By Sherri Coner
For three years now, Tanner Lyon has used his mower and landscape skills to make money for college.
“When I was 15, I just did five yards a week, nothing crazy,” Lyon said. “I got a trailer to haul my weed eater, attached it to my riding mower and drove around my neighborhood.”
During winter months, this Center Grove High School senior worked in restaurants.
It didn’t take long at all to see the income difference between working for an hourly wage as opposed to working for himself.
That realization only motivated him more.
A year later, Lyon got a driver’s license and a truck.
He then changed the name of his business from Lyon Lawn Care to Lyon Property Services, to reflect that he now provides mulching and laying gravel.
Since hitching a larger trailer to his truck, Lyon can also haul more lawn equipment and mowers, which allows him to bid on bigger jobs.
Though he has been dedicated to starting the business and adding more work on himself to make it grow, Lyon has never lost sight of what is most important.
“School is always my top priority,” he said.
Lyon’s senior year will end soon, just when spring cleanup is ramping up in customer yards. “My workday will start really early in the morning, and I will work until dark,” he said.
During summer months, several customers request more landscaping work in addition to regular lawn mowing.
On a few occasions, especially when the weather forecast threatened to slow him down, Lyon has hired friends to help spread mulch.
“I’ve been pretty blessed to have a group of friends who are like-minded and have the same work ethic as me,” he said.
Taking pride in his work is what keeps this young man’s business booming.
He’s obsessed with “striping lawns,” Lyon said with a laugh.
Increasing curb appeal with mulching, weed eating and edging is also a popular request.
But attention to the smallest details keeps customers loyal.
It’s no surprise that Tanner has a solid plan for his freshman year at Indiana University.
“I’m going to study business and finance,” he said. “My goal is to one day own my own business.”
While attending college, Lyon said he will also continue his business.
To contact Lyon, send a text to 317-982-1273.
