Open Association of Landscape Industries
Franchised lawn companys
A few of my gardens are looked after by a franchised lawn company. They now have started to aerate and scarify all lawns which I do at the very end of febuary.
My question is when it comes to sticking by the unofficial gardening rule book will you break a few rules to be one step ahead.
I have, and I've started to treat my lawns before they take anymore work off me.
My question is when it comes to sticking by the unofficial gardening rule book will you break a few rules to be one step ahead.
I have, and I've started to treat my lawns before they take anymore work off me.
Replies to This Discussion
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on -
If it's the company I am thinking off and it has the word Green and a body part in the name then they have been doing this for a few years.
It is my understanding that most of the branches don't undertake scarifying etc. in house but this is passed over to a regional office to schedule and undertake. Round this way they start in December!! I believe it is more to do with trying to schedule everyone one and to generate income over the winter period.
I must admit a couple of years ago I had a client saying that the said company wanted to scarify on Xmas Eve!! Thankfully it managed to stop them.
In answer to your question Martin, I would bring some treatments forward subject to weather conditions and only if the client is aware of any risks etc..
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
I agree with the advice thus far...be cautious, especially with scarifying - I have never had any problem with spiking in the winter and I would apply sulphate of iron if the weather was wet and relatively mild.
Anything that damages a semi-dormant rootzone though, should be handled with care.
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Permalink Reply by Classic Gardens on -
My thoughts aswell
We live on the coast and very rarely see a hard frost. Once covered with a good top dress there should be no problems.
Your bang on with the name graeme how did you guess :)
Philip Voice said:I agree with the advice thus far...be cautious, especially with scarifying - I have never had any problem with spiking in the winter and I would apply sulphate of iron if the weather was wet and relatively mild. Anything that damages a semi-dormant rootzone though, should be handled with care.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on -
Please be careful guys - it's not a problem asking questions about timing and procedure but we must be careful when inferring or implying something about other companies.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on -
Hi,
We came up against this approach, but as we had a good dialogue with the clients we won the 'battle', especially when one client suggested the 'boss' came around for a chat with her 'qualified gardeners' (did make me smile that bit). We consequently took over that job (and others) and ending up provide all their landscaping/gardening needs.
Also, we employed an ex-franchise employee for a year once. We got an interesting insight into that business area I can tell you !
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Graeme @ BGS on -
Funny but I received this Email only yesterday for the reasons already stated......
Are you able to better the terrible customer care that I have had from NNNNNN? Do you operate in the postcode area for XXNN NXX?
If so,I would be grateful if someone could contact me so I can transfer my business from NNNNNN to yourselves. We are looking for lawn care treatments (scarification, hollow tining and weed and feed).
And it is a very large garden!! Happy days
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Goss on -
Anyone had sight of their rates for this season ?
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Goss on
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Sorry Steve I meant the price list of these franchisees ........ just wondered what they are charging for their *services* these days as it's been awhile since I last found out . A couple of my clients dropped them as they thought that they were expensive for the results attained ;-)
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Anthony @ JDC Maintenance on -
Had a leaflet from 'Gangrene digit' drop through the door just last week and my van was on the drive at the time!
No actual prices listed but 'treatments from £14' on the front.
I see one of their vans on an almost daily basis in my area! they do the grass treatments for one of my clients where i just mow every 2 wks but i have to say, to date the guy has done a pretty good job. If its the same guy i see in the van i guess its because he is middle aged perhaps with some experience and not the usual youngen hairing about in a spanking new merc van!
Andrew Goss said:Sorry Steve I meant the price list of these franchisees ........ just wondered what they are charging for their *services* these days as it's been awhile since I last found out . A couple of my clients dropped them as they thought that they were expensive for the results attained ;-)
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Permalink Reply by Tom on -
Im sure there are some decent groundsmen within these companys somewhere, but as for the ones who have done there five day "greenkeepers" course, ie; two days spraying licence and three days sales pitch approach and think they can go around with a set menu for lawn treatments then they are a joke to themselves.
In my oppinion they are an asset to people who do understand turf culture and who have studied and continue to study the science.
Personally i aim to charge the same as them, if not more and target my clients more towards somebody who is in the industry for the long haul and not some chancing ex banker on the bandwagon.
Long live the franchise network, it shows good contrast for value for money and understanding of the seasonal timing of events. Keep your prices up and if your worth your salt then you will only progress.
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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on -
There are some good one's out there and as you say they are typically the ones that have come from this grounds/green keeping background and perhaps just run the busines as a sole employee.
Where it falls down is those franchise owners who believe it is a 'get rich' scheme and they have to do is sit in the office, taking sales calls and dispatching inexperienced personel with a crib list of what to do.....
I 'caught' one such person at a client site happily strolling all over a frozen lawn, when questioned is to whether is was a good idea his reply was 'it's alright mate, I'm in my trainers' :-( !!
Also, there is clearly a section in the sales training about 'handling objections' such as 'can't my gardener do it' etc. They try to imply no-one in the world has access to the 'special' products they use. This is utter rubbish, identical products are available (albeit under different names etc). If you got your PA license and either know how to read product/data sheets or have access to a Basis qualified person then it's easy to offer an identical program suited to a clients lawn/soil etc
Do you know anyone that is 'actually' charged £14 ? Any one I know who have used them never pay less that £25-30.
I guess it's good marketing, get prospects to call initially in the belief their lawn service will cost £14 - you can advertise anything if you are clever...
Would also love any feedback on this years costs as well, especially as most fert products have gone up..
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