Very nice man, a good soul you may say. Somewhat shy but just so very nice. He would do everything I needed. He knew a plant/flower from weeds. (I questioned him.)
I can tell you this guy is a keeper and I'll tell you why.- He keeps his eyes on the job at hand and not "peeking" in the windows.
- He takes pride in his work. He is almost a perfectionist taking it very slow making sure he does everything near perfect.
- He takes care when mowing around trees.
- He know exactly what needs done without my even pointing it out to him.
- His timing for mowing was and is perfect.
- He keeps his lawn mower blades sharp.
- He does nice little things that I really appreciate. Like one time I forgot I had left the hose across the grass. I run out to move it out of the way and he had already neatly put the hose back on the holder.
- I typically run out and lift the lights out of their ground level holders so he can just mow over them. Every time I do this, I come to find he has put them back after he is done. What a nice guy!
- He keeps his eyes on the job at hand and not "peeking" in the windows.
I love this guy and I've told him so many times. Since he is so considerate doing the extra little things for me, I want to do something nice for him. I'm plan on giving him a Christmas present of professional business cards. When I first talked to him I asked if he had a phone number I could reach him at. He handed me this piece of lined paper that had a little cute phrase on it advertising his business. I want to copy his exact ad he made by hand but put it on professional cards. I hope he'll like it.
Maybe one of these days I'll tell you my story of hiring "lawn care" companies.
Dirt and bugs the Mrs hates, not to mention the heat. 