Quote for Composting & Aerating Soil (San Antonio, Keller: rentals, to buy, live)

[Mom2Feebs]

Just got a quote from ABC Pest, Pool & Lawn for aerating and top dressing our lawn. They came out and measured, and the actual yard part is 6500 sq ft. They quoted $450 for composting and $150 for aerating.

Is this typical? I have to admit, I was shocked! I thought it would be more like $250-300. Yikes.

[Bo]

I have been quoted $300 for compost by ABC and my lawn's fairly small.

I usually just buy the bags of compost from Garden-Ville or Fertile Garden Supply and spread it myself. I think I've paid about $50 or $60 for enough bagged compost to cover my lawn. The hardest part is lugging the bags around to various parts of the yard... the spreading's not difficult.

I probably should do aerating, but never have. Many of the tool rental places will rent you a core aerator for that job.

[Mom2Feebs]

Thanks, Bo. I think I might make hubby do it. I mean, we have to spend $1000 on tree trimming at the end of this month, I am not looking forward to spending that! Ugh. Joys of homeownership, I suppose!!

Because of the dry, dry fall & winter we've had, it has been recommended that we aerate this year. It makes sense since our soil is as hard as a rock...

[sshurgot]

The lawn work is worth doing yourself. Save the money.

Make sure the tree trimmers paint the cuts on oaks; oak wilt "season" is going to start here really soon. If I remember correctly there's an ordinance making the painting mandatory but I know many trimmers who don't do it, claiming the trees will heal without paint. It's not about the trees healing, it's about not spreading oak wilt...which will kill the oaks.

[Lee W.]

Fertile Garden has pre-bagged or bag-your-own compost and other stuff. As well as quantities that I THINK start as low as half a yard if you can have them load it up in a pickup. They deliver larger quantities for a fee. GardenVille is similar, but check with them first. I heard that they had changed some things.

[SnappyBob]

Aerating can be a big chore depending on your physical ability and your landscape but applying compost is pretty easy. Go pick up a pickup load or two and spread it yourself after they are finished aerating. Compost is much lighter than topsoil. It's a nice workout but not brutal. I get my compost from Keller's. It's always nice stuff. I used to bag my own from Gardenville for my garden beds but now they want to sell you prebagged and it's pretty expensive. If I'm going to buy prebagged I'll go to Kellers and get almost twice the compost for the price. I bought compost from Fertile Gardens before and they sold me compost that wasn't finished yet. It looked more like mulch than compost. I've only been there once so maybe it was an isolated incident.

[Mom2Feebs]

Originally Posted by sshurgot

The lawn work is worth doing yourself. Save the money.

Make sure the tree trimmers paint the cuts on oaks; oak wilt "season" is going to start here really soon. If I remember correctly there's an ordinance making the painting mandatory but I know many trimmers who don't do it, claiming the trees will heal without paint. It's not about the trees healing, it's about not spreading oak wilt...which will kill the oaks.

Thanks sshurgot! I will definitely make sure they do that. We hired an arborist so hopefully they already know that info but just in case I will check.

Thanks everyone for the tips, especially on the compost.

[Boghaunter]

Well, FWIW, given the grass around here with rhizomes (runners) I do de-thatching first, then the core aerating, then fertilizing/top-dressing, whichever you prefer. I couldn't find a yard service around here who knew about de-thatching, but Alamo Rentals has tools for both that and aerating. Don't forget to mark your sprinkler system first, if you have one.

[eightball]

Originally Posted by Boghaunter

Well, FWIW, given the grass around here with rhizomes (runners) I do de-thatching first, then the core aerating, then fertilizing/top-dressing, whichever you prefer. I couldn't find a yard service around here who knew about de-thatching, but Alamo Rentals has tools for both that and aerating. Don't forget to mark your sprinkler system first, if you have one.

I tried googling for their adress with no luck, can you please post it or a number for them. If you know of a place that has these tools on th NW side will even be better, thank you.

[Boghaunter]

Blanco Rentals (210) 341-1391 5415 Blanco Rd San Antonio, TX 78216