weeding

Oh my God! exclaimed the landscaper. I laughed. I told you it was a big job! There are waist high weeds everywhere in the pachysandra. There are tree seedlings everywhere. There is poison ivy in places. This is what happens when you can't just run a lawnmower over your yard on a hill. This is what happens when you no longer have the shade of a dozen trees. A jungle grows and it's only May.

How much to weed? You want to know how much everyone has basically been telling us? You want proof that I'm not exaggerating what a problem our yard is...? Everyone has come in at 800-1000 dollars with their estimates. 800 to 1000 dollars!! This last guy would bring 6 guys on Sunday morning and be done in 4 hours. He reassured me, over and over, that they would pull out roots and be meticulous. He thought that the weeds could be maintained afterwards 1-2 hours a month, maybe I could even maintain it myself. And you know what? I liked him the best. And why?

He showed when he said he would, even after 5 days of phone tag. He pulled and pulled some weeds to satisfy his own curiosity. He explained a few things succinctly. He told me that he can't take on anymore regular clients but that he can take on the occasional "as needed" Sunday project. His workers really want and need to work and want the Sundays. He doesn't need me and suggested that I just mow the back myself and save some money. AND he is the owner of the business and would be working along side his guys. That matters a lot to me. Instead of sending a team over who can barely speak English, he is this white guy working among whoever he brings. There is a reason that his company mows 60 yards a day and that he has hundreds of 'A' ratings on Angie's List. He doesn't just manage. He does the heavy lifting, too.

That's the thing. Is landscaping rocket science? No, it's not. But few people do a good job and run a business well. I want my boys to learn about this.