Greenville, SOUTH CAROLINA

   Blue Dot Landscaping has run a promotion the last two years.  We have done it from February through April.  What we have done is gone to every mulch place in two counties and negotiate the best bulk deal we could on the price of mulch.  Then we advertise online a February Mulch Special.. then a March Mulch Special ... you get the idea.  This has been a successful promotion for us, bringing in many thousands of dollars in business.  More importantly, we have gotten great exposure and been able to introduce ourselves to literally hundreds of new potential customers.   Hopefully potential customers who want more than mulch.  Maybe a Koi pond or our lawn maintenance?   
   Well, as we are getting busy with other tasks and our mulch special is about to expire, we get one of our last mulch customers... Mr. Strayons.  We advertise heavily in our market - Greenville and Spartanburg, SC.  We focus our internet marketing on things like 'Spartanburg Landscaper'.  Mr. Strayons sends me an email and asks several questions about our mulch and wants to make sure we go to Greenville.  (Our home office is halfway between Greenville and Spartanburg - Lyman, SC).  He is not satisfied with all the emailing and he phones me.  We figure out he is going to need a lot of mulch and he decides we are the ones he wants to do the work.  We schedule an entire day to do his work... and of course it rains.  His rescheduling was for today.  And of course today doesn't start out too well.  We are missing one employee this week due to a death in his family.  Another calls me this morning and tells me he can't work because he hurt himself last night playing soccer.  The third worker... was the soccer players wife... and naturally she has to take him to the hospital.  So now we're down 3 vital workers.  I'm kinda of a 'go-getter'... and I 'go' and 'get' some extra workers.  You know those trailer parks you see with a lot of latino sorts that seem to work a lot in the construction industry?  Well, a truck and a little bit of spanish speaking and you can get you some good workers!
  All this and it's not even 7:30 am yet!  So we are hooking up the truck(s) and trailers, getting wheel barrows, pitch forks, etc. and I look up Mr. Strayons address in my trucks GPS... it's not there.  Sometimes happens.  No problem, I look it up on google maps... still not there.  So I do the obvious thing and call Mr. Strayons.  I ask him his exact address to make sure I was entering it correctly.  Then I ask what part of Greenville he lives.....
    Guess what?  He does live in Greenville..... Greenville, NORTH CAROLINA!  Only about a 6 hour drive.  Mr. Strayons does display a sense of humor - he says "I guess I won't see you at 10 then?"

LOL... what a Thursday!

Rich

To Have the Will to Win is Not Enough

"To have the will to win is not enough.... You must have the will to prepare to win" - Vince Lombardi.
    I am writing a little off topic from Landscaping today.  Today I was reminded what a great community I live in and how lucky my twin boys are to be in this school district.  At this little town named Duncan, halfway between Greenville and Spartanburg, SC... is one of the best high school football programs in the country.
    I could describe how good this team is in a number of ways.  Byrnes High School Rebels have been rated as high as #2 in the nation. Their skill and conditioning is like that of a small college.  They have a million dollar weight room and an ex-Marine Seargent as a weights and conditioning coach.  We have won 7 out of the last 10 state championships with 2 other 2nd place finishes.  We have a phenomenal amount of players that get division 1 football scholarships.  We haven't lost a home game since I don't know when.  We only have 14 losses in 10 years.  That counts big time out of state schools we play and SC state playoffs... only 14!  During the same period we have 132 wins.
     I could also describe how good our team is in matters other than wins and losses.  The members of these teams sign contracts that describe their personal behavior and conduct that is expected.  They consistently do things like volunteer to help another school organization by working at a car wash or other fund raising activity.  They have Friday prayer breakfasts at the local diner - and a high percentage of the players freely wake up before 6 am. so they can attend.  Football players at this school are not spoiled aka the Lebron James' of the world... football players at this school are required to sit at the front of the classrooms, they pay attention, they have good manners and they get good grades.
    So we win lots of games and we have great kids... but that is not the purpose of my writing today.  Today my boys had their medical physicals so that they can play next year.  (They'll be in the 7th grade.  Mac is 5'5" and weighs 205 lbs and Will is 5'2" and 147 lbs.).  All of the 7th - 12th grades must have a physical and the school district had this set up at a local Dr's office.  We were to fill out this form and be at the Dr's office between 6-8 pm.    Well... I don't like to be late... I am normally early.  So we show up at 5:27.  33 minutes early.... And there is a line out the door, across the parking lot - and down the street.  I swear there were people there just to see what next years team might look like!
   Yeah, Yeah.. so you say maybe they just all wanted to get home early for dinner.  Being early for a physical is not that big of a deal.  Well - Byrnes football is always like this.  The Monday after the Saturday they won the state championship last year they were in the weight room getting ready for this year.  There is an air of excitement in this little town because spring football starts next week.  From the  7th grade thru the 12th the boys will spend time all summer in the weight room at Byrnes.  There are footballish camps and other activites all summer. 
     So why do I feel lucky?  It's not because I hope my boys are Byrnes football stars or that they get a college scholarship.  It's because they are being taught that the will to win is not enough... they are being taught how to prepare to win.  If they learn this they will be great at whatever endeavor they choose... even being a landscaper!

Rich

My Top Ten Favorite Perennials

Around a tree to fill up a shady garden area, near your mailbox, framing an entry sidewalk - or maybe just in the showy spot of a mulch bed.... Perennials have many available locations and can add to the value of almost any landscape.  Here are my top ten favorite perennials:

Hosta - Hosta plantaginea - Also known as Fragrant Plantain Lily.  Hosta is a plant that does not bloom profusely but has beautiful foliage.  Needs some shade and is an excellent choice for highly shaded areas.  Use plenty of compost when planting.  There are many excellent varieties.  My favorite is 'Francee'.

Ajuga - Ajuga reptans - Also known as Bugleweed.  Best used in a mass planting for a ground cover.  Excellent plant for denseness and keeping weeds out.  Plant 9 - 12 inches apart.  Much easier to maintain than vinca and other vines that folks use for ground cover.  Blue flowers in the spring.  My favorite variety is 'Bronze Beauty'.

Dianthus - Dianthus gratianopolitanus - Excellent heat tolerant, full sun capable, spreading ground cover.  Thin Blueish-green foliage.  Small pink blooms in the spring.

Verbena - There are a variety of botanical (latin) names for this plant - enough that being specific isn't important.  You want a low growing spreading variety.  Purple is a popular color for this plant and it should bloom from mid spring to late fall. 'Biloxi Blue' is my favorite.  Can take full sun but does need regular irrigation.

Daylily - Hemerocallis - I don't know if this is my favorite plant or not... but I certainly use it the most.  It is a versatile flower that can be used most anywhere except deep shade.  I really like to mix two varieties - 'Stella D Oro' and 'Happy Returns'.  Take an average sized bed and accent it with 20 of each, mixed together and planted 6" on center.  You will have beautiful yellowish blooms all summer.

Phlox - Phlox paniculata or Phlox subulata -  The simple difference is that subulata is a lower growing ground cover type (similar to Dianthus in my opinion) and that paniculata is more upright 2 - 4' clumping type flower.
Although I use both types of Phlox in my designs, I do not have a particular favorite.

Lantana Miss Huff - Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' - Absolutely beautiful multi-colored summer plant.  Attracts birds, bees and butterflies.  I think best if you cut it back to the ground every winter.  It will still be 4' or taller by summer.

Black Eyed Susan - Rudbeckia hirta - One of the more popular flowers in America.  Also one of the easier to grow.  Thrives in full sun.  So easy that some recommend planting it in roadsides and open fields.  The state flower of Maryland. A popular cut flower,  can last in a vase 6 to 10 days. I like it's close cousin - Purple Cone Flower - Echinacea purpurea.

Chrysanthemum (or Mum) - Dendranthema x grandiflorum - A beautiful fall blooming small shrub that we are all familiar with.... So how do you make yours stand out?  My preferred care is to cut it back to ground level in December.  Add about an inch of mulch for winter.  I like to cut back older mums around Easter.  I find we get fuller and better blooms by severely cutting back the emerging plant.

Miscanthus -  A genus of several species of grasses native to Africa.  Pictured above is Miscanthus sinensis 'Little Zebra' - one of my favorites.  Another close cousin, and reasonable substitute would be Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris).

Engineers and Acccountants

  OK, so this blog is mostly about helping Blue Dot Landscaping.  But it is MY blog right?  I can rant sometimes?
  Background: - Gross profit = Money brought in minus costs for product.  We could get into COGS (costs of good sold) and lots of minutia... but let's keep it simple.  You paid $50 for a bicycle.  Your salesperson sold that bicycle for $100.  You had to pay the salesperson $10 commission and $5 to the bike mechanic who serviced the bike.  Your gross profit is $100 less $50 less $10 less $5 = $35.00.
     So you made $35... isn't that nice?  NO!  I know plenty of people who used to be in business - who are no longer in business - because they couldn't figure out that NET profit is what matters, not Gross profit.  And simply - Net profit is gross profit minus all your overhead.  Things like rent, insurance, advertising, etc. 
  OK, so why am I preaching accounting?.....

Email from Mr. X:

On Apr 4, 2011, at 10:25 AM, "MrX (ENG- GVL)" wrote:

Hi, 

You’re advertising an April Special that calls for delivery and spreading of 10 cubic yards of double ground mulch for $339.

Do you also have Black double ground hardwood or cypress mulch?

If so, what’s the cost for similar to above package?

What about for 20 cubic yards of Black mulch package?

Prompt response will be much appreciated. Thank you,

Mr. X

7 minutes later....

From: Rich [mailto:scyardman@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 10:32 AM
To: Mr X (ENG- GVL)
Subject: Re: Mulch inquiry

10 yards dyed black = $499

x2 = 998

Rich Regan

Sent from my iPhone

864 680-9842

20 minutes later

From: Mr X(ENG- GVL)
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 10:52 AM
To: 'Rich'
Subject: RE: Mulch inquiry

Rich,

Thank you for your promptness!

Final question: do the quoted prices include tax?

I responded "yes"... and got the following email the next day...

To: 'Rich'
Subject: FW: Mulch inquiry

Hi Rich,

I do wish to give you the business, but not at the quoted $998, here’s why:

I roughly calculated the square footage of existing mulch beds and came-up with approx 4,100 sq feet, hence I feel that 16 cy’s of mulch will suffice.

Next, I did some local price comparisons, which are:

Price of Black double ground hardwood mulch is running between $29 to $34 per cubic yard (plus tax)

Price for local delivery is running between $30 to $36 per 10 cy, and some places at $40 per big, up to (20) cy load.

Quick math:

(max cost): 16 cy x $34* = $544 + 7% tax = $582.08 + $72 for grand total of $654.08, plus approx $200 for labor (I extracted this per your quoted $998 price for 20 cy of mulch at max cost)

(avg. cost): 16cy x $31.50* = $504 + 7% tax = $539.28 + $40 delivery = $576.28 + labor @ $200

(lowest cost): 16cy x $29* = $464 + 7% tax = $496.48 + $40 delivery = $536.48 + labor @ $200

* - over the counter cost to “Joe Public”, it’s a given that your cost is lower.

Based on the above costs are you receptive to the following:

Provide legit (16) cubic yards of black double ground hardwood mulch, uniformly spread it on all existing front, side and back mulch beds, and kindly leave any remaining mulch at the back-end of the driveway (for our redressing of selective flower seeded spots, which will be plainly marked prior to your arrival) for $750 total , this reflects approximation of  (avg. + lowest local prices / 2).

If you are willing, could you do it this Thursday or Friday?

This could become an annual event, if my wife and I find your crew’s performance satisfactory, which based on your advertised reputation, we should.

Who knows, our neighbors may consider you as well once they see your workmanship, and hopefully our endorsement.

Regards,

Mr X

..........................................................................................

  So I thought of all sorts of responses.  Things like explaining about our total costs (insurance, fuel, payroll taxes, and the cost of creating a web site that got him to email us to begin with) and other thoughts like asking him how he decides to buy his bacon and eggs (does he compute the farmers 'costs' and make him an offer?).  I mean, the fact is, if we only did mulch jobs like his, and charged $998, we would be out of business soon.  We would make a little gross profit, but no net profit. HIs silly offer of $750 was ridiculous.  Quite frankly if anyone would do it cheaper than us.... Mr X would be talking to that person... not us.

  I wound up deciding to just let it go.  I didn't respond to his email at all.

Then... the next day....

Hi Rich,

Please let me know if you are interested in my proposal of yesterday.

I didn’t mean to be so lengthy, blame it on my engineering background. I love numbers.

Probably simple query would have been sufficient. Something like: Rich, can you deliver and spread 16 cy of Black double ground hardwood mulch for $750?

If no, I’ll definitely look for another service.

If yes, would early next week work (per your schedule)?

Thank you,

Mr X

And I responded:

Yes, I figured out quickly you were an engineer... Not an accountant .
No, we are not interested.

Rich Regan
Sent from my iPhone
864 680-9842

OK... so I'll never be a good politician.... sigh.

Rich

My Top 10 Favorite Ornamental Trees

What I call an "Ornamental" tree is a tree that doesn't get too tall, and a tree that either has beautiful blooms or some other eye catching charateristic.  Here are my favorite top ten:

Cherokee Princess Dogwood   -  Cornus florida 'Cherokee Princess'   - My absolute favorite ornamental tree.  Naturally it takes the most care.  I'll wager more than 1/2 of these I have planted for customers have since died or had to be removed due to desease.  If you're up to the challenge of maintaining this tree, it will pay dividends with absolute beauty.  An Irrigation system can be a big help. 

Kousa Dogwood  -  Cornus kousa 'Milky Way' -

Flowers of this species emerge 2 to 3 weeks after the American Dogwoods and each bract tapers to a point. Foliage changes to reddish purple in the fall. Abundant white flower bracts and heavy fruit set. Reddish purple fall color.   A significat reason I like this tree is that it has the beauty of the Cornus florida without the difficulty of keeping it alive and healthy.

Yoshino Cherry -  P. x yedoensis -  Famous for early white blooms covering the streets of Washington, DC.  Easy to transplant and grow, readily available, and low maintenance.

Bloodgood Japanese Maple  - Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'  -  I like most Japanese Maples but this one stands out.  Easy to transplant, takes little care.  Can get as tall as 20 feet and has a nice uniform growth habit. Narrowly lobed leaves are often dissected creating a lacy appearance. Good red purple color through the season.

Saucer Magnolia  -  Magnolia x soulangiana - Spectacular show of flowers in early spring.  Saucer Magnolia is a multi-stemmed, spreading tree.  It almost looks like a big shrub.   It can get to 20 feet tall with a 20 foot spread.  Another feature is its  bright and attractive gray bark.

Kentucky Coffetree  -  Gymnocladus dioicus  -  This is a medium-growing tree that is a must if you want 'something different'.  The coarse branch texture in the winter is quite unique, forming an interesting silhouette of only several large branches. Large seed pods hang on the tree in the. The pod contains seeds which used to be roasted as a coffee substitute.

Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar - Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula'  -

A stately specimen when mature. Will tolerate moist conditions but no standing water. Needs shelter from strong winds. Beautiful weeping habit with bluish needles.

Contorted Filbert - Also know as Henry Lauder's Walking Stick - 'Contorta'  -  Only for weird folks like me.

Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia 'Natchez'  -  Couldn't have a list of showy trees and not mention a great staple in our area.  I like the Natchez for the ease of its care and nice consistent blooms.  Proper pruning in Janurary or February is about the only care this tree normally needs.

Forest Pansy Redbud - Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy'  - Reddish purple flowers in early spring before the heart shaped leaves. Medium grower. New growth is purplish red turning to purplish green in late spring. Reddish-purple flowers.