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.

Check out our lawn fertilization services.

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.

Check out our lawn fertilization services.

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.

Check out our irrigation services.

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.

Check out our sprinkler services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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

2012-03-27_21-23-49_425

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.

Check out our lawn cleanup services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.

Check out our yard cleanup services.

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.

Check out our aeration services.

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.

Check out our yard cleanup services.

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.

Check out our lawn care services.

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.