Gardening - - a return to the old ways!

[chief38]

Our HOA and residents had been less than satisfied with our community's Landscaper and so in January we hired a new company. So far the 15% increase in price has proven to be worth it. They are much better and have been proactive at preventing all kinds of stuff, treatments, fertilizing, etc. Their skills, efforts and customer service are also well worth the extra cost, IMO.

The old landscape company we had trimmed all the bushes and shrubs with the use of gas powered trimmers - always cock-eyed, crooked and uneven. Yesterday morning I saw an amazing event! The guys were trimming all the bushes and shrubs with a machete! Not just hacking them but precision trimming them to the likes I've never seen before! They are perfectly straight, even and symmetrical just as OCD Guys and Gals like it - lol. They were also incredibly fast - about 3 times fasted than a gas powered machine does it. I almost couldn't help from wondering just how sharp their machete's actually were but I refrained myself - don't think they speak English and my Spanish is sort of crude. They surgically sliced through the bushes and shrubs like one of my freshly sharpened, hair shaving kitchen knives slices a tomato. Since I recently started up a part time knife sharpening business I notice these things now.

Then, the main guy shimmies up a palm tree and cuts down a cluster of coconuts. He grabs one of them and just like you see on TV or in the movies he skillfully cut up the coconut in his hand with the same machete and handed out slices to his co-workers. My wife and I watched out he window in amazement.

Well, it was a little 10 minute show of entertainment and skills that apparently has been passed down to another generation. Truly something to witness. I hope the shrubbery grows fast so I can watch them again! lol.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

We live in a condo, in Central Ohio. Most of the groundskeepers are Hispanic and at least say they don't speak English. True supervision is never seen, except to make price estimates. All mowing, digging, and trimming is done with power equipment, much yelling and very little skill (as if they never saw a machine before)! No matter how bad something is owed or trimmed, it will grow back!


The important thing around here is Street Snow Removal. Their landscaping trucks all have snowplows. So they hand the keys to a guy who has never seen snow in his life and say "Go plow!" The 4 major snows this winter, the plowman, plowed the snow into the garage doors instead of away from it! I sure hope we change landscapers, but it looks like the same guy mulching again this year. (must be in 3-year cycles!)

Ivan

 

[raljr1]

Our HOA changed vendors a while back. The new crew is much better. i make sure I give them bottles of water when I see them working, and it helps get a little better attention to some of the tasks. About a year ago I went out and saw that they had sprayed mud up the side of the house when they were edging. I marched three of them back down the street and made them get the garden hose out and clean it off, chewed them out in their native language too..... hasn't happened since

Robert

 

[lihpster]

Years ago, we replaced our roof. We got told that it would take one day, maybe 2. It's a 2000 sq. ft. ranch. Not a big job, but still. Tear off and replace in one day? First thing, a 40 yard dumpster appears in our driveway, followed by a crew of about 10-12 Hispanic workers. They get on the roof and they are going to town. Tearing off the old roof and tossing down the trash. They got some of it in the dumpster, but copious amount missed. At lunch they threw their food wrappers on the ground. By 3:30 they had the roof done. By 4, the place was spotless. Every little piece of trash, cigarette butts and anything that looked like trash went into the dumpster. My dad went into the dumpster and found enough leftover materials to put a matching roof on the shed he built with my brother. They never said a word of English and if you said something to them, they would just smile and laugh, but they worked their butts off and did an excellent job. The sodas at lunch and the beers when the job was done were appreciated.

 

[charlie sherrill]

We don't have a HOA. I won't live anywhere that does have one. For the last three days my grandchildren and I planted peas, potatoes, and sweet corn. I'm worn out today and hurting all over. I'm not going to do anything for the next few days. Back when I was in my 60's I could still put in 8 hours of hard work. At 77 not anymore. I thank my 9 yo. granddaughter and 12 year old grandson for their help. They helped last year and pretty much picked up where they left. Very little instructions were needed.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Years ago, we replaced our roof. We got told that it would take one day, maybe 2. It's a 2000 sq. ft. ranch. Not a big job, but still. Tear off and replace in one day? First thing, a 40 yard dumpster appears in our driveway, followed by a crew of about 10-12 Hispanic workers. They get on the roof and they are going to town. Tearing off the old roof and tossing down the trash. They got some of it in the dumpster, but copious amount missed. At lunch they threw their food wrappers on the ground. By 3:30 they had the roof done. By 4, the place was spotless. Every little piece of trash, cigarette butts and anything that looked like trash went into the dumpster. My dad went into the dumpster and found enough leftover materials to put a matching roof on the shed he built with my brother. They never said a word of English and if you said something to them, they would just smile and laugh, but they worked their butts off and did an excellent job. The sodas at lunch and the beers when the job was done were appreciated.

I know you're a long way from and prices vary. Do you mind telling me how much this roof was?

 

[lihpster]

I know you're a long way from and prices vary. Do you mind telling me how much this roof was?

It was 30 years ago and I didn't pay it, my folks did, so, who knows?

 

[SMSgt]

No HOA for me, but the storm water management agency must have hired a new contractor to mow the banks of the canal behind my house. The tractors have mowed it three times in the last four months. Usually it gets 3-4 mowings per year. My tax dollars at work!

 

[Kenna]

I know you're a long way from and prices vary. Do you mind telling me how much this roof was?

Just got a quote on 1100 sq ft ranch, 9000.00$ Tear off and reshingle.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Just got a quote on 1100 sq ft ranch, 9000.00$ Tear off and reshingle.

Thanks. I was guessing it would be around ten grand. I've got 25 year shingles and my house is 25 years old. I'm going to check out a metal roof, but will probably go back with the heavy shingle. It should last me until age 102.When Katrina rolled through here in 2005 I didn't lose a shingle.