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JUNE 2023
A Life of Landscaping How Fate Brought Me to Lawn Care
I still remember the day my dad got a new riding lawn mower. I was only 5, and it wasn’t anything fancy by today’s standards. But he used a push mower before then, so it was a big deal. At the same time, Dad had river rock delivered to the house, and I remember playing in the pile and “helping” with my little wheelbarrow. Those rocks are still there today! I spent years riding on the mower with Dad and started helping with the push mower around age 7 or 8. Soon, I was doing the same for neighbors, landscaping during the warm
the side, and key accounts kept coming my way. The universe seemed to constantly say this is what I was supposed to do. By 2016, I had built enough capital and credit to buy a trailer and proper equipment, and I went back to landscaping full-time.
months and shoveling snow in the winter. It now seems apparent that I’d end up doing it for a living, but my professional entry into the lawn care business was somewhat of an accident. Landscaping started as a side job after finishing my marketing degree at Indiana University. I was looking for full-time, steady work, but it was 2010, and the economy was terrible. I posted some ads online and got a few lawn care jobs. As I was striking out elsewhere, lucky breaks with landscaping started coming my way.
Throughout this journey, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have friends, family, clients, and employees who supported this business and believed in me. My wife, Nichole, has been my rock since the beginning, even before we married. She always encouraged my dreams — even in the minivan days. I’ve also had mentors and partners who provided emotional and financial support when needed. I couldn’t have done any of this alone.
I’ve been in Bloomington for 17 years, and I think it’s a beautiful place to live. Nichole and I married in 2013 and had our first son, Andrew, in 2016. Joseph arrived in June 2022. We’re a close family; I love coaching Andrew’s soccer team, and we had a lot of fun at Disney World for his 7th birthday. I run to stay in shape, watch comedies with Nichole, and play drums in my spare time. Many years have passed since Dad got that riding mower, but I still love this work. It’s a pleasure to help beautify our portion of Indiana. Whether we’re taking down dangerous tree limbs, installing a new landscape design, or doing weekly lawn maintenance, we are supporting our environment, helping increase our clients’ home values, and freeing up much-needed time for them to spend with their families. Owning a lawn care company wasn’t always my plan, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way. —Anthony Hilb
Back then, I had a minivan and a used push mower. I bought the mower from a guy who fixed broken ones and sold them for $75. I didn’t have enough money for a trimmer, so I cut weeds with garden shears, and since I also couldn’t afford a leaf blower, I’d clean up grass clippings with a broom. I’m not sure what I’d say if a guy showed up to mow my lawn with an unmarked minivan and a push broom, but to my clients’ credit, it didn’t faze them. They were loyal, but I had difficulty managing the industry’s seasonality. In a quest for more stability, I took a job with an insurance company in 2014.
Over the next two years, I learned a lot about customer service and giving people the experience they want. I also kept a few landscaping clients on
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Grass Requires Special Care in Summer How to Keep Your Lawn Luscious
Have you ever had those days when you don’t want to cook? What about times when you’ve had a long day at work, and the last thing on your mind is dinner? Pulling out your pots, cutting boards, and food can be stressful when you’re mentally and physically weary. Is there anything you can do to make this part of your life easier? Meal planning and prepping takes the stress out of cooking!
Everyone wants to have a green, healthy lawn in summer. In addition to being the first impression people have of your home, your yard probably sees the most use between June and August. But no one wants to spend lazy days off on crunchy, prickly grass. Fortunately, keeping your yard looking its best isn’t too difficult — as long as you regularly do these three tasks.
Mowing Rumbling mowers are practically the sound of summer! But in their quest to keep things tidy, many homeowners do more harm than good. The most essential thing you can do to cultivate a healthy lawn is to mow at the right height. And in the summer, that means high. During hot months, set your mower to the tallest setting. Keeping the blades of grass longer will protect them from sun damage and keep them from drying out. Longer grass also creates longer roots, making for healthier turf. Your lawn will further benefit from mowing in different patterns each week; using the same one consistently prevents grass from growing freely. Weeding Experts consistently say to remove weeds that blemish your lawn early and often. In other words, don’t wait to take action. The longer the weeds live in your yard, the more time they have to spread. It’s also better for the environment and your lawn to manually remove weeds instead of treating them with herbicides. A standup weed puller can make the job much easier and save precious time. Watering Watering is essential for your lawn during the summer when we sometimes go weeks without rain. But how you water is crucial to providing the best results. Never water in the middle of the day because the sun will evaporate the moisture. The evening is best, but before 10 a.m. is also acceptable. Further, avoid wasting water and creating runoff. If puddles start forming, turn off your hose or sprinkler or move to another spot. Finally, water the grass, not your sidewalk. Taking the time to align your sprinkler correctly will save you money and produce better results. These tips should keep your lawn looking its best throughout the season. But if you ever need help, remember the experts at Anthony’s Lawn Care and Landscaping are only a phone call away!
What are some benefits of meal planning? • Know the answer to “What’s for dinner?”: There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your pantry, looking at the food, and not knowing what to eat. It can be draining to decide what to cook each night. But meal planning helps you determine your dishes in advance, so you never need to wonder what you and your family will eat that night. And best of all, you only need to cook at least once a week. • Keep more money in your pocket: Sometimes, when you are unsure of what you want to eat, your first option may be to order takeout. While this is a quick and easy way to get dinner, it can create a huge hole in your wallet — especially if you eat out more than once a week or feed a family. You will no longer need to make nightly food runs when you meal plan! You can buy your food in bulk, prepare a few nights’ worth of meals, and save tons of money. What hinders people from meal planning? Making meals too complicated is the main reason why meal planning doesn’t work for some people. When starting out, it’s best to create easy and basic foods. Once you begin meal planning, you will discover more simplistic ways to make intricate dishes. Another reason people avoid meal prep is the amount of time spent in the kitchen. However, you will save yourself time each day, so you can continue doing what you want throughout the week and less time ordering takeout or quickly throwing a menu together. Go online to find meal prep guides and a multitude of recipe options. We can’t wait to hear about your meal-prepping experience during your next visit!
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Fall Isn’t Far Away Schedule Autumn Services Now!
Summer has barely started, but landscapers must always keep their eye on the season ahead. You might accidentally be left behind if you don’t have the same mentality. Clients are already booking services for autumn, and spots are filling up fast. If you hope to get planting done this year, consider calling soon.
There are also usually fewer pests as the temperatures start to cool, so your new plants can play offense instead of defense against the critters that would normally eat them. Weeds are less plentiful in autumn. As a result, there’s less competition for the water and other nutrients your landscaping needs to thrive. Autumn also increases the chance of rain, but it’s a double-edged sword. The water is healthy for growing plants that need to take root, but planting while the ground is wet results in lumpy, unhealthy soil that won’t spread nutrients evenly to roots. Not waiting until everything is dry is a waste of time and money. So, we have a short window to plant between September and November. With only 7–10 weeks’ worth of planting days available, our landscapers must accomplish a lot of work under a tight deadline. In other
Fall is the ideal planting season for many shrubs, grasses, and perennials. Getting new life in the ground before the dormant winter season gives the plants time to grow strong roots. The fluctuating
words, if you call when the weather has already started to cool, you might have to wait until spring. Plants have different needs, and not all species are best to get in the ground during fall. But most are, and our team of experts will happily provide the guidance you need on timing. Don’t wait until it’s too late! Call 812-929-9463 today to schedule a quote.
temperatures tell plants the cold is setting in, but the soil is still warm enough to provide nourishment. Instead of growing leaves and stems, plants focus on root growth during fall, creating healthier plants that will last longer.
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Homemade Dole Whip Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
INGREDIENTS
• • •
3/4 cup pineapple juice 1 cup vanilla ice cream 2 cups frozen pineapple
• •
1 tbsp lime juice Pinch of sea salt
DIRECTIONS 1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed. 2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. 3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
Call For More Information
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What’s Inside?
1 Why Anthony’s Landscaping Career Was Fate 2 Tired of Wondering ‘What’s for Dinner?’ Help Your Lawn Thrive in Summer 3 Plan for Fall Planting Season Homemade Dole Whip 4 A Furry Hero in Mexico Rescue Dog’s Legacy Lives On How the World Fell for Frida
Dressed in protective goggles, blue booties, and a matching vest, this incredible rescue dog became a symbol of hope in Mexico. Frida, a cheerful yellow Labrador retriever, was a devoted member of the Mexican Navy known for her search and rescue skills. Trained to find people trapped under rubble after earthquakes, Frida always worked hard to save lives. Frida became a national hero when a devastating earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017. The 7.1 magnitude earthquake took more than 300 lives and injured many more. While sifting through dangerous debris and aftershocks, Frida saved 12 people after finding them alive while uncovering more than 40 bodies during her lifesaving career. While the nation was devastated by the disaster, this smiley rescue pup brought worldwide attention to the tragedy. Frida’s dedication (and impeccable style) quickly made her an internet celebrity, and soon, murals of the lifesaving canine graced the walls of Mexico City. Even Captain America, aka Chris Evans, gave Frida a shoutout on Twitter, adding, “What did we do to deserve dogs?”
The hero dog then traveled the world, helping countries suffering from the aftermath of disastrous earthquakes. Frida saved lives in Haiti and Ecuador before retiring from her position in 2019 at 10 years old to
live the rest of her days in comfort and love. Sadly, the Mexican Navy announced Frida’s passing in November 2022 due to old age. She was 13 years old. In her honor, a magnificent bronze statue of Frida, clad in goggles and boots, stands in front of the Mexican Navy office in Mexico City. On the day of her death, the Mexican Navy changed their Twitter banner to an illustration of Frida and spread the hashtag “#HastaSiempreFrida.” Frida will always be remembered for her lifesaving work and the hope she embodied for the entire world.
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