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  Phil Voice January 20, 2009 at 1:59pm

  Hi Tony
  
  Great to see you making changes and good luck with your new venture. I know that you will find the LJN members (as I am sure you are already aware) extremely helpful and knowledgeable.
  
  All the best for the future and good to have you on board.
  
  Kind regards
  
  
  Phil
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  Mark January 20, 2009 at 11:34pm

  Mowers aren't cheap (must be why my last one was nicked ;-/ ) I had a 19 inch rotary mower (Honda) which was a good compromise to be able to cut larger and smaller lawns, I replaced it with a 21 inch model which is great in a larger garden but a bit of a hand full else where !!
  
  As has been said 300 quid won't buy a lot...but who knows if it kicks off for you maybe you can upgrade pretty quickly ?
  
  Find a strimmer you are comfortable with, I' m quite tall and some don't have the length I need to strim flat, use it to edge lawns as well, with a bit of practice this works really well...maybe a combi tool might suit you as you can ad things like a hedge trimmer, pole saw etc for a reduced cost and they take up less room, which if you're working out of a car might help ;-)
  
  There are planty of folk out there with large estates that need (like as in really need) extra help to keep it under, soo far I've found the bigger gardens more regular and more profitable.
  
  Good luck, advertise, invest in your equipment, secure it (thieving gits), and work hard and you can't go wrong.
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  Tony January 21, 2009 at 11:07am

  Thanks for all the advice. I will go and check out a couple of 'Mower' shops I know of that have been there for as long as I remember, over 20 years at least. Will check out a second hand unit to see if I can get anything that way for the same amount of money. Strimmer wise I was looking at one of the multi tools. Not a brilliant make I know but the Ryobi with the hedge trimmer attachment looked OK and probably the strimmer wouldn't get as much use as the mower.
  
  AS I said I wanted to see how things went and then upgrade. I could always then pass on what I replace to a family member to use.
  
  Going to leaflet drop over the next 2 months the large estates first. Work maybe a bit scattered at first and a bit of travelling between jobs but I guess thats how most start.
  
  Also hope to get a van mid year, so maybe then mower size and equipment size shouldn't be less of a problem as well.
  
  Again many thanks.
  
  Tony
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  Dale Pellatt January 21, 2009 at 5:56pm

  Would agree with colin on the Ryobi, i bought a long hedge trimmer for a couple of hedge i do, one is a conifer hedge and it struggles. Borrowed a stihl long hedge cutter before buying the ryobi and you definetely feel the different, alot beeter cut sharper and more powerful. The down side is the weight, they are heavy. If i had my chioce again i would probably buy a standard trimmer with the longest blade i could get as you end up going up a ledder to do the top anway. Lawnmower wise i have little hayter 17" cut suits me as i only do a few cuts a week in the summer.
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  James Hyde January 21, 2009 at 9:20pm

  Hi Tony,
  
  The very best of luck, with any luck you will look back and wish that you had made the move sooner.
  
  Do check out your local machinery dealers, like a lot of businesses some are already feeling the pinch and I am sure that you can get some good deals. Buying a good brand like Stihl or Honda is important, even second a hand machine will give you good service.
  
  Get some magnetic signs for your car, try a card/adverts in your local post office and shops.
  
  Lastly have fun, I've been in horticulture over 30 years and I still love it.
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  Tony January 21, 2009 at 11:35pm

  Thanks for all the info, will take a look at makes such as Stihl, etc.
  
  Good point on the hedges. I will probably hit the newer estates first so not that many established hedges, if any.
  
  Will try and get a good mower and a strimmer, then work on the other power tools when I need them.
  
  The Wifes Uncle has been a Tree 'Fella' for the past 40 years so if anything big needs doing I'll just pass those along. We use to get the tops off the pines for our Xmas trees and couldn't hardly fit them in the room :)
  
  Yes I use 'Vistaprint', so will get some postcards, cards, etc done via them.
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  Lisa Valentine January 31, 2009 at 3:31pm

  Hi Tony,
  
  I started very small and got a honda Izzy (rotary) and a stihl strimmer. I went to a dealership and got them from there. Plus any other handtools that I already had. I had it all in the back of my car, however, I kept telling myself everyone starts somewhere. Then I hired an accountant to do the tax - he wanted paying about a year and a half later plus he gave me some good advice and wanted to see my business plan. Then I advertised in the local free magazines that come through the door. I've gradually got busier but I always make sure that I keep a good reputation because word of mouth is really important. Try also your local garden repair machinery place they do have great deals and generally mine offers a warranty on the equipment. I managed to pick up a really good rotary honda for £180.
  
  I wish you the best of luck - I still love it after the freezing months we've had and I couldn't imagine doing anything else
  
  Lisa
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  Tony January 31, 2009 at 4:20pm

  Thanks Lisa.
  
  I was looking at getting a New Honda Izy HRG 415 SD at a good price of £275 and also a New Honda UMS 425 LE Strimmer at £170.Would like anyones opinions on these for me to start off with, if possible ?
  
  Going to leaflet drop in a couple of weeks, as it maybe too early yet or what do you think?
  My main aim is to get two days a week at first. This may take to the end of the summer to achieve but would then set me up for next year. If I get more than two days a week then great.