Cold Climate LCO's-Whos done but could still mow???

[MOW ED]

I'm bummed. The calender tells me that its December and my equipment has been sleeping since before Thanksgiving. I am driving by my lawns and I see that there has been some pretty good growth on the lawns. It has been extremely mild and wet with very few nights of freezing temps. I even see buds on my maple tree.

I am wondering how many of you could still go out and give her one more cut. I know that there are some of you lucky people that mow almost year round but this is very strange for Green Bay, Wisconsin? Green lawns and still growing. I want some snow because otherwise the first cut of next season will have to be done in early March.

Where are you at and are you still mowing?

[tpirobert]

I'm here in mountains of NC and yes I could still mow. We have 30's at night and 60 to 70 during day this week. Last year we had snow! I have mowed in every month of the year. I'll probably mow a few more this month for clean-up. My annual accounts will not get a mowing unless requested 'cause that comes out of my pocket. I wait till January to service equipment and put to bed. I'll start chem apps in Feb. and mowing again in March. We have also mowed in early March, only to have the weather change and snow. Looks pretty cool to see snow flying out the discharge chute of mower.

[twotoros]

All mine could have used one more mow. I usually stop doing drive-bys by 11/10 and then bill and let the customers know I am available until the snow flies. However I get no takers and get a lot of moaning on the last mow like,"You're mowing again? I thought you were done!" Also no takers on clean-ups. Money is tight here.

What amazes me most is that they are willing to look at a scruffy lawn all winter when that last mow would keep it sharp for 3 monthes.

We had 10" of snow last wed. so mowing is off the table now.

[dhicks]

My equipment is asleep for the winter too. Unfortunately, I had no idea that I could mow until December. I have drove to some of my sites and all could use a mowing especially after the rains last week and the winter fert that I applied during mid-November. I dread answring the work phone because if this mild weather goes on much longer the clients are going to want service.:mad:

[Scraper]

I'm in SE PA and have been mowing every other week since the first week of November. In ll my years this is the latest I have ever cut. Usually last cuts are last week of October/First week of November and even then sometimes that's stretching it. I am not mowing all of my accounts, but those which I fertilize seem to be still growing well. Actually when I was out mowing on Saturday (12/1) I couldn't help but laugh when I found myself trying to avoid getting clippings on Christmas decorations people had out. Unbelievable and quite a nice X-mas bonus I'd say!

I don't understand why other landscapers aren't still out cutting around here as some lawns in my neighborhoods really need a trim before winter really sets in.

Mow Ed...why don't you fire them mowers up for one last trim?

[MOW ED]

Scraper
I have them all cleaned and winterized and on a positive note, no one has called for service-yet.

I can't believe this but I am going out in a little while and do something that I could not do all summer or fall.

I'm going GOLFING!!!!!:cool:

Yep I am in Green Bay,Wisconsin and I am gonna golf 9 holes on December 12th.

THINK SPRING!!!

[Scraper]

I hear ya Ed...I'd probably do the same thing if I had winterized too. The way I see it is more $$$ for the winter. Anything after 11/15 is bonus for me. I'll be wrapping things up this week. With my luck it'll snow Saturday when I'm trying to get everything cleaned up and winterized.

[treeman82]

SSSSSSHHHHHHHH! if you say the S word then you will jinx us all ;)

[Sunrise]

If the warm weather keeps up I will be mowing soon.
Drove by all of my lawns and some may get mowed soon.
All my mowers are on vacation.
Hope this doen't hurt us down the road. More or bigger snow or a late spring.
:confused:

[kutnkru]

I cut my lawn today and then cut a new clients. Gave her beds a quick "fluffing" of the mulch so they will look good for the Holidays if theres no snow.

Threw up some lights for her above the porch, and then picked up a used snowthrower that was in the paper. That really got some awkward looks to have the lawn and snow equipment on the same trailer -LOL!!!

[FOX-PROPERTY]

Just did my last mow of the year TODAY!....but.....I still have 1 more leaf clean-up (lady called today--not a regular-YET), Also have a small mulch job (2 yards), and have to go do a tree pruning estimate. That should be it for the season, but the way this weather has been around here (58 today, and upper 60's tom.),the phone keeps ringing and this season may never come to an end!

[odin00]

Here in southside of chicago it has been amazing we are still doing some mowing not full thottle but about 50% of the accounts
most of the leaves have been down for two weeks.
I hope mild fall dont mean extra long winter

[Lawn Dog]

I am in the same boat here in PA. It has been in the 60s here all November. I saw the five day forcast and it is going to be in the mid to high 60s all this week as well. I thought I was finished for the year but I am now starting to get some calls. All my equipment is put away for the year. So tomorrow morning, I am taking out my Exmark, 1 21" mower, and one trimmer, and Im going to work. Its not very smart for me to sit around when I could be working.

[Michael Wall]

we didn't start final cleanups here til thanksgiving, so we have til chtistmas w/ cleanups + final mows. Strange fall here the oaks were down before the maples.

[leebbb]

I mowed grass today, will it ever get cold, I'm sick of grass. I should be drawing a check for doing nothing, but no, the grass is still growing. Somebody send me a good frost {and some rain, we need it bad}.:rolleyes:

[Runner]

It's hard to believe to all of us around here, but things are still going strong. There are several lco's still out working I am one of them. The cutting is pretty much all done, but there is still plenty of cleanups to take care of. I am still getting calls. All my stuff is done, but I've taken on a bunch of extras. If I get them all done, great. If not, it'll be there in the spring. I love this weather, and more 50's on the way all this week!:cool:

[65hoss]

I'll get to ride my Lazer pretty much all winter. Not as much but probably about 10 hrs per week give or take. High tomorrow is going to be around 70. ;)

[cpmayhewinc]

Mowing weekly here in Virginia on my irrigated commercial lawns. Winterized all irrigation this week. Non-irrigated got there last cut about a month ago.

[Got Grass]

DING DING!


If it was dry I'd be mowing now. I can only imagine next years spring growth/ 1st cut.

[Lawn Wizard]

Ahh Mow Ed Im in the same boat as you. December 3rd 62F out right now grass is green and growing a bit lol! Most of my customers started slowing down at the beginning of October! I cant wait till spring!

[Scraper]

If your lawns look like they need a cutting I'd highly recommend it, if not for the extra money, but to prevent snow mold. If the grass is over 3" and gets matted down over the winter with snow this mod can grow. This is an ugly disease that'll kill entire sections of turf. Trust me...I've seen it! I use that as a reason for cutting when some finicky customers come out and ask what I'm cutting? Not to mention a nice close cut over winter allows the leaves to blow across the lawn instead of being caught in pockets of high grass thus matting it down and smothering it.

[kutnkru]

Snow molds are usually the first disease to appear during the late winter or early spring months during milder temperatures associated with thaws in which a moist condition is prevelant.

The easiest way to sight this disease is to look for spots on the turf that range from several inches to feet in diameter giving the turf a grayish white or pinkish hue.

One of the best methods for preventing this is not to fertilize heavily in the late fall thus encouraging growth during the winter months.

[Turfdude]

We mow bi-weeky in Novembe and do clean-ups now thru mid-January. If the weather is tat warm, be adventurous -- do a tandem jump. Just remember the temperatre at 13,500 is about 40 degrees cooler. Trust me, you'll apreciate life a little more and have a on of the bes times of your life. The view is petty cool afte your chute opens (maybe you'll even beable tosee some cool stripes!).

Get it while you can

Bob

[LawnKeepers]

I'm done with mowing, but amazingly on the fourth of December I'm still getting leaf jobs in Kansas. I'm doing these in T-Shirts and jeans. Not bad at all. Very good season, can't wait till next year, I heard el nino is back.

[Scraper]

Very true Kris you can see it unless the turf is snow covered the entire time. Unfortunately that doesn't happen here. ;)

[GAMLC]

Still mowing here also to help mulch some leaves. Problem is only mowed once in Aug, Sep so hasnt been a very good year. Rain has been all around us just like the snow in the winter. Oh well going to look closely at contracts for next season.

[Got Grass]

It's DECEMBER 5th and 65 out right now, It may reach 72 YES 72 today. THIS IS BUFFALO! What the heck is going on? I actually had a customer call and ask for a spring cleanup today. Told him my equipment was still winterized. LOL, he really wanted his gutters cleaned out and some leaves picked up. I did it in SHORTS! Un-winterized my blower and rake for the job.

There are a few lawns that could be cut.
I'm scared.....