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I think maintaining the tools of trade bothers just as many ie working on a gas engine mower, trimmer etc. Rechargable equipment must be charged as a cord must be dragged around. I don't think it's about getting sweaty or dirty but those pesky little details called equipment maintenance and/or proper use. I curse everytime I forget to fill the gas can because it's not something delt with every day. As long as I am physically capable I will do it. One reason is the landscapers edge trimmers would destroy sidewalk and house concrete/mortar in many areas. I know to be careful they just know they want to be done as fast as possible.
It depends on the region. Texas has landscape companies all over. Lots of people hire their lawn maintenance dine. But its very hot. Lots of homeowners are elderly also and so it makes sense. Now we retired in the north and there are very few of these types of companies. But summers are cooler. It makes a difference.
Im almost 73, use to play golf but spouse has an impaired immune system so I stopped the golf where I was gone for six hours. I decided to start mowing my own year and trimming and edging etc. I enjoy it. Its hot here but with battery powered equipment I can start when the sun comes up, its not too bad then even in the middle of August.
My mower is not self propelled so I get some exercise pushing it around. 30 minutes to own it and ah hour plus to edge and trim it. Enjoy doing it and being outside and exercising while being near home for my wife.
We hire a company to apply fertilizer, insecticide, tree food and spray the property for mosquitos. What's interesting about this is that it doesn't cost any more then if I applied all this myself. Now everything else we do ourselves.
My wife does all the mowing on our 2 acres with a 52" ZTR mower. What's strange is I can't get my wife off the mower, she likes doing it so I let her. All the gardening is me and my wife.
The people that complain about yard work are probably the same ones that pay for gym membership.
Seriously??
I mow my own lawn, but in a few years, I'll certainly hire someone. I do pay a service to do monthly weed/feed and annual seeding. I did that myself for many years, and after having to burn vacation time to take care of my yard, I decided it was no longer worth it to me. I am a very busy person. I work full time, take care of my home, have had to look out for my two elderly parents the last 5 years (sadly they both passed this summer) my SO lives an hour from me. I go to the gym at night - not when I could be doing yardwork.
One has NOTHING to do with the other.
Last edited by ChessieMom; 09-16-2020 at 08:34 AM..
I own my house, am completely capable to do the yard work, but I choose to have a guy do the mowing and edging. I do all the bush and tree trimming, flower planting, fertilizing, and such. I've spent a lot of hours walking behind a mower and would rather do other things. Mowing and edging is like washing dishes to me, highly repetitive and uncreative. The other aspects of landscaping and gardening are what I enjoy.
When I retire I fully expect to go back to doing it all myself.
In the mean time that's a couple more small gas engines I don't have to fool with (my yard is just big enough to be questionable for the battery powered mower; five years from now or whenever I take the mowing back over I'm going to be looking into it though)
I landscape as my side business to my actual job. My minimum charge for a lawn is $35 and that’s a small yard - maybe 5000 sqft or less. I average 70-150 / hour. I also offer other services which pay really well. I trimmed a few shrubs earlier in the week and made $300 for 2 hours of work. My only over head was my sweat.
It can be lucrative, but it can get insanely hard when things break down or the weather delays things.
My son and his brothers ran a professional lawn care business whilst in high school. They all made enough money to pay for their college educations without any help from Bank of Mom and Dad.
High School kids today are too busy with enhancing their college applications with lots of clubs and other activities.
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