The Best Strategies For Spring Lawn Mowing Management. 

The busiest time of year for a lawn mowing business is spring. 

The grass starts growing and paired with those wet September days. 

It seems like everything is happening at once. 

Here in the Waikato, things can get a bit mad.

Before I mowed lawns here, I was on the Hibiscus Coast, and although the terrain was more suited to goats, but the grass was manageable all year round. 

I remember my first spring in Hamilton. I thought something was wrong. In my decade of mowing lawns, I had never seen such growth.  

I initially thought that it must have been the humidity that year. 

The following year, it happened again. 

Now I know why the Waikato is full of farms. All that grass must keep the cattle happy.  

My plan for spring lawn mowing

Anyway. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that I needed a plan for spring growth. 

My spring growth management starts with the quote. 

When I quote on a lawn, I always mention that I do fortnightly mowing in spring. 

Yes, I even make my customers aware of this in midwinter.

If the customer wants three or four weekly mows at that time of year, that is fine. However, I tell them that everyone goes fortnightly after the first of September. 

If there are any issues with my cut cycle, I like to know when I quote so I can address them then and there. 

I want everyone on a fortnightly cycle when spring starts—no ifs or buts.

Now that everyone is on a fortnightly cycle,  you may be wondering. 

How long does that last, and what happens if there is a drought in summer? 

Great question.

The secret is to put the customer in charge of the cut cycle. 

You tell them that you don’t decide if a lawn needs mowing or not when you arrive. You don’t make this decision because you do not know what the customer thinks.

You could have the same lawn; one customer will think it needs a mow, while another will think it doesn’t need mowing. 

Therefore you do not make this decision for the customer. 

Tell them that if they feel their lawns don’t need mowing at any time after spring, they need to text you and let you know the night BEFORE you turn up. 

Now the customer is in charge. Or are they? 

You have just used a technique used in sales. 

It is called “the path of least resistance.” 

Have you ever signed up for something, and even though you haven’t been using the service, they still take monthly payments? 

All you have to do is cancel the payment; it still takes months to get around to it. 

It is easier for a customer to do nothing than something. 

Using this method, we have around 70% of our customers on fortnightly mows all year round. We even have a few weekly all-year-round lawns. 

Now that we have discussed how we manage our booking of lawns in the Spring, we will look at the final piece of the puzzle. 

Rules for spring lawn mowing

Use sharp blades

This should go without saying, but I really do need to mention it here. The grass will grow, and you want to make it as easy as you can on yourself. 

Also, as we know, blunt blades damage the lawn and leave it susceptible to disease or mould. Those warm, humid days paired with the rain can turn a lawn into the perfect place for disease if you are not careful. 

Keep those blades sharp, and those lawns will look better too. 

Mow the lawns high

When spring lawn mowing, don’t go mowing the lawn short. If the customer requests this, do everything you can to talk them out. Mowing lawns too short will result in the following issues.

• A short lawn is a perfect environment for flat weeds
• The grass puts all its energy into growing leaves that it needs for photosynthesis and this means that the roots pay the price. This means that the roots will be weak and shallow. Weak roots mean the grass is more likely to get diseases and fungi. 
• If a short mow is followed by hot dry weather then the exposed grass can get burnt. 
• You will get yellow patches on the lawn when the crowns of the grass have been damaged. 
• If there is a drought the leaves won’t provide shade for the roots and the grass will not retain water properly. 

Mow the lawns regularly. 

At least fortnightly if not weekly. Lawns left too long over this period will not cope well with a hard cutback on a random basis. 

A lawn needs to be mowers high and often in spring so it looks good and stays healthy. 

Sometimes if we take on an overgrown lawn a month or two before spring, we will suggest that they start on a fortnightly mow immediately so the lawn is in premium condition when you move into spring lawn mowing. 

Watch your weed-eating. 

If you are doing a weekly mow, be very careful with the weed-eating around the edges. I usually only weed-eat on every second visit otherwise you may start noticing bald patches starting to appear where you are doing the edges. 

Reduce your workload if needed. 

If you are working your business forty hours before the spring lawn mowing session arrives, consider reducing your workload. 

Spring lawn mowing takes at least 10% longer than winter lawn mowing so you are going to spend longer on the job.

This is expressly important if you are running a lot of three or four weekly lawns before spring arrives. 

You will end up stressing out and running behind. 

Consider selling or price-increasing some of your lower-paying or out-of-area lawns in the four weeks leading up to spring. 

I hope this helps you plan for spring a little better.

Now get out there, mow lawns and have fun

Happy lawnmowing, people.