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'How green is my valley' ? BBC reveals how much of our land is built on...

Recent news item on the BBC identifying how much of our land is;

• Farmland
• Natural
• Built on
• Green urban

with some amazing facts covering the whole of the UK. Just enter your post code or zoom in on the UK map :)

 

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Gardening a safe way to make a living

HI just a thought but after years of using various garden eqipment  its easy to get very complacient .Earlier today i tripped over while moving a long a hedge with a running hedge cutter. Im lucky only to have a graised knee but could have fell on to

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Recycling Aspen Fuel Bottles

Hello,

Does anybody else have any tips or uses for recyling the aspen fuel bottles?? I think the odd one can go in the plastic recycling where I am, as its not a huge quantity 

 

Thanks

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Stone - area coverage?

Hi all, 

 

have an area of roughly 50 meter squared. Would any one able to give me a help on how many tonne bags of stones I’d need to cover the area? 

 

 

Thanks 

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whats eating the leaves

any ideas as to what is eating these hydranger leaves i do not think its slugs or snails as some of the holes are in the middle of the leaves 

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Mysterious magical minerals, or Dansand vs regular kiln dried sand

ok, so its raining, I'm part way through a jetwash-the-patio project and I like science.

Kiln dried paving sand is approximately £5/bag; Dansand is approximately £9/bag.

Dansand are a bit coy about how it works saying 'Dansand® joint filling sand consi

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Petrol Pole Trimmer recommendations

Hello All,

What are people using for their hedge jobs? I've been using a Makita PTR2500, a Makita RBC2510 or a Tanaka TBC2211. None of these machines are my own, however, and I need to buy one. Trouble is, all of these machines are 8+ years old and I

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Bigger van vs trailer

Hey everyone , this is probably a common type of thread.

I do a lot of little jobs in my Citreon Berlingo van , every now and again I get a big job where I have to go back for the waste after dropping my tools off at home.

I feel like this looks terrib

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Set price garden maintenance.

Hi all, 

just wondering how people get on with set price garden maintenance, I’m trying to expand my business and want to get away from hourly rates.  I’ve noticed some businesses using a tier system I.e gold/silver/bronze for different levels and dur

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STIHL 4-MIX® engine for Kombi system

Looking to upgrade my Kombi engine unit from the 94 R-CE to one of the KM 131's 

Ive heard mixed reviews of the sthil 4 mix systems -- can anyone advise if they have had problems with them or they have worked out well ? 

Also if theres any need to go t

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Kubota GR1600 or Iselki SXG216

Hi all

Im just about to plump for a new ride on with a budget of 7k

i currently run two gr1600s and need to change one as it’s getting old now.

jiust wanted some feedback on other machines as heard good things about the iseki.

kubotas are good machines t

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Ant colony in sourced plant from grower

Hello All, 

What would you do if you got a plant from a grower directly to be planted and you are on the site when you lift out from the container discover there is an ant colony with lot of eggs living there happily...

The plant would go in a family g

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Weedkiller

I’ve been using clinic ace weedkiller for a while now and was hoping you guys could tell me what else I could use that’s stronger.

how do I get some of the stronger weedkiller?

i have no certificate and have not  been on any courses.

 

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Weed killer for lawns

Hi all

just wanted to know what other people recommend for treating weeds in lawns.

 

I currently use Pistol on driveways or roundup 460 and a grandualted sportsmaster weed and feed on lawns with a broadcast spreader.

 

I have a factory to sort out with v

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Icade Herbicide

Can you or would you use Icade Herbicide on Horsetail/Mares Tail? 

 

Or would it be pointless? 

 

thanks 

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What safety boots/trainers do you wear?

Time to replace my Engelbert Strauss safety trainers, they were about £60 and have lasted 2 years, very comfortable but not waterproof. Half thinking of upgrading to the ones that are waterproof and S3.

Just wondered what other people are wearing and

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Block paving and weeds

Hi all, I was wondering if I could pick your brains. I look after a large garden that also has stables, out side the stables is block paving. This year I jet washed it and re sanded it. But soon enough the bits of grass and weeds started to come back

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stihl battery

Hi All,bought myself a battery powered Stihl long reach hedge cutter about 3 months ago,just decided to read through the manual! and it states that you should remove the battery after use,i use the hedge cutter on average 3 times a week and have alwa

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Profit or pot luck?

Profit margins are being squeezed due to many factors but I ask the question does anyone actually factor in “profit” when quoting for jobs?There have been a number of posts on the forum where I suspect that a daily labour rate has been quoted plus ma

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Fence Treatment work

Hi all

I'm just starting out in my gardening/handyman business. Yesterday I did a hedge cut job for a new client (recommend via someone I know).

Client asked me to quote on staining the fences. It's quite a longish run, most 6ft high and around 120ft i

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