[Green4Me]

to get this ball rolling, here is a draft of my yard care instructions to be given to a new employee to communicate how I expect our customers to be taken care of. Comments would be welcome. Maybe this is useful to be included in the GTX database

here it is :
Yard Care How To

Our purpose in providing yard care services is to make our customers yards look beautiful.

We do this by providing the best of yard care in a timely manner that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

General Expectations

Come to work having had your breakfast and dressed in long pants and boots and bring gloves. Be ready to work, with wheels turning at 0730.
Our uniform is clean blue jeans, not ripped or torn and a company shirt or sweatshirt.
If you need to use the restroom, never, never ask the customer. We do no go into customers homes, we do not want access to customers homes, never accept keys or let the customer leave a door open for you. Stop at McDonalds or a gas station before your next stop as needed.

At the shop
Check oil and fuel in all equipment. Start up the engines and let them warm up before leaving, so when we get to the job site we pull the cord and the motors run.
Check chemical tanks and fill up as needed, Grab fertilizer, lime, casoron or iron as needed.
Load tools needed for the day. Check that tarp is in the truck.


At the customers house
Pull up to the house and get vehicle positioned for your exit, close to the driveway for equipment access and to provide clear access for the homeowner who may need to leave or arrive home.

Take a quick look around the yard to assess what is needed for each property. Look for trash, tree limbs, leaves or other things that need picking up before we work(toys, hoses, lawn chairs etc).
First edge the lawns to be mowed. Rake leaves out of beds towards lawns if needed.
Them mow, so mower can pickup trimmings
We usually cut around the perimeter of the lawn twice, then stripe the lawn carefully, usually heading the stripes toward the doorway. Try to not run in the same wheel tracks each time as it can cause ruts. Some lawns get striped in alternate directions each week.
Evaluate each lawn for problems such as water, fertilizer, broad leaf weeds, and make proper application of the proper chemical.
Finally blow off the walks and driveways, starting at the doorway and blow your way out. Be sure to blow off the back deck.

Close any gates as needed.

Back at the yard

Clean out the truck, back and front
Blow off the mowers and blow out the trailer and pickup bed.
Gas up all the equipment and get ready for the next day.
Fill out reports and time card, and turn in receipts.