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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.
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You should be able to find help on most of the questions you have if you look through the lists of discussion topics. The only thing I've not noticed being discussed is the issue of gazumping someone else's work. I have usually found that it's not worth the effort to try to take on someone else's garden. If the clients are unhappy, they will usually look to find someone else but won't be all that open to unsolicited quotes.
One of the best things about garden maintenance is that you enter into a long-term relationship with your clients and their garden. You become part of the garden itself in the sense that you are part of its management regime. You get to know the soil, how the garden responds to the seasons and climate, when to do jobs specific to each garden and what signs of stress to look out for. That comes after seeing the way the garden responds over a couple of years.
You will learn to become responsive to the different needs of each of your gardens and once you have that, you have a very valuable asset which you can use for your clients. If you keep your clients on your side, they'll be very reluctant to lose that. That's why you'll not find it easy to pick up gardens which already have gardeners. From my experience it's far better to direct your efforts elsewhere.
Gardens certainly do have a personality and it is a test for a good gardener to anticipate, from previous periods of experience, the next move and head off any decline.
I have many professional experiences but I can perhaps zoom in on my previous garden in Oakhanger, which was grown on pure sand. My garden sat right on the edge of a SSS site and an Army training ground near Bordon.
Close by were large sand pits where the famous (if you are a green keeper you will know about this) Kingsley Fine Washed sand was excavated and a little further afield at Frith End there were two large pits where yellow building sand was dug and processed.
You can imagine, it was a challenge because of the porosity and ability to drain - great in the winter and hard to maintain in the summer. I didn't like to change the soil but I added volumes of organic matter and planted close together so that the soil surface was shielded from the sun.
In the spring the garden exploded into a riot of turgid growth - which was as exciting as the colour that the flowers brought afterwards.
I am digressing a bit here - sorry.
Let a new project come to you where possible. Inheritance of someone else's perceived failure (I use the word perceived because quite often, some clients just cannot be pleased and will fight you all the way. These are best steered clear with and as Andy infers, a partner is better than a boss.
I loved taking on an overgrown project (for more than one reason).
Firstly, especially if the person had lived there for years, I loved to be a garden detective and try to work out what used to this and where did that lead and why is that door in the wall blocked up - kind of like finding the lost garden of -------- (add your garden project name to suit).
You could also discover, as the season progressed, any hidden gems and knit them into the long term pan. It might mean transplants or working around them but it is worth doing.
The last reason is the impact that a blank canvas brings. Your client responds to the change you are bringing about and it is easy, if you do indeed know what you are doing, to develop a strong partnering bond.
Of course, the satisfaction is also your bonues and remember, you are getting paid for this too.
The advice I am giving is relevant to the area I live, which is the coast. My business turnover has expanded by 40% each year, this includes losing customers which sometimes happens, getting rid of awkward customers and some because their gardens do not work for you.
You do need to be massively focused and want to do things properly. I would advise you to get a van and have it sign written. Many gardeners in my area work from estate vehicles and even use electric mowers, maybe buy a cheapish petrol mower as your clientele will be small and the mower will not get loads of use. Then as you progress, purchase a brand like Hayter or Honda, you will get advise from here on that. Also a Stihl Strimmer and Hedger, this will cost you a bit of cash, but they will not let you down.
90% of my work is from recomendation and try to assume that this is the only way you are going to get work, and then you will have a very healthy attitude, be very helpful, polite and maybe not give the impression that you are just a guy trying to make a bit of cash from gardening because he does not know what else to do (I hope this doesnt offend anyone)
With grass cuttings, well you will probably have a lot more than that, you will get more work if you take these away. Disposal is a problem of which I cannot give advise as I have a site.
Try and work it that you have two people during the Summer and just yourself during the Winter...that was my first target.
I will tell you something, if you are a good chap, you will get work. Get yourself some very good books, to study the names of plants, its a huge learning curve but after about three years you should know virtually the names both latin and vernacular of every plant and weed in your area.
Subscribe to Gardeners World at this stage and purchase RHS Plants & Flowers, RHS Gardening, and Readers Digest are also very useful and can be found in most charity shops.
I am very sure from the bunch who use this site, that good advise and support will come your way.
The flats that we do have large metal bins for both household and green. Needless to say these are well used by us and we now work our rota round the emptying of the bins cutting our waste cost down by a huge 99%
No i dont charge as the customer is letting me use there bin so i think it would come across as a bit cheeky lol
The council dont charge for these bins as its all part of the recycling scheme that they do.
All residents on the fylde coast were iam from get these bins.
Your dilemma is a common one - How did it all turn out for you.