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Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

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For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

Starting out

Hello everyone.So I'm a long time free member on here and recently a pro member. I have decided it's time to get back to being outdoors. Currently I have my own ltd servicing, repairing steam turbines in the power industry. I have sort of fell into that and it's rubbish. It pays really well but it's not for me in the long term.My back ground is greenkeeping and golf course construction. Which is where I was employed until redundancy at the end of the recession in 2010. So now I'm coming back. I have all the usual quals associated with greenkeeping, golf course construction.So now do I target my local area of north Somerset for garden maintenance or move into landscaping and update my qualifications to fit that as well.Any advice on the above would be brilliant.

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  • PRO

    Seeing as you have a greenkeeping background,have you thought about mainly lawn care as a business? Or is that not of interest?

  • PRO
    Lol.

    I was talking to a customer who was having the hedges cut on their farm by a contractor with a tractor mounted flail cutter.

    Apparently the contractor also does welding, including patching the inside of the incinerator at a local hospital, so getting out on the farms and the like cutting hedges makes life much more enjoyable!

    Andy
  • Andrew W - oh I will love doing lawn care, I am just wanting to offer the whole package.

    Andrew B - it really does. The money is great but it's the environment and red tape that comes with. Can't beat being in the outdoors, even in the rain.
  • PRO

    You'd find more than enough customers to keep you busy offering a complete package on lawns ie lawn care including mowing!

    Seriously, dipping into lawn care for a few customers is tricky as equipment requirements are fairly broad & expensive. You can hire, but then charges & convienence may become an issue. Or you restrict lawn sizes / services to match the kit you have.

    As you're doing this for more vocational reasons, whichever route you go, I would follow the heart first and pick the thing I most enjoy doing to start off.

  • Andrew W - I think you're right. Lawn care will be the way to go. Thank you for your help
  • PRO

    In which case there are two events coming up you should look at attending. BTME Harrogate in around 10days times and the UK Lawn Care Association meeting 1st week of Feb. Both will give you lots of ideas for the new season, and chances to meet suppliers and other lawn care practitioners.

  • I think there will be plenty of opportunities in your line of work with garden maintenance and lawn care in your neck of the wood. There is certainly money around the Bath and Bristol area that you could tap into. If you are serious about striking out, you could start buying kit now while you are still earning good money. A quality mower and Scarifier could well set you back a couple of grand that you can claim against your business at a later date. Also it will give you an opportunity to build your business by working in the evenings and weekends before striking out full time. Don't be afraid to tell potential customers of your green keeping background; it will add credibility and trust in your business. Good luck.
  • I'm having no problem building a business in chew valley/Mendip. Plenty of money, property, tennis courts etc round here, dive in!
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