Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1957431)

Regarding the weeds in particular:

I'd personally suggest poisoning the ones between the rocks, and mowing the ones on the grass. Some weeds are so persistent they'll grow between rocks with roots under the rocks, and you just flat out can't pull them out. You'd have to move all the rocks first. Much easier to kill them instead.

With weeds on the grass, depends on the type of weed. If it's another kind of grass or ground cover, I say let it grow and just mow it with the rest of the lawn. If you have peanut plants growing along the edge of the driveway, I'd recommend giving it room to expand. Edge a space around a foot away from the driveway, and let the peanut plants take over that foot-long strip. It's a stunning ground cover and contrasts very nicely with St. Augustine.

If it's dandelions, they pull out very easily, they root shallow. Just reach down and pull from the base and they come right out. No reason to waste money paying someone to do that, you only need to do it once a week, takes around 15 minutes for the whole yard.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be would liketoo much to ask.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by banjobob (Post 1957602)

The best lawn guy is you , very little work chemicals to treat disease and bugs not really costly ,a small hand held spreader and the schedule to apply .Hire a good mower and they usually will do your trimming as needed . A gallon of Roundup for those pesky pop up weeds in the rocks and your lawn will look great. That is route I took after 4 lawn companies and 7 years with Massey .

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by DAVES (Post 1957862)

For what it is worth, I deal with what what should be does not exist.

I apply my own chemistry. I do my own weeding and I cut my hedges.

Far as mowing and your dogs another simple solution the person mowing comes every ??????? you can keep your dogs in on those days.

Lawn mowing people. As a kid I set up and ran a small mowing business. At my peak I had like 14 lawns per week. These people do far more than that. Frankly it was in New York far cooler than here. Dealing with people? There were people that I told them I just didn't need or want their business.

You/we have the option to do it ourselves.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.

Originally Posted by jebartle (Post 1957915)

We use Heron every other month for treating yard ($60) and Clean & Green (Ryan) 352-406-6095, 352-499-1317 mowing on Friday, come by and see yard, corner lot $60, 146 costa mesa dr., we are very pleased.

Originally Posted by nan27 (Post 1957953)

I could have written this post myself. We paid outrageous amounts of money for mediocre service. We have been through several companies. We explain what we want, just as you have explained. We put out the problems every week; and nothing is done.

Our latest person assured me over and over again that he had three people who would attend to our problems. On most weeks, it is one person who definitely doesn't have an eye for detail.

I am tired of going out in our yard and flowerbeds and street cleaning up after the guy when he leaves. The last time, I pointed out all of the grass clippings in the road and street curbside. He got defensive and said that it was impossible to clean up the clippings. It's amazing that I found a way to do it myself.

Yes - I am going to look for yet another service. BTW - I am on this forum because we are looking at The Villages as one of our retirement options!

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1957422)

We have been here 1 1/2 years now and are on our 3rd or 4th lawn care company. (one took the job and then never showed up)

It seems they all want to charge a bundle and then spend as little time as possible actually doing any work. And with the constant turnover of employees by the larger firms, any "special instructions" get lost in the turmoil.

For example, we have a couple of large dogs (Great Pyrenese and Labrador Retriever). We have a CYV and put a sign on the gate to NOT open the gate until knocking to let us know they are there so we can lock the dogs inside since we let our dogs run in the back yard. We also give the lawn care specific instructions to do this, so the dogs do not get out and run loose. This usually works until the first time a new hire comes, and they walk into the backyard, and the dogs dash out.

The second problem we have had is these larger companies using riding mowers with people that don't know how to use them. Some of our grass (and the grass of several of our neighbors) was killed by a new employee of Massey scalping our yard down to the sand last year - it still has not fully recovered. They came out and looked and basically said, sorry, we will try to do better. I said, no thank go practice on someone else's lawn.

Now, we are paying a significant premium to our current lawn care company. We chose them and agreed to the premium because we thought if we paid enough we would get good service. So much for that theory.

We pay, as part of the contract, to have the weeds in the hardscape controlled. So far they have not controlled them and now with the spring, you can almost not see the rocks because of all the weeds. The "owner" of the company came out and didn't even apologize, he just said, it must have fallen through the cracks because we started after the weeds were treated in this area - 2 months ago. He said they would be back in our area in a few weeks and take care of it.

Seriously! We are paying this company easily 50% more than any other service we have had and he says they will take care of the weeds in a few weeks.

I am sick and tired of this.

Can anyone provide the name and number of a GOOD RELIABLE individual that does lawn care. Someone that does the work, and doesn't send out a teen that was flipping burgers last week. Someone that takes pride in their work.

Our requirements are pretty simple.

1. Mow the yard when it needs it - we have very LITTLE grass, most of the front is rock.
2. Trim the plants and trees when they need it.
3. Pull the weeds in the rocks, poison the weeds in the grass.
4. inspect and adjust the irrigation as required.
5. Fertilize as required.

That is it, I don't want to have to CALL them to tell them there are weeds, I want them to actually look at our yard, and take care of it.

Sorry, for the rant, I am very frustrated. I paid less to have acres mowed before moving here, and we have not gone with the low price spread here.

As my wife says, all we want is to look at our yead when we get home and think, "'that looks nice". It seems to be too much to ask.