Starting work on a new garden

I've been trying to figure out how I can start blogging about the work that I'm doing on domestic gardens without awkwardly crow-barring something into the blog which seems clunky and forced. I think I may have the solution; I am about to take on a new garden and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to start a new blog which will hopefully develop quite naturally and not seem too contrived. The owners have previously had a gardener / handiman but he has proved to be a little too unreliable in his regularity. Fortunately they have parted on good terms and he aknowledged that he was struggling to commit his time as they had wanted him to.I've not actually seen the garden yet, so I don't have much to write about at the moment. I have googled the address and found it on the satellite map; it looks like the garden is part of a large Victorian house. Having spoken to the owner, I gather that the grounds of the house used to be much larger - I'm assuming that part of these were sold off at some point (possibly to a developer) but in any case I don't have to worry about them. All I know at the moment is that the garden has two lawns - a front and a back so little surprise there - and a few borders. I have absolutely no idea what are in the borders as yet and I'm guessing there may be some nasty little surprises lurking somewhere - there usually are. With the situation with the previous gardener being what it is, I'm expecting to find the garden a little overgrown and in need of some remedial attantion to bring it back into shape.I'm going to see the garden for the first time this Thursday afternoon so I will be able to give a better impression of what I'll be taking on and what I'll be facing towards the end of the week.I often get excited when I'm looking at a new garden for the first time as I always see the opportunity to refresh and enliven the garden which all too often has lost its way somewhere along the journey. I suppose I see it as my chance to make a small part of the world a slightly more beautiful place (ooh, get me being all whimsical!).I've never written a blog like this before so I'll apologise in advance if it's rambling or clumsy. Hopefully it'll be of interest to someone out there at some point...
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Comments

  • PRO
    Andrew - this is a great example of how to blog and I for one look forward to the garden developments.

    It would be great if you could add piccy's too.
  • Thanks Phil. I'll grab a few photos but it'll be a while before I can upload them as I'm working with an old-fashioned film camera (an Olympus OM-2SP for those photography spods out there). I'll need to get the film processed and then scanned so it may be a couple of weeks before I get round to it (you know how things are...). I'm just scanning from the actual prints at the moment which isn't ideal but I don't have a negative scanner yet (on my wish list for this summer).

    I'll probably be able to do a little bit of a comparison with some of my other gardens throughout the course of the blog and add some general reflections on how things are progressing on a broader level.
  • PRO
    No problem Andrew, whenever you get the time but I do find that it really does tell a story better when a photograph is attached.

    Also, as from today, uploading a video is possible - even directly from your device i.e. mobile phone which is great for capturing that imprompytu moments as well as the contrived ones.
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PGM posted a discussion
A question for those offering lawn treatments. Does anyone use a specific product, separate to their normal treatments, that's specifically used when we have long, dry periods? Can anyone recommend a good product? I imagine it would likely be a…
11 hours ago
Adam Woods replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Good move Andrew... Get someone to proof read them before you use them, its so easy to miss obvious things, becasue you are so close to it - and preferably get them printed professionally..you would only need a few hundred
I started with a Honda…"
22 hours ago
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you for your thoughts and support! 😊"
23 hours ago
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you! I've changed the website a bit and simplified things.... I wasn't going to offer mowing as I'm operating out of a small car, but with hindsight I see I need to offer this! I use Ego battery kit and think I can get my mower in the car if I…"
23 hours ago
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you for your constructive feedback! Not brutal at all... I have taken onboard what you are saying and changing things...😊"
23 hours ago
John F replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Had a look at your website Andrew I feel your skill set will appeal to those discerning clients who will value your honesty and your integrity shines through .
Most likely they will have a fair sized property but they don't want to pay contractors…"
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Think you also have an issue with using your name as your trading style. It does not say what you do. Just put gardeners Winchester into google and you are not there. You need to trade as EG Bentley Garden Services for google to pick you up when…"
yesterday
Dan Nate posted a discussion
So a couple of customers have asked for pressure washing and I saw the above machine for a good deal. Has anyone experience with it at all?It's a honda gx200 so not blazing power but with 13lpm should be OK for most smaller domestic jobs I assume. 
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Like "
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Andrew, following on from Adam's reply and having a look at your website I am struggling to see where your market is? 
Without coming across as a know it all and unless comments from members contradict me  the bulk of work is for grass mowing and…"
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Hi Andrew - where are you based?  ooh think I've found you (https://www.andrew-bentley.co.uk/) You're in a v good area - though I'd focus on areas that its difficult for apprentices to get to and from Sparsholt to.  - So Salisbury for instance. You…"
yesterday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you ☺️ "
Sunday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you ☺️ "
Sunday
John F replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Hi Andrew 
I went self employed over 12 years ago after Twenty years Estate gardening .
Domestic gardening v Estate gardening are like chalk and cheese , worlds apart and I found it very difficult to adjust but I started the ball rolling by…"
Sunday
Peter sellers replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Andrew, it's probably no consolation but remember if it was easy everyone would be doing it!
When I started there was no internet etc and we had to use yellow pages and Thompson directory. But marketing yourself needs to be a multi faceted approach…"
Sunday
James replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
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I'm very busy currently with an almost full schedule but I have noticed that I have had very few new enquiries this year. Normally the phone is ringing daily but its not even weekly at the moment. 
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