Hardscape Quotes - Part 3 of a 3 Part series.

 Hey everyone!    Today, we are going to finish up our 3-part quote series.   The first two in the series were lawn maintenance quotes and flower bed quotes.  Today is hardscaping quotes - and this will complete the landscaping trifecta. 

Hardscape quotes are very similar to flower quotes, in that it all depends on what you want, and how much your budget is to spend.  

First, you want to look at your design.  What do you want to do with your hardscape?   Do you want a patio?  A pergola?  A retaining wall?   A firepit?   Would you like it all to go together?    For this, you need to be able to draw out exactly what you want, and how you want it placed.   

Complete measurements are extremely important, because being off on the measurements can mean you don't have enough material, or you may have too much.   Not enough is a real pain, especially if you have to have it delivered, because then you'll have to order more, and pay another delivery fee.   Always better to err on the side of too much!   

Now look at what you want to build.  Do you want a patio?   How large?   A retaining wall?   How long and how tall?   How about a firepit?   What circumference do you want the firepit?   How tall do you want it to be?  

OK!  Once you've figured out what you want, and how  you want it to look - then  you need to figure out which material you want to use.  

Do you want to use brick?

How about stones or pavers?

Every time I've ever done hardscapes on my home, I've always tried to stick with the same material.   I love using pavers, because you can use them for so many different outdoor projects.  You can use them as hardscape around  your flower bed (don't forget your weep holes!), you can use them for a firepit, or a retaining wall.  Your imagination in your only limitation to what you can do with pavers.  

Now - this is hard work.  This is really hard work.  You'll need to be prepared to wear work gloves, and break a few nails, ladies, if this is what you want to do.   It's not easy, but the end result is spectacular, and  you'll make all your friends jealous with the work  you've done!

Thanks for joining us this week, and as always, if you have any questions about anything we've talked about, please don't hesitate to contact us!  We will be glad to help!

Flower Bed Quotes - Part 2 of a 3 Part Series

 Hey y'all, and welcome to our Toad Talk! 

This week, we are going to talk about flower bed quotes.   We get a lot of requests for quotes to build a flower bed, and we can absolutely do that.   We just need a little info from you.

First thing we need to know is your budget.   Flower beds can range in price from super inexpensive to OMG 😄.   Just depends on what you want.   You give us your budget and some ideas of what you'd like, and we can design it for you.

Second thing we need to know is what kinds of flowers you want.   Do you want annuals?   Perennials?   Do you want all flowers?

Do you want us to mix in shrubs or greenery, to break up the flowers?

What about mulch?  Do you want organic mulch?

Maybe inorganic, like rocks?

There are so many variables involved in flower beds.   You can go pretty inexpensive, and get some great color.   Inexpensive flowers can include freesia, mums, daisies, carnations, and more.   You can also go more expensive, and fill your bed with hydrangeas, peonies, lilies of the valley, and crocus.   It's just what you want - what you like to see.  You can mix them all up, too.   

Your mulches and bedding range in price from a small, cheap bag of mulch, to the more expensive smooth river rocks.   Look at cost of ownership when planning your bed filler.   Mulch is cheap right off, but will also fade over time, and needs to be replaced about once a year.  River rocks don't fade as quickly.  They look nice and last for a long time.   

Other things to consider when building a flower bed are the preparations for the bed itself.  Is it in rough shape from last year?  Does it need to be tilled or turned over from last season?  Do we need to dig out old, dead plants?   Do you want us to fertilize it for you?   What about landscape fabric?   That varies in price as well, based on thickness.

So there are lots of variables to consider when planning a flower bed.   We have 35 years of planning and building flower beds, and just give us an idea of what you're looking for, and we will be glad to help you build a nice bed that will make all your neighbors jealous!  

Just give us a call!

Lawn Service Quotes - Part 1 of a 3 Part Series

 Hey, yall!  Welcome to our Toad Talk!

So the sun is shining after a rainy few days, and that means only one thing - your grass is growing.  You go out to the shed to get your mower, and after a few grinding cranks, your mower won't turn over.    The mower repair guy is backed up for weeks, and your HOA won't let your grass go that long without service, so what do you do?   

You call a lawncare professional for a quote!   This will be the first of a couple of quote blog posts, because this is a big area to cover.  

Now.  There are many variables involved in quoting your lawn for service.   We often have people who say, "My lawn is about 1/3rd of an acre - what will you charge me to cut it?"   Well we usually don't give quotes over the phone because of the variables involved.   

Let's look at some of the variables!

First of all, of course, size does matter when it comes to your lawn.  😁   A larger lawn will always cost more than a smaller lawn.  However, it's not all about size.   

Do you have lots of flower beds?   Tree rings or stones surrounding your favorite tree?   How about this - something you may not have considered.  Are you on a corner lot?   All of those variables mean you'll need much more weedeating.   Weedeating will always affect your price.   

While we are talking about weedeating, what about fencing?  Do you have it?   If so, what kind?   Regular privacy fences don't get charged as much because they are much easier to weedeat around, but chain-link fences are difficult to weedeat around because the string from the trimmer gets wrapped up in the links, causing us to have to constantly start and stop again.   If there are lots of things in the lawn (debris, sheds, cars, playgrounds, etc), it will cost a little more as well, because again - more weedeating.  

How long is your grass?  If it's pretty high, it will take more passes with the mower, so that takes more time.   Is there debris in the yard?  Sticks, twigs, paper, etc?   That has to be picked up as well, as we don't mow over the top of debris.  

Spring clean-ups usually cost more because the lawn has basically been left for the winter months, because the grass is dormant.   However, there are other things involved in spring clean-up, like yard debris, etc.   With our clients, if we continually provide service during the winter months, we don't have to charge more for spring clean-up.   We just transition into mowing with a greater frequency.  With our winter clients, we go out about once a month, and just give the lawn a good once-over, keeping it clean and neat looking.  

We are here for you - those who are our clients, and those who are not.  

If you ever have any questions about quotes, drop us a line or give us a call!   As always, we will be "hoppy to help you!"  🐸