Wolf Garten Multichange Tools

I have been using these for years but recently I have noticed the latch failing to hold when pulling.  I think one example got a stone lodged inside.  There seems to be no way to remove obstructions.  Has anyone been able to repair these or do I put

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Compost survey

Has anyone else noticed the poor quality of bagged , branded compost ? This seems to be a result of the removal of peat .

We are in the process of a large planting job requiring compost , much of it contains a lot of wood fibre and even small lumps of

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Coming to a large garden near you!!

Yesterday I went to a client to see this - there are two of them, and have been sold to keep their 2 acres of lawn comprising of 3 massive lawns, with hills,scattered trees and shrubs, together with a traditional square lawn near.  the house. TO cut

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Box blight?

So, I am restoring a garden, it is stuffed with Buxus - all are fine, healthy and looking good, even 2m away from this hedge are some that look wonderful, really verdant and 1st class. However there is about 10m of parterre hedging clipped to about 3

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John Deere Z530 Vs Z545 - HELP?

Over the last few months, I have been asking various questions about Zero Turn mowers. I have had some great responses which have helped me significantly in my decision. My choice was the John Deere Z530M with the addition of the Mulch Control Kit. T

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Petrol strimmer gave up

I have the stihl fs131 that has gave up today and i am looking for a new model do use have a recommendation on a decent strimmer 

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Stihl GTA extension

I know that some of us have the brilliant GTA pruner but has anyone got the new extension shaft & what do you think of it ?

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Cobra RM48SPH

Following on from our post re Honda 476 rear roller which seems to be plagued with gearbox issues now looking at the Cobra RM 48SPH, this having BBC and Honda engine around £1100 to help distinguish it from the cheaper Cobra models.

Queries - The hand

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We Need your Advice!

Hi All,

We have been having internal discussions surrounding Landscape Juice and how we need to be moving forward.

We are aware that since the passing of Phil, the site has changed, and we are looking to see what we can do to improve it in any way that

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Watering

We look after numerous housing developments and with new ones imminent we are once again being asked about watering, it's something we've always managed to avoid but it's becoming increasingly likely we can't for much longer, does anyone here offer a

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Full time gardener @ large private garden

Just wondering if there are any full time "employed" gardeners working at a large private garden somewhere that could give me some advise. 

I'm about to start a new career as a full time employed gardener looking after a 25 acre property with 3 acres

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Do You Listen To Podcasts?

Our very own Paul Baker is off to Belfast today to record a podcast with Robbie Lynn from Premier Lawns.

Robbie is creating a series of podcasts with landscaping and gardening business owners where they discuss the ins and outs of running a business i

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Potential Business

First off apologies as I am sure this has been asked before time and time again but I am considering gardening as a second career.

I retire from the police in April 2025 and although I will have a pension I will still need to work and want to work. I

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Scarifying and lawn care

Hi All,

Would anyone have advice on pricing a service offering lawn care - specifically a cut, scarify (1 or 2 passes) clear and then a feed or treatment using specific products? 
There's a fair bit of investment but it's something I really enjoy and w

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Sheep in the garden!

Today I went to the large garden that is my main place of work. Mercifully little storm damage, just debris and a few branches down. There had, however, been sheep, a lot of sheep. A gate had been left open by walkers and the flock got into the garde

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Gardening Business running costs

• Hi Folks
• I was wondering if anybody knows what there actual operating costs are per hour or per garden visit.Over the last few days I've been working mine out for next season taking into account hikes in insurances etc service costs the lot 🤦🏼I'd be i

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granular lawn fertilizer

granular lawn fertilizer do you need a license in northern ireland.

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Commercial Vs residential. What do you say.

Hi all, 

So since dipping my toe in to some larger grounds maintenance/commercial work a month ago or so and buying a ride on mower. I've gone and picked up another 3 larger sites in addition to my first development, so I can make more use of the zero

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Backpack blower

Hi guys! 

I'm in need of a new backpack blower, previously we've made do with a bottom of the range McCullough backpack blower which was bought on a small budget when I first started up. It's now gone way past the time to upgrade it but I'll be the fi

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Trailers for ride on mowers

So.. in the process of setting up the kit for the zero turn, I've been looking at trailer options and trying to work out the best option. 

I'm limited on storage space so I'll be sticking with a 8x5. Single axle utility trailer. The obvious starting p

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Battery tool winter storage bagss

Can anyone recommend suitable winter storage bags for Stihl hedge cutters to protect from moisture which are stored outdoors in an outbuilding ? 

Have found some on line for transporting machines and some made from canvas which are fit for transportin

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Development contract work and pricing

Hi All, 

I'd be interested to see options on pricing for housing developments. 

 

Background on myself. Most of my work is private residential fortnightly maintenance for relatively well off professionals. My standard hourly rate for regular customers i

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Women in Lawn Care

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Bobcat Zero Turn - Any Good?

As the mowing season draws to a close, I am thinking about machinery for next season. Sadly, having dismiseda compact Tracotr with attachments, I am drawn to the Zero Turn Mowers. All of my ride on mowers have been John Deere. It helps that the deale

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Looking at a new lawnmower etesia or weibang

1. Hi i am looking for a new lawnmower for next year and i have narrowed it doen to two etesia and weibang i was wondering if any one have use both if these and what they prefer and why ? How do they run in the wet thanks in advance 

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Fencing

Hi All

My brother is looking for someone to do a small fencing job in Chelmsford.

I'd go and do it but i'm 200 miles away.

Let me know if your intrested.

Thanks in advance Ben

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Rip off servicing

I have a Hsuqvarna 750BTS with which the trigger has been getting sticky for a while. I tried WD40 as though it was just some dust. I had gotten worse & at the beginning of the week I took the trigger apart to inspect it. Only to find that the thrott

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Patio Pointing

Hello

2 years ago I agreed to point a customers patio that he layed himself with Indian sandstone. He laid the paving slabs upside down and very poorly the mortar he jointed with had started falling in the joints.my brief was to clean out any old join

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Specialised Work - Where to Find it/Advertise......

Good Morning,

Forgive me if you think I've come to the wrong place, but it feels like me of you have been around for a long time so might have some handy advice for me.

I set myself up as a self-employed gardener earlier this year when I was let go fro

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18" mower recommendations.

Hi all, I bought a new cobra 53 pro (honda kaaz) this year which has been great but it's a bit heavy for some of my smaller  mowing jobs, also I'm a bit concerned about creating tram lines as the ground gets softer in autumn (due to it being 65kg). 

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How much?

Genuinely enquiring for a friend, I haven't got the kit, or any inclination to do this. He's in Hampshire.

Currently it takes 3 people 1.5 days to do the high privet hedges around his garden, 1 side and top....measured in acres.

The waste is dealt with

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Cheap but good petrol power washer wanted

Hi all

Asked to do a clean of some paving so thinking about buying rather than hire something in, any suggestions? Needs to be petrol please. Will be a days work in total,.I know the cheapest ones aren't for continuous usage, but I'm happy plodding al

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Two Vans

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I was wondering if anybody here runs a two vehicle set up as an individual contractor? I am an arborist and grounds maintenance contractor, currently working from a Toyota Hilux. I bring in sub-contractors on larger jobs an

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Rear discharge mower 21”

One of my jobs I currently mulch, which works well, the area is too big and awkward to collect, but with the wetter weather coming soon im thinking I could do to get a machine that can rear discharge, and leave a fairly decent finish, spread the cutt

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Border Fork with shorter tines?

I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a SUITABLE border fork BUT with the shorter tines? 

The shorter tines mean when you dig in you do not turn the deeper soil or disturbe the roots just the top layer to go over and tidy a bed. Where poss

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Pest control

Afternoon 

Does anyone run pest control (rodents and moles etc) alongside their gardening work and if so how does it work for you? I'm thinking of getting certified to do it myself.  

Thanks 

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Best field app

Hi do any of you use any field apps to help you run your business? 

We are looking to simplify our systems so that all client notes, job sheets, and photos are in one place and easily shared between  team members when needed.

We are also looking to mov

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Tools the professionals use

Hiya everyone,

What heavy duty kit do the professionals use??

Specifically:  Secateurs

 

Plan on adding more to the thread later - but for now, just need secateur recommendations ;-)   )

 

Thanks in advance for any advice :-) 

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Honda HRX slow

Hi

 

I recently purchased a Honda hrx 537 but have noticed recently that the speed has slowed down. Top speed is ok not a quick as it first was and anything lower than top speed you practically have to push it.

 

What has happened and how do I fix it?

Tha

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Power washing help

Im in Northern Ireland Bangor

Im starting to do power washing this autumn what is the going rate for per square meter in Northern Ireland. 

Any help would be appreciated. 

 

 

Jim

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If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do to help the landscaping and gardening industries?

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Battery mowers

evening everyone anybody use the ego mowers commercially and do they do.the business on 2 weekly cuts???

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Wood disposal

Would be grateful of advice regarding how people dispose of old wood?  We have a large build up of old fence panels/pallets/2x4 wood lengths etc.  We usually get a 40 yard roll on roll off skip every so often to dispose of but prices are through the

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Etesia av51 new carb or engine swap?

Hi there, I've recently purchased an old 2001 av51 (kawa fc180v) with a chinese fj180v carb on it, so it doesn't run properly at all.

My options are either a new carb for nearly £200 but which version do I need? 15003-2618 or 15003-2782?

Or I've just f

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another lawn question

Hi guys. another lawn question. sitution, small front lawn on a new build site about 3 years old. In full sun. Lawn is destroyed by leatherjackets over past few years. Customer wants to reseed. Do you think a treatment of nematodes wod be needed? Any

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Echo strimmer

Hi, my petrol stihl fs55 strimmer is getting a bit tired so I think I shall treat myself to a new one soon. I've had it for years so it has served me well but I could do with going slightly bigger for strimming long grass, looking at cow handlebar ty

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Sanding between pavers and puzzled by my performance ?

Just spent Six days jet washing a large drive which is all pavers using an industrial petrol pressure washer . I am not a dedicated professional jet washer and its a job i try to avoid if i am honest . 

The area itself belongs to a property where i do

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Swapping van for a pickup ??

I have a Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive LWB  2018  . It's pristine ( yes I'm sad I hoover it out every night and give it a quick wash )  I've had it from new and am very pleased with it but with all my Stihl machinery being combo and half  the size of my o

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Van floor

Hi all, I'm after a bit of advice. The ply floor in my van is starting to get ripped up a bit, so now it is catching on bags & ripping them. Do I just over board it or I think somebody mentioned stable matting, is this an option? The van has been boa

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Advice for mowing a local park

There is a slight possibility that I might have the opportunity of working for a Parish Council. This will involve maintaining the park grounds, which include a football pitch. At present, I have no further information. If it does work out, I anticip

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Battery tools

I've noticed the big power tool manufacturers do a big range of cordless products Makita big range, and just noticed Milwaukee which are high end productsShould we be looking at these manufacturers or stick with the Stihl or husqvarna gearAs the powe

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Arris Rails

Hi all, I live & work in the South East. Down here we use Arris rails on Closeboard fencing, usually with morticed posts. I am working this weekend up in Sheffield, putting up a new closeboard fence for my daughter. Now I know you lot up North do not

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Commercial grass cutting.

Good morning. I've been in business a good few years now, I mainly concentrate on hedge cutting, fencing and lawn mowing. Unfortunately, due to my back giving me problems and the ever increasing cost of waste disposal i may have to chenge tack and mo

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Bark chip - Big con ?

Be interested in opinions of others on this fascination with covering planted areas with bark chippings.

Been in the trade long enough to remember that the forestry industry had an expensive problem of disposing of this waste by product until someone

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Recommendations for rotary laser level and wet cut table saw

Hi Guys,

Looking for recommendations for rotary laser level and wet cut table saw. As after best part of 10yrs I have had enough using line/ bubble and renting a table saw.

I have a few big porceline jobs coming up and figured instead of renting a tabl

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How do you charge your Battery’s on the go

Hi thats me went fully battery power for all my tools now i am wondering how do yoo charge your batteries on the go most of my jobs are beside each other so a inverter wont be any good and the must of mh clints are ojt so cant use there power to char

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Lawn problems

Quite a few of my domestic lawns are in a sorry state after the dry Summer and wet Winter............... bare patches, moss, weeds.    I was hoping the bare patches from the Summer drought would have picked up but no such luck.  Wondering what the be

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What a way to run a business!

Currently sourcing niche / specialist plants for an extensive new herbaceous bed with the specification needing unusual not readily available plants.  

Using the RHS website to find growers and suppliers , contacted 20 specialist nurseries by either e

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What wetting agents are you using?

I'm new to the world of wetting agents but I'm thinking of giving them a try this season. There seems to be loads of choice out there. What are people's preferred option? 

Also. Do you dilute a wetting agent and apply via a knapsack. If so. Generally

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Kill off moss pet frendly way and to feed

Hi all

I got a lawn with a lot of moss in it! The client has pets so what is the best way to get rid of the moss, do I just scarfie it or is there something to put onto it that will help with killing it off, please?

Also what is the best way of feeding

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Underperforming Laurel Hedge

Looking for some advice on best options to feed a laurel hedge where the specimens are all thin and sad looking. They've not been pruned properly in the past so now i've taken over I can get on with that which will help them fill out, but I'd like to

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Lesser celandine

Hi, an area of communal grass that I look after has quite a lot of celandine in, which of course is now flowering. Now that it's time to start mowing, would it be best to mow it down along with the grass or leave it to finish flowering. While it may

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Discussion on what makes a good business management software for you?

Hi All,

Having spoken with a few of you on the forum already & added some new features we are always looking for new ways to help. We know people are using a lot of different software's and want to understand, what do they not do that you need & what

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Etesia MVEHH 100 hydrostatic fluid change

Hi all - this is my first post on this forum, which has been very helpful for a few past issue. Thanks for having me.

I have an Etesia MVEHH 100 - the original shape, with hydrostatic transmission. I'm rather fond of the machine and intend to give it

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Pressure washing service

Hi i am looking to add pressure washing services along side my garden work and i am wondering do most ppl add pressure washing or amni better to go down the soft washing route for payio and driveaway any information would be great i have been looking

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Hayter 48 vs bbc

For everyone who followed our post on rear roller mower with variable speed and bbc along with reasonable weight,  we bought a Hayter 48 , not pro as wanted variable speed and its only going to do a couple of hours per week. 

So thoughts after first u

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Horticulture Week

Does anyone subscribe? We used to some years ago but felt it lost relevance for the SME sector so cancelled. 

Not cheap at £345 a year, looked at the current issue online and does seem to have some articles of interest to us but whether it will contin

Read more…

How to keep physically well when you're a gardener?

Hi all. I was wondering how many of you would admit to physical health issues when gardening. Just gardening - bending, twisting, lifting weights of various kinds, reaching a little beyond our comfortable range, can take its toll. The use of machiner

Read more…

Black Spot Remover

I was just wanting to know what brand of black spot remover people use. It seems so expensive and just wanted to make sure I get something effective and not harmful to surrounding plants and grass. have a job to do that is an old sandstone patio that

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Jetting drives as business

Evening all just looking for your opinions looking at doing drives/patio cleaning and reseal my question is do you use customers water supply or your own just looking into it any info please 

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Lawn compost spreader

Looking to buy a lawn compost spreader for top dressing.

Anyone got or used?

Numerous makes available with a lot  of Chinese generics with dubious reviews. Narrowed it down to Ezdoo, Walansee and Landzie, where do they get these names!

The Ezdoo comes o

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Selling a small gardening round

Hi, I'm looking at selling my small gardening round and wondered if anyone on here has sold or bought a round in the past and has any advice for me please?

It's only a small round with a minimum take of £10,000 per year but usually more with extras. M

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Lumag chipper.

Hi all, I have seen a lumag hc10 petrol wood chipper for sale not too far from me, quite new and a bit less than half the retail price. I haven't had a chipper before, I don't do big tree works, it would be more for chipping up shrub/ hedge reduction

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Transfer of grass clippings from ride on mower

This season, I hope to use my ride on mower with collector. In order to make it efficient, I need to consider how to transfer clippings from the collector to one ton bags. I have thought about reversing up onto car ramps with the bag underneath and d

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What are your 'anti-resolutions' for 2023?

At the beginning of every year we are told to set out our goals and write down our New Year’s resolutions, and they look great on paper but within a few days are often forgotten.

But for a change instead of focussing on things you 'should' do, what i

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Seasons greetings from the Voices

Dear All, 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support for another year at Landscape Juice!

We appreciate your constant use of the site and for keeping our community alive. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas

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Claiming machinery damage from customer

One of my monthly customers recently had some roofing work undertaken and a scaffold clamp was left behind in the long grass where the scaffolding had been, I ran over the clamp with my mower and it caused irrepairable damage

to my mower. I took image

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Stihl KM130 won't disengage

During the season, I noticed that the hedge cutter attachment on my Stihl KM130 would not disengage. Obviously, blades continually running can be quite dangerous. I read the manual and  it states:

"Turn the idle screw (LA) slowly counterclockwise unti

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being asked for formal quote of existing contract

Hi All

had this email from parish council that had contract with for over 7yrs,

& just sounds to me they asking in a round about way to retender.

Just wondering that others thought are & any advise please

regards 

marc

Hi Marc, sometime before January 23rd

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When is to cold to work / do certain jobs .

Looks like winter arriving this coming week , I usually carry on if it a frost / thaws by dinner time . I've still got quite a few jobs to get done yet mainly conifer hedges I usually would just do them but forecast of - 5 to - 7 overnight with day t

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Japanese acer tree pruning

 

I have been asked to prune this Japanese acer. It's magnificent but is spreading over a large area of the front garden and in summer seems all consuming to the client. I did lightly prune it in summer, but they are asking for a much more drastic pru

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Westermann?? Other mechanical moss brushes?... What actually works??

Hello all,

I hope everyone is well! 

I'm considering buying a Westermann sweeper to tackle moss on tarmac driveways (after spraying) - I was just looking for any feedback on the machine or similar tools. I have a couple of the Stihl combi brushes but d

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Makita DBN600RTJ

Hi All

Are Makita DBN600RTJ any good for fencing, using 75mm rails and 19mm boards ?

If not what do people recommend 

Cheers

Michael 

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Terms and conditions

Hi all

Thinking about the business side of things, most times the kind of people I work for are very nice - understanding, polite, sympathetic, friendly, don't hold you to a specific price for doing something it's hard to quantify an end of (such as a

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Hayter Harrier Pro41 steel roller?

I was wondering whether anyone else has had a harrier pro41 and had a steel roller put on instead of the plastic one?

I had a feeling I had seen and read something, (maybe even on social media) where it had been changed over and it was possible to do

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Van Insurance - especially if you're carrying pesticides and/or fuel

Dear All,

I'm attempting to renew the insurance on my van. I'm a self-employed 'one-man-band' operating in the North West. As I now have PA1/PA6 I am able to spray Herbicides/Moss Killers/Pesticides at my customers' premises. You might not think that

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Tips For Startup Gardening Businesses

Hi everyone, I'm approaching the hive mind for some help with a blog I've been asked to write for one of my clients.

'Top Tips For Starting A Gardening Business'

If you could start your business again - what would you do differently? In other words, wh

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What's Your Secret To Running A Thriving Business?

Last week I posted a new blog to the My Garden Design website.  As you probably know, my core business is landscaping, Rather than try to compete on price, I offer my clients a high standard of workmanship and the promise that they'll be over the moo

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Bolens mower.

Hi, the drive on my Toro has packed up so I could do with a cheap mulcher to get me to the end of the season. I've seen a bolens 22" self drive mulcher with 6hp b&s engine for sale near me at £100. I've no experience of them though, have any of you a

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Preparing new build garden with heavy soil for turf

I have a small turfing job (75square metres) in the back garden of a new build. We've cleared all the weeds and the usual ton of rubble, rubbish etc buried by the builders. The soil is quite heavy and needs some improvement and rotovating. What is th

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Review system for bad customers?

Hi all

 

I have been running my garden maintenance business for 30 years now and am I the only who thinks it is getting harder and harder satisfing our clients?  They appear to hold so much power over us with google reviews etc and I feel it is now tim

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Rough cut mower 21 inch and self propelled?

Morning chaps!

 

just started work for a new customer, and I could do with a rough cut mower, for there orchids, and a few other rough areas, I used my Viking 655 yesterday, without the collecting box on, it did a good job to be fair, apart from half w

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Advice please

Hi again everyone. Thinking ahead to spring next year. How soon after scarifying and overseeding can you apply the usual high nitrogen spring fertiliser? Can you apply immediately after sewing the seed or do you have to wait until it germinates?

I'm t

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Concrete under lawn.

For four seasons I have been cutting a lawn on an as and when basis with the brief of just keeping it reasonably tidy. 

There is a patch in it which I always assumed is where the concrete mixer stood and was washed out when the house was built. 

This y

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Inflation

Just a heads up on the other threads about rising costs etc.

I have just been given notice that some stock bricks will be increasing by a MASSIVE 28.5% on October 1st. This is from a smaller builders merchants chain in the South East but after giving

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What are the expensive materials causing delays for Tradespeople ?

Since 2020, tradespeople have had to balance record demand for their services with rising costs and materials shortages.

Against a backdrop of rising inflation and a cost of living crisis, the latest data shows that businesses are still having to tur

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Ten things you need to know about VAT invoices

Ten things you need to know about VAT invoices

With the change to ensuring all businesses who are Vat Registered submit digital VAT returns, I though this article would be a useful reference source.....

 

Need to register for VAT and start providing

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Slab laying.

Hi, a friend has asked me to lay some slabs in a chess board 'hit and miss ' fashion so there will be 13 slabs and 13 gaps. They will want to plant things in the gaps so I don't really want to stone the whole area down as a sub base. The ground is cu

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Pruning by a BT cable

One of my customers has a rambling rose that now is touching overhead BT cables. The chap who has been doing their hedge trimming for years will not prune the rose due to it's proximity to the cables. Does anyone have any experience of working around

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Customer Cash Flow dilemma .

Not sure what to do for the best here .

Doing a one off maintenance project for a customer i have worked for in the past but not a regular customer , however they always paid promptly and never any issues , lovely people .

Have submitted Two invoices ,

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