Starting work on a new garden: Good News!

As the title suggests, there is good news on the new garden.Picking up from the last update, I didn't think there was much to write about in the new garden. It looked like the owner would only be engaging me to mow the lawn and not much else. I was feeling very disheartened after the first visit but things are looking up...I met the owner this morning very briefly. We had a chat and she asked me how the garden was coming along. After only one visit I didn't have an awful lot to say but I expressed my concerns that only 3 hours a week wouldn't get much more than the lawnmowing done. I recommended 6 hours a week, which is my usual working day once breaks and lunch have been taken out (about an hour in total) and she has agreed to give this a go for a trial of four weeks. The garden needs much more than that to bring it up to a good standard but I am hoping that in four week's time, I will have done enough work to demonstrate how invaluable I will be to the upkeep of the garden as a whole. I'll let you know how that one goes.I also explained that this time of year is difficult when picking up a new garden as usually I would have done much more preparation in the Spring. Once on top of the preparation, it's a much more simple job to keep up with the maintenance and the garden will look consistently better throughout the growing season. Picking up a garden which hasn't had that sort of preparation done in the Spring makes things a little more difficult and it can take longer for the garden to start looking coherent.Looking at this garden, I'm not really sure where to start on the renovation. The areas which are more openly visible are the obvious point to start but there are so many of them that I will probably start with the borders around the entrance / driveway. Getting a good approach up to the house is always appreciated I think (I wouldn't exactly describe it as 'Kerb Appeal' but it's the nearest thing I can think of at the moment).Anyway, having some good news on this garden, I'll upload a few photos once I've scanned them in so you can get a bit of an idea of what I'm facing. I'll hopefully have more to write about as the season progresses. It's still early days yet but hopefully I'll be able to persuade the owner that composting the garden waste is a good thing...
★
★
★
★
★
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • very interesting andy i have just started up part time in the afternoons and really busy just trying to get my head round how many hours i need to fill to go full time i was interested you saying you work 6 hrs a day for how many weeks thanks i am charging 15hr
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Piers Dixon replied to Piers Dixon's discussion Advertising garden maintenance services
"Thanks for your response. Have you actually tried this??"
14 hours ago
trimmora updated their profile
15 hours ago
Fusion Media posted a blog post
After 26 years at Radley College, Adam King has seen grounds management evolve dramatically. Weather patterns have become less predictable, playing surfaces are under greater pressure than ever, and flexibility has become one of the most valuable…
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
GroundsFest has welcomed Christina Walker to its sales team as preparations continue for the 2027 exhibition.Christina joins the award-winning team with an extensive background in publishing and exhibitions spanning more than two decades. She began…
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
When freezing temperatures threaten the pitches at Forest Green Rovers FC, speed is everything. Protecting the stadium and training ground with frost covers can be a race against the weather, but thanks to Kress battery-powered blowers, the club's…
Thursday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
The GroundsFest Academy has confirmed TLS as its newest Platinum Sponsor, adding further industry strength to the Academy's range of sponsors and partners as it continues to expand its training offering for the groundscare sector. The sponsorship…
Thursday
Peter sellers replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi William, I would avoid working as a sub contractor if you can. Yes they will not pay a realistic rate as they will try to keep their profit as high as poss, in my experience getting paid was always an issue. We had a long and profitable…"
Wednesday
Billybop replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Thanks William, yes a bit like being a retained fire fighter I suppose. Monthly payments for a 12 month contract, knowing that worst case scenario only 6 months or so might require visits. Which could be very few and far between, or more numerous…"
Wednesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Richard, thank you for your reply. I've not approached either of these companies as yet, would you suggest Outco and Nurture are good companies to contact, and do you have any experience with either?"
Tuesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Peter, thank you very much for such a detailed response, and I'm sorry to hear of your ill health, I do hope you are well. Both of my existing clients that I'm looking to bring on board should be manageable, so they can hopefully help me to dip…"
Tuesday
William Baker replied to William Baker's discussion Winter Services
"Hi Billy, that's a really good idea, even if the contracts are a mix of 'subsciption' and ad-hoc, it at least covers the expense in a worst case scenario. "
Tuesday
Billybop replied to Rob's discussion Best professional battery hedge trimmer at present?
"Hi Tim i wear basic disposable ear plugs with either model if using for any extended period... not so much the volume per se, but it takes the edge off that irritating metallic sound... I think these are being sold for below cost, but heart warming…"
Tuesday
Tim Wallach replied to Rob's discussion Best professional battery hedge trimmer at present?
"My 130T arrived and was tested today.   It certainly runs fast...the high motor noise is slightly irritating compared to the rumble of the 130R though.  I've got used to working without ear defenders.    Planet tool owe you a finders fee."
Tuesday
Matt updated their profile
Nov 1
Matt posted a discussion
Morning all,I’m Matt from That Pond Guy, a specialist pond maintenance company based in Burham, Kent. I’ve just joined LJN and thought I’d introduce myself.We cover Kent, London and the wider South East, looking after everything from garden wildlife…
Nov 1
Matt is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
Nov 1
More…