New house - landscaping / yard maintenance info needed

[Chattwake]

So after saving our nickles and dimes and living in a very very modest 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home for 7 years, my wife and I finally were able to sell our first home and buy the home that, hopefully, we will live in for the rest of our lives. It's in a great school district, is much closer to downtown, and gives us much much more space for the kids, inlaws, etc. (2100 sq ft to about 4700).

The one thing that absolutely terrifies me about this house is the yard. I mean, my wife loves it. The kids love it, but someone's going to have to do the damn yard, and that means me or someone I hire. The radiologist that I bought the house from was paying $450 per month to a landscaping company. Well, I'm not doing that. I enjoy working in the yard somewhat. After sitting at a desk all week, I don't mind some good old manual labor. However, this house, as you can see from the pictures below, is going to involve a bit more work than simply firing up the old walmart riding mower and doing a little weed eating (like my old house).

As you can see, the front yard is nice and flat. The house has a back lot, which is across a creek, and the lawn back there is nice and flat. I can cut most of that stuff with my existing riding mower, which has a bagger on it. The back yard slopes down to the creek, and as it was sodded this year and due to the rain we've had, is too soft for my riding mower. Plus, I'm not sure I could get it through the gate.

The hedges at my old house consisted of 4 boxwoods and some sort of purple colored tree thing, which I cut with a crappy $40 electric trimmer. There's, obviously, a lot more going on with the new house. So, I called up one of my friends (who owns an ACE hardware) and he agreed to hook me up with some stuff on the cheap.

My arsenal of lawn tools now includes the following:

A 9 year old Walmart special Yardman mower with a bagger on it. The mower, sans bagger, looks like this:



A Stihl FS55 edger


A Husqvarna HU800AWD mower (all wheel drive)


An Echo combi tool deal consisting of a PAS-266 powerhead



an articulating trimmer



a pole saw



and an edger



Now, I am still in the market for a backpack blower.

My plan is to cut the front yard and back lot with the riding mower, use the edger around all the walkways and curb, and use the trimmer and pole saw to keep the trees and shrubs in shape. Once I buy a blower, I'll be able to keep the walkways clean. (I've got a blower now but it sucks).

I'll use the push mower for the sloped back yard, and to get any places my riding mower won't reach. Fortunately, my back lot contains a large, unfenced, wooded area where I can dump my clippings.

Now, all that being said, for you guys who are currently dealing with shrubs, trees, etc, what else am I going to need to get this job done? What am I overlooking?

Oh, and I plan to buy a little utility trailer to tow beind my mower for the purpose of loading clippings and stuff so I don't have to make numerous trips to the back lot.

House pics below:

[Chattwake]

#2

[Chattwake]

#3

[vette74]

Nice House. However, you just created yourself another hobby my friend.

[Chattwake]

^^^ This is what I'm worried about. I have a feeling this this is going to turn into an every weekend, all weekend, battle.

[Okie Boarder]

From an equipment standpoint it sounds like you are on the right track. You might see how you like the hedge trimmer attachment on the end of the weed eater with that many bushes. A stand alone unit with a shorter reach may be less tiring.

[vette74]

Yes, I would just hire a local high school kid after work a few days a week for $12 bux/hr

[Chattwake]

^^^ This is what I'm thinking. I really don't mind cutting grass and weed eating, but keeping the trees and shrubs in line scares me.

[eeven73]

Broadcast spreader and associated fertilizers, weed killers, insect killers.

If you want it to keep looking decent.

It will probably be 1 (4-8hrs) day twice a month to keep weeds pulled, hedges trimmed, blah, blah, blah. Plus mowing at least weekly.

I have 1.5 acres of "landscape", not as detailed as your finish in alot of "bulk" areas. And I would estimate the above. I like to do it in 2-3 hr shots

[Chattwake]

eeven73, if I can get things done in that time frame, I'd be happy. I didn't think about a spreader, but that's a good idea. How often do you put down week killer/fertilizer?

What about seed? The back yard is fescue. I forget what the front is, but it turns brown in the winter.

[jt09]

you know how i know illegal immigration isn't a big deal in tennessee?

[pyrocasto]

VERY nice looking landscaping overall, congrats on the house! I think a lot of the trimming will be yearly or bi-yearly so mowing and weed eating are the only weekly items. The stone boarders on the trees and flower beds look great, but downfall is it's more weed eating now. How much work you put into it will depend on how "flawless" you want it to look. If you want to improve your lawn then you could add feed & weed 4 times a year, with spot application every couple weeks.

You have a pretty good arsenal of tools, and the make a blower attachment for the Kombi head as well if you're interested. If you really want to cut out some weekly time, and dont mind a little upfront sweat and cash you might try one of these: http://www.robotshop.com/robomow-robot-lawn-mower-rl2000-8.html

I may get one for my property as an incentive for sale or rental if I can figure out the one steep bank I've got.


At least yours is already in good shape, and just needs upkeep. Mine has been neglected for years, and needs the whole 9 yards and then some. I'm also doing sunken edge lines on the gardens so you can mow over them with less weed eating.

[ohsix]

I pay $250/month to maintain nowhere close to that much yard, and the guy barely speaks English and only accepts cash.

[jt09]

[Okie Boarder]

Ah yes, didn't even think about fertilizing. That may be one item to farm out, if you don't want the hassle. I agree with the trimming of bushes not being a weekly thing, so keep that in mind from a time standpoint.

[Partyb]

I always say that mowing the yard yourself on a weekly basis is really a terrible idea, if you can afford the house you should be able to afford a lawn guy. Just the thought and dred of it every week is terrible. I recommend that you hire a weekly lawn guy, and then if you want to save some money you can fertilize it yourself, even do the hedge and tree trimming yourself when necessary. These tasks do not need to be on a strict schedule, i.e. if you don't feel like doing the hedges this week, they can wait a bit, not so with grass. Anyway that is my two cents, I just get way more enjoyment out of my house when I do NOT do the lawn. Spend this time with your kids, wife, etc or doing other improvements to justify it. Logically, unless you are making less than 20 bucks an hour, you should not be mowing your own lawn. And the price the other guy was paying was retarded. Review your retirement account, bills, and other financials on a monthly basis instead, I'm sure this will be more lucrative.

Gorgeous home, fyi.

[ontrider]

[eeven73]

[chavez]

I feel really good about my $60/month gardener right about now!!!!!!!

I'm about to lose about another 1/5 of yard to hardscape, pool dig starts in a month or so. W00T


For you though, I agree with Partyb. Unless you really want this new hobby. Sounds like you can find a better gardener and pay them substantially less. PO was getting the shaft, big time.

[jt09]

i'm jealous of all the tools. landscaped my way through college, so i appreciate when a man has a legit weedeater (the one incorrectly labeled as an edger above - although they make great edgers if you're good). when i retire, i'll have a badass lawn w/ flower gardens, but until then, decomposed granite and succulents.

[Bambamski]

That right there is more than a weekend. I shake my head sometimes at the lots you guys get and the price you pay. Nice shack. That would be in the 3to5 million range in our neck of the woods.

Pay the 450 and have a life.

[brew]

I'm with PartyB, I have no interest in yard work and would much rather spend my time doing something else. We have a guy that does it for a couple hundred a month year round and it's a good deal.

As someone who moved up to a big house several years ago, I would give anything to get out of it and go back to 2,000 sq ft. Between the yard work, the house work, the decorating, etc. it's a fu$&ing nightmare on my back pocket and my time.

[wakeboarderdave1]

I'd go with a weedeater that is for commercial use. My dad bought the Stihl fs90 two years ago. The different handle and shoulder strap make the job more comfortable and easier. I'm probably one of the few who doesn't mind yard work once a weekwnd during the summer.

[eeven73]

The only way I could see the 450 price if they are mowing weekly(minimum).

[Chad H]

I'd pay someone to do the chemical side of things. Is the work easy? yes, but still, it's not all that expensive, and normally they know their stuff.

Find a neighborhood kid to trim the hedges once a month. Pay him 50-100, he'll think hes hot stuff, and to me that's the worst part of that job. I hate doing that.

Mow the yard yourself. It's easy. I mow a lawn of a 12,000 squarefoot fraternity house currently. The nice part, drinking beer while I do it, and not worrying about anyone complaining about the job I do.

[E.J.]

No comments on the work....but nice place, congrats!

[Chattwake]

Thanks guys! I think hiring someone to do the seeding and chemical side of things makes sense. Tomorrow ill get to play with my new toys and ill report back.

[Okie Boarder]

My boys have gotten a few of the neighbors to let them mow and trim/edge. If you find you don't want to mess with that part either, that could be a route to look at if you have some teen/tween kids in the neighborhood that want to make a little money.

[eich82]

I'm a little late to the party, but I'll throw in my 2 cents anyways. 450 a month is pretty steep, but looking at your yard, you have a lot of landscaping and obstacles to work around. I'm also assuming that cost included weeding your beds, trimming and pruning, fertilizer, etc.

At the end of the day, I actually don't mind doing yard work. The problem is however, that I have a pretty busy schedule, and while doing the yard work when I have time isn't an issue, it's HAVING to do yard work that is the problem. If I have a busy week at work, or if I'm out of town, I don't want to worry about HAVING to get home and mow my yard. Grass isn't going to wait to grow for when I have time to cut it. That's when it becomes a PITA and a big hassle.

Luckily I just send over my property maintenance guy from my company to take care of anything I need which costs me nothing. If I had to pay someone, I would still shell out the money to not have that hanging over my head with my schedule.

[Partyb]

Don't forget that all those new tools/toys you have need gas, oil, maintenance and repairs. Your work load of one yard is more than likely not going to make it mathematically sensible to do this. How much is just the capital expenditure on all those tools? IJS. Not to mention winterizing, or getting them going in the spring at least.

I'm sorry, but I just think doing your own lawn is terrible. That's me.

Also cutting into your wakeboard time! (odd turn of events that all us old wb.com'ers never mentioned this! WE old!)

[Chattwake]

Partyb,

Awwww. Just when I was feeling good about my decision making.

Here's how I figure it: I had the riding mower/bagger and weed eater already. The new mower and echo stuff ran me $1200 for everything (I have a good hookup). A utility trailer will be $150 from wallyworld and a nice used backpack plower will probably run me $250 off of craigslist. So, my initial outlay will be $1600. Even if I find someone more reasonable to do the yard, I'm looking at probably at least $350 per month. So, as long as I get through 5 months w/o that payment, all of this stuff has paid for itself. Plus, I really find that, to appreciate something, you sometimes have to roll up your sleaves and do it yourself - like restoring a car yourself, building a jeep yourself, building a stereo in your boat yourself, etc.

Yes, there will be maintenance expenses and operating expenses and time spent working, but, hey, it's good exercise and it's good for me to learn a bit about my property in the process.

[chavez]

Chattwake, you are a lawyer, so I think you'll appreciate this, because even though I am not, I think of my time this way:

How many billable hours do you spend (or will you spend) on the landscaping?

Multiply that times your hourly rate.

*head esplodes*

I started thinking of things that way recently. I know I have work time and free time, but if I think of how much my time is worth, a lot of little tasks become easier to farm out. Not all tasks can be dealt with like this, but IMO things like car repairs, gardening, pest control, etc. are right up that calculations alley.

[Chattwake]

Yes, I agree with this thought process. However, this is time that I get to spend at my home with my family. While, no, it's not playing catch, my girls like to run around outside while I work, ask what I'm doing, play in the leaves, etc. For me to get any real work done that I can bill for, I'd have to be at the office. I'm here from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. during the week on average and occasionally I work a weekend. I just don't want to spend any more time doing real work, no matter what it pays. At least that's how I feel now. Maybe 6 straight hours of yard work will change my perception.

[pyrocasto]

[chavez]

Chattwake, if it becomes a family "activity" that would be something I'd exclude from the calculation. But if it's just me and the mower it loses the appeal.

I guess the right way to put it is: if it takes time away from something else you'd rather be doing, it might be better to just farm it out.