Brush mulching: How important is mulch/chip size to customers?

[Gamma]

So how important is the size & quality of the resulting mulch & chips to your customers?

Do they really care about the alleged size & quality difference between a carbide cutter versus a blade cutter?

Have you ever not gotten a job because a potential customer knew you had a carbide cutter versus a blade cutter?

What kinds of good & bad comments have customers given you after a job was completed and they took a look at the mulch lying on the ground?

Is there really that much of a difference between the mulch from a carbide cutter versus a blade cutter? Are we comparing green apples to red apples? Or is it more like orange pumpkins to red apples?

 

[Gamma]

Doesn't anyone have anything to say about this? I was really hoping for some first hand stories from you guys that have some experience under your belts.

 

[QwikDraw]

It has not been an issue for me. Most of my jobs have been lot clearinig where the mulch has been removed and not residential . I can see where a finer product would make certain jobs look better but so far it has not been an issue for me.

I did remove some mulch from a job and brought it home, spread it, mulched it again to "final grade" it and it makes a good ground cover in some large sized beds, especially for free....

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Not an option for me I'm running a non carbide Timber Ax Head...Produces a finer cut....My target is residential thus far and the customers I have bid are wanting more of a finished product ..
Just got the machine back last Friday with the new engine!!!

 

[DirtyWorks]

Gamma Quick short answers

Size Matters Customers (residential with under 6 acres) almost always expect home depot bagged mulch in my area. Tree shreading is more what you get with carbides at least after @75 hrs.

Carbide vs blade- they don't know the dif and giving them the option only confuses things. double edge sword unless you have both. just don't over sell the small size mulch and they will be happy with "mechanical underbrush reduction" it is always smaller than it was when u start!

No dif in getting the job. it is all in educating the potiential customer in front of you. salesmanship!

Good and bad comments- Well long stories - both

That much difference- from what I witnessed today 100% different. would be hard to believe unless you saw it. Blades are the way to go as long as terrain allows. this is not to bash carbides but recognize a difference. if small mulch is your objective there is no way beating the tree is going to compare to cutting it up. there are way to many shreds when using carbides. if purpose is to just knock down bushes for a view, then carbides may well be the right answer. too many variables.

this was ment to help but still sounds confusing. because of the end customer and the growing industry of private residential mulching most all major companies are researching and developing a "knife" system.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

.

I am finding more and more folks want to see small shreds. Lots of guys running around with tushhogs and rotary mowers that leave large shreds. I used to run both of those setups and switched to a finer mulching CAT head that, if you spend enough time, will make soft woods look like old hay. Hard woods still turn out chunky.. I pick up extra work cleaning up after the competition so I would say that chip size is important to some extent.