Growing a Lawn and Landscaping Business with John Deere

In this episode of Leap Forward with Riesterer & Schnell, Nate Zeitler sits down with Jeremy from J&R Lawncare to talk about what it really takes to grow a successful lawn care and snow removal business.

Jeremy shares his journey from running non-Deere equipment to building a dependable fleet featuring John Deere zero-turn mowers and compact tractors. Hear firsthand how the right equipment, strong dealer support, and tools like Equipment Mobile have helped him stay efficient, minimize downtime, and take on a wide range of work including mowing, cleanups, snow removal, and stump grinding.

If you're in the landscaping industry or thinking about starting your own business, this episode delivers real-world insight on choosing the right equipment, maximizing productivity, and why reliability matters when your livelihood is on the line.

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Why Riesterer & Schnell?
Riesterer & Schnell, a progressive locally-owned John Deere dealership, has proudly been serving Wisconsin communities since 1931. Because you are committed to your land, we are determined to provide you with the very best in equipment and service. Our specialties are tractors, farm equipment, zero turns, riding lawn mowers, precision farming technology, parts and service.
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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:08

Thanks for joining us on this episode of Leap Forward with Restern Schnell. I'm Nate Zeitler from the Pound location. I am the turf and commercial salesman. I'm here with Jeremy from JR Lawn Care at his beautiful property up outside of Coleman. Uh Jeremy, you've been a customer for quite a few years. Uh you started out non-john deer, uh, and then I think as your business grew, you decided maybe green was the way to go. Did you want to introduce yourself, kind of go back into that beginnings and bring us to current?

SPEAKER_00 0:47

Yes. Yeah, um, yeah, my past equipment I did uh was running hustler, and I think it was like a 54-inch deck at the time, and then also a club cadet and stuff. Um, and then uh also um then I started uh wasn't bad equipment, but then it was just like yeah, I had a few problems here with service-wise and stuff like that. And then uh also um yeah, so then I reached out to you, and then that's when I found out that about you working at John Deere and stuff like that. So then I stopped over there and then we made some deals on some nice your turns, and we're which went to the 60-inch deck, which was a lot better for a little bit bigger properties and stuff like that, too.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

So yeah, speaking of equipment, I should have mentioned we're sitting in front of your uh fleet. You've got the 3046R with the cab behind us. Yep, you also have a pair of Z950Ms with 60-inch decks, yep. Uh, one with a dump from the seat hopper for the material collection system, and then the other is a regular bagger, right? Uh, you also do spring, fall cleanups, snow removal, soft scaping, kind of a little bit of everything. Absolutely. Um with being up north, we're about an hour north of Green Bay, so we have quite a few different sorts of customers, different terrains, all of that. Is there anything that stands out where the deer has helped with some of those challenges?

SPEAKER_00 2:09

I would say um the best would be with the collection system, um, with uh dump from the seat, which is phenomenal when you can um dump um at a customer's property and stuff like that, and then also um with uh with the bags, um, if you have to haul away, well then you also can um then you can also um haul that um you know dump your bags in on your trailer and then bring it to the dump and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

So yeah, that makes sense. Just having that versatility or versatility is backing up to the tree line or throwing it in the back of the dump trailer and getting going to the next job site. Absolutely. Um, you mentioned kind of some breakdowns. I know with your commercial equipment, we've got that free loaner guarantee, which I don't think you've actually had to take advantage of. Oh thank god. Well it's good to have though, but yeah, if you go green, she keeps on going. Yeah, uh speaking of that. I know recently with the purchase of your last zero turn, we got you the equipment mobile. Have you had a chance to look into that or use that app at all?

SPEAKER_00 3:12

Yes, a little bit I did check into it, and uh yeah, what's really phenomenal about it is um yeah, when you do your service intervals and everything else, um, yeah, all you do is click on it and it tells you how many hours you got left, and then um then you know exactly when you have to change it and stuff like that. And then also um with your if um with the manual, if you uh have to um um look up any parts that you need and stuff like that, you uh just go click on your phone, search what you need and see if the store has it, and then you can order it right up.

SPEAKER_01 3:44

Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up because especially with you, you're normally a one-man operation, you do have help, uh, like your son when he's home from college and others when you need it. But I'm assuming with being able to see the pound store's inventory, that really helps you plan your day. Is it do I run to town, grab the part real quick? Do I use something else to get through the day? So it's probably just to help.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Yeah, major help. Yep. So yeah, if you blow a belt, then a quick look on my phone. Oh, you guys got one on uh on hand, then swing over by you guys and quick grab it, and on the road I go again. Change it out, stuff like that. So also, uh when you're with the snow removal, yeah, works phenomenal too. Is uh with the snow push, yeah. Tractors got plenty enough horsepower too to plow snow. Then I also brand stumps um on my free time. Whenever I can um squeeze that in, I get grant some stumps for customers, and then uh also even around my own yard too.

SPEAKER_01 4:42

Also, so yeah, I've noticed you've got the air ride seat in there. That must make your oh yeah, like a lot better, especially uh we had that three feet of snow in the spring. How long were you out there?

SPEAKER_00 4:52

Oh uh yeah, I well I started on Sunday, Sunday afternoon, and by the time I got it all finished up was uh uh Friday morning. Friday mornings uh within about 15 hours of sleep, that's about it. Yeah, 60 hours total. So yeah, I was insane, but yeah, um uh performed phenomenal. Never skipped the beat and kept on going, kept everybody's driveways open as much as I could until now that it was actually done snowing and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

So I'm sure the folks up here really appreciated that too. Yeah, then to have the versatility with the loader to be able to make the piles higher without having to go back right at the end of the season like that. Right. I know you were talking or when we were talking earlier, you didn't always have John Deere, and you didn't always have this big. You just recently purchased an additional Z950M. Just kind of curious, like what about that model really fits the bill for your operations? Um, just in case maybe some other guy or girl is out there uh interested in starting a landscaping company and leaning them of why you chose that model to help you be successful, right?

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Um, yeah, I'd say um the 950s with the motor size is um perfect, it's got enough horsepower, and the decks are perfect size because if you uh go with a little bit bigger one or a little smaller one, well, they if you get smaller yards, well, then you um don't um then your deck will be too big. So so it fits perfect for um the horsepower wise, um, for pretty much almost any really um size yard all around with the motor size and also the deck size.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Yeah, and I see you have twils on both of them too. Uh in your opinion, is that improving the comfort of the ride or what what's the reason that you put twils on? Yep.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

Um, absolutely for the I would say um most likely or the most thing about the twels, it would be the ride comfort and then also traction. If you put the air ones on, well, like when you uh when I bag and stuff like that, um, well, then you uh have a problem with um yeah getting stuck and leaving tracks and ruts and stuff like that. With that, with the twels, yeah, you just pretty much go keep on going, you don't tear up anybody's yards when you um back up and forward and stuff like that. Um yeah, never tears up everything, so just perfect smooth tires all the way around.

SPEAKER_01 7:08

So yeah, and I I know we were able to order those right through uh our dealership and put that on with your deal. So we do offer that as a dealership with working with Michelin on the tweels. Is there anything on the machines that really stands out? Like something you didn't realize you needed until you have it, or necessarily not even maybe with the machines, but just the overall experience?

SPEAKER_00 7:31

Yeah, um, I would say the best out of everything would be your guys' um warranty. You guys stand behind it, and um, and out of all other brands I had um other brands I had, which was like you know, thousand hours and um thousand hours, maybe two years. Well, John Deere, you got three years, 1300 that comes right with the machine, which is um, yeah, you can't beat that um for the that amount of hours. And then also I would say um, yeah, you guys customer support is phenomenal. Yep. If you uh if I have a breakdown, you guys take care of it right away and keep me rolling down the road and every um down the road to the next um customer uh property I gotta go to and stuff like that. So also um, yeah, oh, and then also your uh financing, yeah. John Deere's financing, in-house financing, yeah. You um with the zero percent or even the 1.9, whatever they're running at the time is very nice.

SPEAKER_01 8:26

Yeah, that definitely helps out, especially with inflation and everything else that we're able to offer those zero or near zero rates. Absolutely, yeah, and lawnmower zen tractors, yep, both perfect. Well, before we let everyone go, um, any last thoughts for anyone thinking about becoming a landscaper or getting involved in the industry?

SPEAKER_00 8:52

I would definitely say um if you're gonna get into the plowing or mowing um aspects of lawn care and all that, and or business-wise, I would definitely give John Deere um definitely um give them a chance and then uh yeah, try what they got for all the equipments. Um, if you're gonna go into the pound snow mowing grass because of equipment's phenomenal. Yep in the hill, um, takes care of all my needs for that uh all my customers need to get taken care of and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

So awesome. Well, thank you guys again for joining us. Again, I'm Nate Zeiler at the Pound Store uh sales rep with my one of my customers, Jeremy, with J and R Lawn Care and Snow Removal. I appreciate it, bud.

SPEAKER_00 9:37

Yeah, thank you very much.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

We're your John Deere dealer coming through for you, Roosterer Ranch now.