"Do it Yourself" lawncare?

[Determined]

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but will give it a try.

I'm looking to trim the budget and am aiming to do a bit more of the lawncare myself.

Anyone have a schedule for what they do when? My lawn guy charges like $200 for a "spring cleaning".

I know enough to do the following:

~Pick up stray branches.
~Rake away any remaining leaves from the foundation

What else can I do from here?

Any advice would be appreciated!!!

[Russ]

steep price, IMO.
What kind of yard do you want to have? Completely weed free? Super green lush lawn that would make a stadium grounds keeper proud?

What did they do for you last year?

[frugalfranny]

Anyone have a schedule for what they do when? My lawn guy charges like $200 for a "spring cleaning".

You didn't say what this entailed................

Also, like Russ said............what do you want?

I dislike crabgrass, and it can strangle plants, so get that down SOON if you will be using any chemicals..........haven't found much that works against it that isn't chemicals. The chems. are a pre-emergent.........so need to be on it as it is coming up. Very little help later...........though some.

The dandelions can be sprayed, individually, with vinegar as they emerge.........more environ. friendly than chemicals. Can dig them........if so inclined.........I'm not!

What sort of plants do you have? Clean up that area....but am guessing that your 'lawn guy' doesn't do this anyway...most don't.

[Determined]

You didn't say what this entailed................

I don't really know what this "cleaning" entails myself. I'm taking over lawn maintenance from my momma (we're roomies in the house) and her lawn guy is super vague in his invoicing descriptions. She found him on a referral from a trustworthy friend and while I think he's an OK guy, I'm not really sure what all his services include. He sends a handwritten bill, asks that the checks be made out to cash, and doesn't include a phone number on the statement. He charges $35 for a cut, which is about normal for the area.

Also, like Russ said............what do you want?

I dislike crabgrass, and it can strangle plants, so get that down SOON if you will be using any chemicals..........haven't found much that works against it that isn't chemicals. The chems. are a pre-emergent.........so need to be on it as it is coming up. Very little help later...........though some.

The dandelions can be sprayed, individually, with vinegar as they emerge.........more environ. friendly than chemicals. Can dig them........if so inclined.........I'm not!

What sort of plants do you have? Clean up that area....but am guessing that your 'lawn guy' doesn't do this anyway...most don't.

It's just your basic, .3 acre suburban lawn. We have maybe five trees and two forsythia bushes in the front lawn, six or seven trees and some lilacs out back. All I really want is the grass to be short and neat and the yard not be overrun with weeds.

I was just out there today and I started by picking up the twigs and raking away some of the dead leaves. It gets frustrating b.c I feel like the work could be done better and in a fraction of the time with a leaf blower, etc.

Am planning on writing the lawn guy a letter and asking him to give me a proposal for a maintenance plan for this summer. I'm also going to ask that he "allow me to prepay" for his services, rather than doing whatever he feels like and then charging me for it later...

[lisaflex]

wow. your lawn guy is cheap! send him my way...our spring clean up is around 700 and fall is over 1000.....55 wk to cut and edge and blow....when they do the beds it is even more! wow....

[mndtrp]

Wow, I have a hard time fathoming what is being done that makes it come even close to frugal, unless health issues are involved. Unless you are going for a show home, it doesn't take much to keep your landscape looking good.

I mow at the highest setting, water once a week, and keep the leaves and twigs picked up. Deadhead the flowers, prune the bushes, throw down soybean meal a few times a summer. I used to aerate the lawn, but after a few years of the soybean meal, the worms take care of that for me.

The whole thing typically takes me an hour to an hour and a half each week, with one full day in the Spring and Fall.

[Libby]

If you're doing it all yourself instead of the guy - you can do as you please, when you please.

We mow about once/week maybe once/two weeks if we're busy. We pick up misc things, pull up any weeds and rake as necessary. Other then that we'll aerate (sp) as needed and add water/grass seed as necessary.

Have you tried searching google for simple things you can do on your own and learn to start caring for your own lawn to save money in the long run?

[mamamia]

a week, and keep the leaves and twigs picked up. Deadhead the flowers, prune the bushes, throw down soybean meal a few times a summer. I used to aerate the lawn, but after a few years of the soybean meal, the worms take care of that for me.

The whole thing typically takes me an hour to an hour and a half each week, with one full day in the Spring and Fall.

Wow! Thanks for the tip on the soybean meal! Now is this something you make yourself? With all the kiddies that come here, I'm always looking for natural, but inexpensive ways to improve our yards.

Theresa

[Determined]

Lisa ~ He is pretty cheap for our area. Just found out that he does lawns off the books as a sideline job, so that makes sense.

Libby ~ I did start by googling (Literally "simple do it yourself lawn care") but it returned results like "how to simply achieve the show home of your dreams" or "5 simple steps to organic lawn care". Grrr....

I think my biggest issue is the leaves. Frustrates the crap outta me because it takes me a good 20 minutes to rake a quarter of the front lawn (at least 80 mins for the whole thing) but I know that it could be done with a leaf blower in like 5 mins flat.

Oh, well...

[Libby]

Libby ~ I did start by googling (Literally "simple do it yourself lawn care") but it returned results like "how to simply achieve the show home of your dreams" or "5 simple steps to organic lawn care". Grrr....

Don't give up! That money saved = exercise and QT for yourself as well. That may not seem appealing right now but soon, you'll be missing it when the snow flies. Are you able to play music while you do chores or listen to a book on tape? (ipod?) The chores get done quicker the more you do them...you will soon find a routine that works for you. BTW You don't have to do it all in one day - come fall, I rake leaves 20 mins/day or 1 garbage bag/day.

Not sure if these will help you OR if they're what you're looking for. These are really simple & basic tips. I searched 'How to care for your lawn'

How to Care for Your Lawn : Outdoors : Home & Garden Television

Lawn Care in Early Spring : Archive : Home & Garden Television

How To Care for Your Lawn | Solving Lawn Problems

[Russ]

If the leaves are your biggest challenge, hire some local teens to do it.

[frugalfranny]

but I know that it could be done with a leaf blower in like 5 mins flat.

Oh, well...

You can get a "blower" for around $30......probably 180 MPH......and if you catch the leaves while dry..........they blow easy. You can get them with higher MPH.....but might cost more. With your current 'lawn guy' you have it paid for the first month..........

I hate sweeping my garage and use this all the time......

You learn to get clever with the use of it with practice.

You also mentioned "grass short"............short grass, during the heat = more watering and higher water bill...........I use the second to the highest setting all summer.........until last mow in fall.

[mndtrp]

Wow! Thanks for the tip on the soybean meal! Now is this something you make yourself? With all the kiddies that come here, I'm always looking for natural, but inexpensive ways to improve our yards.

I get it from the local Co-op in 50 lb bags. I think it runs around $20, but I could be wrong. Since it doesn't burn the grass, you can put down as much or as little as you like. It takes a few weeks for the organisms to break it down, but provides a longer lasting green than fertilizer. I had it explained to me like this: fertilizer is like sugar; quickly provides a jolt, but doesn't last long or do anything for you. Soybean meal (or corn meal) is like protein; longer lasting, and providing more nutrition.

I think my biggest issue is the leaves. Frustrates the crap outta me because it takes me a good 20 minutes to rake a quarter of the front lawn (at least 80 mins for the whole thing) but I know that it could be done with a leaf blower in like 5 mins flat.

Use the lawn mower. Either bag it or mulch it in.

You also mentioned "grass short"............short grass, during the heat = more watering and higher water bill...........I use the second to the highest setting all summer.........until last mow in fall.

This is dependent on what kind of grass she has. Some should be mowed quite short, others not. My KBG and fescue mix is mowed at the highest setting all year, except the last one or two in Fall.


Here are a couple of forums that have plenty of information, should you find the time.

Lawn Care Forum - GardenWeb
Organic Lawn Care - GardenWeb

[frugalnana]

I have health issues and for a few years my dh paid someone to do the yard, it was mowing only. It just killed me for him to for the cash over. Last year I was able to start doing it by myself.
Usually now I rake the leaves left over from them falling before winter. I do put them in a pile to dry and then in a bucket, we use them to help with fires in our pit. All branches are picked up and branches that broke due to the winter are cut and again put in a pile for the fire pit.
I have a till and use it on the flower beds, I have two big ones. The coffee grounds I dried and saved over the winter I mix in the beds. Along the fence where our dogs run, I go around and trim the grass underneath. I look around for bald spots in the yard and may go get grass seeding and some straw to cover it for a few weeks. We have a ditch in the back so it always needs cleaning. If I see dandelions I spray the vinegar on them to reduce the spread.
Once thats all done, I get the mower out and put it on the highest level and just go basically trim the top off the grass.
I don't know if others do this, but the guy who did the mowing would mow the grass one way one week and another way the next. I asked him about it and he said it helped the grass grow better. It did make the yard look nice, so yes I do it the same way. I have fertilizer spikes for the trees and have been doing that for the last 3 years. My trees are so healthy looking now.
As things start to bloom and grow I would say once a week is spent getting weeds out of the flower bed. I do have a trimmer so I trim the walk also and around the house. But not on the same day as mowing.
We have a gravel drive and our youngest son comes and helps me go over the gravel to spread whats left and fill the areas that are low.

[frugalwarrior2]

FF-agreed buy the blower at the home depot and some extention cords. You should rake the little stuff out 2x a year though. We've never paid for clean up.