MIL-SPEC Landscaping | Learn about Clarksville Tennessee Landscaping

Jobber... it's not what you think

12/22/2017

This isn't about how my bearded face is on the front page of the Jobber website or how many features Jobber has. Matter of fact, a lot of people seem to think we get paid by Jobber. The truth is we pay to use Jobber just like everyone else. We could talk for hours about the benefits of Jobber, but this isn't that. This is about what makes them tick and what separates them from everyone else.

Here's an excerpt from an email we received from the CEO. Jobber is growing and while they could have simply increased our pricing, they didn't. It's so rare nowadays for a CEO to do something like this, that we were actually surprised. In all reality, it just solidifies the values that not only Jobber has as a company, but the people behind it... from the top on down.

Your monthly or annual subscription charge will be locked in at today’s rate for an indefinite period, and your price is not increasing. You will also have access to our new Unlimited plan, which means full access to all of Jobber’s current features, all future features we add to this tier, and plenty of room to grow your team.

Sam Pillar
CEO, Jobber

It's the People.

Any truly great organization knows that the best resource they have is their human resource and Jobber has mastered this concept. The faces behind the platform is what makes them a magnificent company to be partnered with. The support and love they have for all of us out here is second to none.

The Bottom Line.

Jobber is packed full of user friendly features that your clients will love and a platform that you'll love as a business owner. Where it really counts, and I mean truly counts, is the support of the "people" at Jobber. Is it the best platform out there for a service business owner, yes. However, it's so much more than that. What it really is... is a group of dedicated people that want to see your business succeed more than anything else. I learned a long time ago to watch what people do, not what they say, and the people at Jobber lay it all on the line for their users every day. Thank you Jobber for making us a better, more efficient company, and for always being there for us.

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Let's Talk About Turf Maintenance

11/12/2017

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How do we do it?

There are multiple ways to achieve a gorgeous looking lawn. We're going to cover what we do and some basic fundamentals:

a. Core Aeration    b. Dethatching
c. Overseeding      d. Fertilization
e. Watering             f. Cost

Thatch is made up of leaves, stems, and roots. It's also part of your turfs natural growing process. As long as your thatch is generally somewhere between 1/2" to 3/4", your thatch is helping your lawn (you can measure it by pulling a small 6-8" plug of soil from your lawn). If your thatch is over 3/4", you need to consider dethatching. You can manually do this with a rake, rent a machine, or have your lawn care professional do it for you. We use the attachment you see here. Ultimately, too much thatch doesn't allow water, nutrients, seed, oxygen, and fertilizer to penetrate the soil... so keep an eye on your thatch.

There are a lot of variables that go into when you should water your lawn, how much water to use, etc. We'll cover some basic guidelines and what not to do. A good rule to follow is to water in the morning before 10am. Watering in the morning allows time for it soak into the soil before it evaporates and you generally have calmer winds in the morning. Watering late in the evening can and will lead to a greater chance of introducing disease into your lawn. How much should you water? Most established lawns need an inch of water per week that soaks the soil 6-8" in depth. Be careful not to over water as well. It's important to note that new sod, seed, etc. are in a different category when it comes to watering.

There are two main types of aeration, core aeration and spike aeration. Spike aeration is less effective as core aeration as it simply drives a spike into the ground which doesn't help soil compaction as much as core aeration. Core aeration utilizes hollow tines to pull small soil plugs (they look like little dirt turds everywhere) out of the soil which reduces overall compaction, allows more water, nutrients, and oxygen to penetrate the soil. When properly done with overseeding and fertilization, it gives the seed and fertilizer little holes to fall into.

If you don't know what fertilizer or seed to use, it's best to contact your lawn care professional as there are multiple variables that need to be considered (you can burn and/or severally damage your lawn if you get this part wrong). As a general rule of thumb, look for the tag you see here on the grass seed we use. You want to pay attention to the germination rate, type of seed, and weed percentage. A good quality seed is not cheap, but you really do get what you pay for when buying seed. The same can be said for fertilizer and all the chemical numbers on those bags can be a daunting task to figure out. You'll generally see three different numbers that specify things like nitrogen, potash, and phosphate content. So, how do you figure out what your lawn needs? Click here for our secret weapon.

The elephant in the room... what's all this going to cost you. Well, that depends on the type of seed you need (e.g. bermuda is a lot more expensive than a fescue blend), how much seed you need, fertilizer, time it will take to accomplish everything, etc. Let's say you wanted to rent an 18" walk behind aerator for the day. In our area, you're going to pay $105, have to pick it up, do the work yourself, clean it, and return it. Now, add the price of seed, fertilizer, a spreader if you don't have one, etc. What do we charge? Our prices vary on the size of your lawn, but for 3/4 of an acre and below, we charge $150 for aeration. Essentially, you're paying us $45 more than if you did it yourself, and saving an entire day of work, cleaning, driving, etc. What's the seed and fertilizer cost? We charge you exactly what we purchase it for and only charge you for the labor to spread it.

Final Thoughts...

We live in a transitional zone here in Tennessee which means we see everything from bermuda grass to fescue. Whether you like to do it yourself or want us to do it for you, we're here to help. Maintaining a healthy turf is a joint venture between a lawn care professional and the owner. Feel free to comment, ask questions, and if you would like a quote, simply click right here.

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Love Your Fence.

9/2/2017

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Bottom Line Up Front: Water and Vegetation along your fence line can cause costly repair costs. A little low cost preventative maintenance can save your beautiful fence.

A little history and science behind the method...

We use a couple different chemical compounds, but the two we'll talk about are glyphosate and non-ionic surfactant. Glyphosate was discovered by Dr. Franz around 1970 while working for the Mansanto Company. It is a non-selective post emergence herbicide, which is a fancy way of saying it kills green leafy stuff. It works by sticking to leaves and stems working its way to the roots. This is where the non-ionic surfactant comes into play. The surfactant reduces the surface tension between a liquid and a solid, which means it helps chemicals like glyphosate "stick" better. When properly mixed together, the glyphosate works a lot better since the surfactant helps it stick to leaves and stems versus just running off.

What does any of this have to do with your fence?

Wood fence posts are usually treated materials that can withstand the elements, but your fence pickets/panels are usually untreated wood that will absorb moisture creating warped areas, splintered pieces, etc. Grass and weeds hold moisture and if it's touching your fence, your fence is absorbing that moisture creating multiple problems. Yes, a protective fence stain will help but not completely. Leaving vegetation touching your fence also provides a highway for bugs that lead directly to your fence. If you have a metal or vinyl fence, you aren't in the clear either. Not spraying your fence line means you'll have to contend with a string trimmer constantly hitting your very expensive fence... that is, unless you plan on cutting everything along your fence with scissors which is highly unlikely.

What's the solution to string trimmer, water, bug, and vegetation damage along any type of fence line?

Ask your lawn care professional to help and see what they'll charge to spray your fence line. You'll likely find that it will cost you anywhere from $20-$40 less than what you would have to pay if you did it yourself. Most lawn care professionals get special pricing on chemicals from a wholesaler and will know what type of chemical you need for your specific area/vegetation.

If you have any questions or concerns, leave them in the comments below and we'll respond. Enjoy your weekend and protect your fence.

- Brian & Kristy

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Why Pressure Wash...

8/22/2017

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1. Mold, algae, moss, and mildew are destructive in nature causing damage to your property. They can ruin decks, fencing, siding, concrete, and bricks very quickly.

2. If your families health is important to you or you suffer from allergies, pressure washing can help. A deep clean removes allergens, scrapes off layers of dust, and gets rid of those irritants helping you keep your family healthy.

3. Does looking at your gutters scare you? Do you know what's lurking in them? While pressure washing may not remove permanent oxidation, it will restore your gutters back to the original color. Removing debris from the gutters themselves will also save you thousands in replacement costs.

4. Prep for a renovation or sale of your home. Any paint, stain, or sealant will tell you that you need a clean surface before application. Pressure washing is the quickest and easiest way to accomplish this. Even better than that, The National Association of Realtors say that pressure washing can increase the value of your home by $10,000 to $15,000.

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Jobber... it's not what you think

It's the People.

The Bottom Line.

Let's Talk About Turf Maintenance

How do we do it?

Final Thoughts...

Love Your Fence.

Why Pressure Wash...

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