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• PRO

  Andy January 5, 2016 at 5:58am

  I am it's getting ridiculous now. I am months behind with some jobs.
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  Edward Botheras January 5, 2016 at 7:07am

  Part of the reason I decided to go self employed last year was that with my old employer I often had to work in the rain and extreme cold. At least now I have the freedom to delay work, well up to a point anyway. I really feel sorry for some of the areas in the north it must be hard to make any progress with all the rain they've had.
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  Colin Hunt January 5, 2016 at 9:34am

  It really can be difficult, but we must remember that 'we joined the Club' and we are reliant on the weather.  I do feel very sorry for those who are in the rain belt that has stationed itself over parts of England for weeks. You can only do what you can do and you will get behind, but it will clear and all will be well again.  

  It does re-emphasize the importance of putting money aside, literally for a rainy day and being a bit 'work-wise' by not bashing out every job that comes in ASAP, but leaving some jobs that can be done from hard standing for times such as now.

  Chin up!
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    Mitchel ingham > Colin Hunt January 5, 2016 at 11:20am

    Or finding another trade you can do ad hoc
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  James Brett January 5, 2016 at 10:03am

  We had a couple of days down in Essex before Xmas where it literally just kept raining. We had turf to be down before Xmas. There was no leeway with this! All had been agreed so we soldiered on. With patience and careful planning all was done. 

  Personally I now don't let the weather  stop me! Unless a lawn is water logged or access is going to be seriously detrimental to the gardens appearance. Out come the waterproofs and  we crack on! Especially when I have paid staff with me. I can't afford to be paying them to do nothing!
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    Colin Hunt > James Brett January 5, 2016 at 10:14am

    I don't think 'our rain' can be compared with those up North James.  We 'Essex Boys' have been very lucky overall this winter..........I just wish the grass and weeds would stop growing! 
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      James Brett > Colin Hunt January 5, 2016 at 11:13am

      Without a doubt we can't compare it to what they have had up north.

      But sometimes you just have to get on regardless unless you are swimming
      • PRO

        Andy > James Brett January 5, 2016 at 11:46am

        I agree with you to an extent BUT walking on beds and wet lawns can cause compaction which then has to be repaired when it's dried up. All this rain also causes leaching of the soil taking all the good minerals and stuff away. This too needs replacing in time. It's difficult trying to plan jobs that can work around the excessive wetness. In my locality we have lots of unused wells that are now overflowing as the water table is so high that I'm having to encourage some customers to fit flow pumps to control where and when the water goes. Without trying to sound like an old fart I don't ever remember a season like this.
        • PRO

          Gary RK > Andy January 5, 2016 at 12:01pm

          It is possible to "sheet up" areas near beds to allow planting projects to continue etc by using 8*4 sheets of ply. Surface pressure is distributed enough not to damage underlying soi and any laid over grass will soon pick up.

          Of course it's site & revenue dependant and subject to no standing water, but we've just finished a business park revamp where we had to do that prior to xmas.
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            Colin Hunt > Gary RK January 5, 2016 at 5:07pm

            8x4's have been our saviour on many an occasion, along with scaffold board access 'paths' across lawns. We have even planted and worked on beds, using numerous empty building sand bags as 'stepping stones' to keep mud mess to a minimum. On more than one occasion, we have cut newly laid turf when it was impossible to walk on it, by using a flymo and working off scaffold boards. Motto is - 'If it has to be done - it has to be done'!