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Artificial lawn instillation

Quick question

We are launching our gardening service business over the next month or so and are just going for standard maintenance, lawn mowing, hedge trimming, weeding, lawn mowing etc, nothing to extravagant untill we are more established ( we are a cleaning business that have been established for 7 years so have many domestic and commercial clients we already provide services to)

I was approached by an artificial lawn company asking if i would consider becoming an approved installer (obviously selling their gear) but they provide training yadi yadi ya etc.

Is this something anyone of you have expanded into or offered as a service 

Thanks

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Replies

  • Personally as a gardener I cannot recommend the use of artificial turf except in exceptional circumstances. To me it is another product designated to landfill and as such has no environmental merit at all. 

  • I agree with Andrew. As a gardener who has made a living in garden/grounds maintenance and soft landscaping I think it’s a very bad idea. People think that artificial turf is a fit and forget option. It isn’t.

    It has to be maintained. It needs to be brushed regularly [there are machines which do this, like a mower but with brushes rather than blades] and has to have disinfectant applied, as anything that lands on the ground will just sit there and not organically compost away like with real grass. It soon starts to look dirty.

    I have come across examples where the installing contractor is constantly called back because the client is unhappy with the job [I think there was a thread about that a few years ago]. Usually because the client’s expectations are unreasonable. I have seen it where the client complains about imagined different sections having differing grain directions.

    So if you want to get into this side of things, I would recommend laying real turf. There is a much greater demand for the real stuff and it’s something you can do without being tied in with another company. Although, having laid many thousands of square metres of real turf over 35 years myself, I can say that there is a lot of work and huge skill in getting this right also. But it is much more straightforward and cheaper.

    I think the natural organic way is always best.

  • Sorry mate I only lay the real deal , keeps us coming back with the mower 😊

    • Thanks, having read the reply's i think i will stick to our core business which is real grass and build our business around that....maybe over time get into artificial for specific niche areas.

  • Laying artifical lawns only kills the garden / lawn care business, and destroyes nature.

  • Hi Mike.

    What software do you use for your cleaning business?

  • PRO

    I wouldn't go there mate, I have a few gardens that have artificial grass, they are constantly having issues with it and calling the guys back. 

    Years ago I was approached by a company that manufactures garden gates, they wanted to know if I would become an approved installer for them, but it was far too much hassle and the jobs were not local, all spread over the country, simply was not cost efficient. 

    As others have said, stick to actual grass/turf, however this too can bring issues if not laid right, also state what after care it needs before you do the job, most clients won't realise it actually needs watering 🤣

    good luck Harry 

    • Thanks Harry, good advice ! think i will stick to the real mcCoy.....

  • PRO

    However, the artificial grass would benefit from an annual clean along with the drive and pathways. 😉

    • Noted

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