My brother has COPD and is on oxygen and he cannot get out and mow his lawn because of the allergies to the grass and clover. Can you provide somewhere to get him help on this?
I just went through this myself. I am on Facebook and belong to a group on there of people who live in my area. I posted that we needed someone to just cut our lawn on an as-needed basis. We went the landscaper route. It was expensive and they did a lousy job. I found out the property manager in our development cuts the residents lawns for $10 a cut. Great deal! If you have access to Facebook maybe you could do this too. I got a lot of answers from my post!
When I took care of my sister's house after her death, I continued with a one-man operation, a very dedicated and flexible young man who agreed to mow just 3 times a month as opposed to the weekly mowing that's standard.
I prefer that kind of contractor as opposed to the larger ones with more clients, more rigid schedule, and weekly mows even if the grass isn't growing.
I also had a young man whose family lived on the street; he did a good job, but I always felt sorry for him b/c he had just a regular mower, not the larger ones, and he had a lot of up and down work to do b/c houses in that areas were on glacial constructs.
And I was worried about liability; it was a choice of helping him earn money for college vs. anxiety over possible injury. He was careful though and nothing ever happened.
Garry, I've gotten some good suggestions from some Senior Centers. A few will provide names of contractors; some won't b/c they don't want to get involved. I call several when I'm looking for service.
Area Aging on Aging has a program called Same Place, something like that. They now offer various services, in competition with commercial companies. I had one estimate and that was enough. The estimator was 5 times higher than what I eventually paid, for a much more qualified commercial firm. And the estimator had a really bad attitude.
Karsten, the lawn person I use is an one-man operation. Has pickup truck, one mower, one trimmer, and one blower. Works for him.
He could have gone on disability over a decade ago due to a brain injury, had to learn how to walk, eat, etc. This is something he enjoys, has pride in his work :)
Kind of going on a tangent here, but my mom has this issue as she is living alone in her home while my dad is in facility. My brother and I take turns going over there (we each live about twenty minutes away so not bad). When I was a teenager, myself, and other enterprising boys (not to be sexist, at the time that's who they were) would have lawn businesses and compete for business. Cannot find anyone in my moms neighborhood now and friends tell me they have the same deal. Seems kids are just busy with other things these days. We can have a professional lawn care and will probably do this this summer, but it used to be more economical to hire a neighbor kid. Perhaps there is just too much liability and legal concerns these days. Kind of like when I was a kid I had a paper route. I don't think kids deliver papers anymore.. Does anyone even get papers anymore?
Freqflyer, you got the ideal situation, the services we have talked to don't do it that way.
Garry, I know that feeling when mowing lawns [which I use to enjoy doing] became too much for me to do, plus those darn spring allergies.
For the past ten years I have had the same professional lawn mowing person take care of the lawn and I pay him for each cut. What is great about this person is that if he drives up to the house and sees the lawn doesn't need cutting, he won't mow nor charge me for that visit :) I see so many lawn trucks in my neighborhood come out and mow even if the grass doesn't need it :P
Eventually a time will come where I will need to downsize and not need to worry about lawn work nor shoveling snow.
Try you church or age concern (what ever yours is called) Look for voluntary organisations. Odd job people. Gardeners that advertise, no job too small. Your local high school. etc.
Good luck
We have COPD and the man from the cemetery comes when we need him (if the weather is ok and he has time. We pay him.
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I prefer that kind of contractor as opposed to the larger ones with more clients, more rigid schedule, and weekly mows even if the grass isn't growing.
I also had a young man whose family lived on the street; he did a good job, but I always felt sorry for him b/c he had just a regular mower, not the larger ones, and he had a lot of up and down work to do b/c houses in that areas were on glacial constructs.
And I was worried about liability; it was a choice of helping him earn money for college vs. anxiety over possible injury. He was careful though and nothing ever happened.
Garry, I've gotten some good suggestions from some Senior Centers. A few will provide names of contractors; some won't b/c they don't want to get involved. I call several when I'm looking for service.
Area Aging on Aging has a program called Same Place, something like that. They now offer various services, in competition with commercial companies. I had one estimate and that was enough. The estimator was 5 times higher than what I eventually paid, for a much more qualified commercial firm. And the estimator had a really bad attitude.
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He could have gone on disability over a decade ago due to a brain injury, had to learn how to walk, eat, etc. This is something he enjoys, has pride in his work :)
Freqflyer, you got the ideal situation, the services we have talked to don't do it that way.
For the past ten years I have had the same professional lawn mowing person take care of the lawn and I pay him for each cut. What is great about this person is that if he drives up to the house and sees the lawn doesn't need cutting, he won't mow nor charge me for that visit :) I see so many lawn trucks in my neighborhood come out and mow even if the grass doesn't need it :P
Eventually a time will come where I will need to downsize and not need to worry about lawn work nor shoveling snow.
Look for voluntary organisations. Odd job people. Gardeners that advertise, no job too small. Your local high school. etc.
Good luck
We have COPD and the man from the cemetery comes when we need him (if the weather is ok and he has time. We pay him.