help - LJN Blog Posts - Landscape Juice Network2024-03-29T02:23:21Zhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/helpThe Landscapers Circle – Supersizing Your Business!https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/the-landscapers-circle-supersizing-your-business2016-09-26T13:30:00.000Z2016-09-26T13:30:00.000ZMike Warmanhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/AuraLandscapes<div><p>Mike and Paula Warman are proud to announce the upcoming launch of <b>The Landscapers Circle.</b></p><p></p><p>This business is a service dedicated to <b>bringing in more customers and more money for landscapers</b> across the UK.</p><p>With targeted marketing campaigns, The Landscapers Circle grows your business and your revenue. Similar marketing strategies have been used on Aura Landscapes, taking it from a <b>£70k yearly revenue to £500k.</b></p><p></p><p>You can choose which package you’d like, and experience a quality done for you service. This service is also <b>only for landscapers,</b> so you can be sure that you’ll be marketed in a way that will successfully grow your business.</p><p></p><p>However, there is a catch.</p><p></p><p>To ensure you get the most out of this service, The Landscapers Circle is only offering this unique opportunity to <b>one landscaper per postcode area.</b></p><p>Some areas have already gone, so you need to check if yours is still open today.</p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.thelandscaperscircle.co.uk/exclusive-access" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">I Want To See If My Area Is Still Available!</a></p></div>School’s Showpiece Pitch Evolves with Help from Sherriff Amenityhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/school-s-showpiece-pitch-evolves-with-help-from-sherriff-amenity2014-07-21T09:32:48.000Z2014-07-21T09:32:48.000ZFusion Mediahttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/FusionMedia<div><p>The head groundsman at Durham School has found a way of getting its main rugby pitch fit and ready for cricket action in the brief gap between seasons. This year for the first time Barry Boustead used Evolution5, a coated, controlled release fertiliser from Sherriff Amenity, resulting in the best outfield grass cover anyone can remember and a host of compliments.</p><p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314168932?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314168932?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-left"/></a>Each year Barry gets just three weeks to turn a winter First XV pitch into a summer one for the First XI. It is an intense period of work. In the five previous years he has been at the school; his routine for transferring from rugby to cricket outfield has been re-seed, top dress, spray with iron, and apply lots of fertiliser. It works to a certain extent, but it is immensely time consuming for a solo professional.</p><p>The pitch is a showpiece for the independent co-educational school dating back to the 15th century, being directly adjacent to its main building. It is very much a focal point.</p><p>On the advice of the head groundsman at Durham University, where Barry had previously worked, he called in Sherriff Amenity’s Mark Robertson to conduct soil testing and check nutrient levels to see what course of action would take the pitch to a higher level of excellence. Evolution5 25.5.8 fine granule spring fertiliser is specifically for early growing season application to fine turf mown above 6mm, and therefore ideal for cricket outfields, especially where sward thickening following winter sports use is required. Urea coating ensures four-to- five month effectiveness, nitrogen gives strong, dense growth, and magnesium means a pleasing season-long grass colour.</p><p>“Getting the pitch checked like this and then doing a single application of Evolution5 worked out less expensive than the routines I’d been following,” said Barry. “More importantly, it took up a lot less of my time and the outfield sward is so much better than I’d previously been able to achieve.”</p><p>Using a tractor-mounted spreader, Barry said the job took just half a day, applying Evolution5 spring treatment at 35 grams per square metre <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314170913?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="450" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314170913?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="450" class="align-right"/></a></p><p>“I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly it took a hold, given how cold it was this spring,” added Barry. “A slow release fertiliser that gets to work at speed is a real bonus in school pitch work.</p><p>“Pitch conditions are not too heavy and I do a twice yearly application of sand top-dressing to keep it that way. The over winter surface actually wears quite well, though there are some worn areas. The real problem I’ve had has been getting establishment of spring-sown seed, and minimising intrusion of meadow grass. In just a few weeks Evolution 5 changed all that and germination was much more effective.”</p><p>During the summer term Barry deals with at least one, sometimes two matches a day on one or other of the pitch’s two tables. In May it staged a benefit match for two of Durham’s top county players, Gordon Muchall and Gareth Breeze. Durham Jets, the county’s limited over side took on a Durham ‘Legends’ side, which included West Indies test star Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara. After the match Barry said that these big names made a point of complimenting him on the quality of the outfield.</p><p>Barry already plans to boost the switch back to a rugby surface in the autumn term by applying Evolution5 12.5.21 autumn fertiliser.</p><p>For further information, please contact Sherriff Amenity on 01638 721 888 or visit <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sherriffamenity.com">www.sherriffamenity.com</a></p><p>For more news and insightful views, you can follow Sherriff Amenity on Twitter @SherriffAmenity</p></div>Government Growth Vouchers programmehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/government-growth-vouchers-programme2014-01-27T14:00:00.000Z2014-01-27T14:00:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314685354?profile=RESIZE_400x&width=400"></div><div><div class="get-started-intro">
<p><span class="font-size-2">This government programme helps small businesses get expert advice on:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span class="font-size-2">finance and cash flow</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-2">recruiting and developing staff</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-2">improving leadership and management skills</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-2">marketing, attracting and keeping customers</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-2">making the most of digital technology</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Some businesses will be randomly chosen to get a voucher for up to £2,000 to help finance specialist business support. You’ll have to match the amount with your own funds.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">You’ll be asked to take part in surveys to find out how the programme has helped you.</span></p>
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<p class="visuallyhidden"><span class="font-size-2"><a href="https://www.gov.uk/apply-growth-vouchers?utm_content=buffer2dfad&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer#what-you-need-to-know">What you need to know</a></span></p>
<p id="get-started" class="get-started group"><span class="font-size-2"><a href="https://smallbusinessgrowthvouchers.service.gov.uk/eligibility-check" rel="external" class="button">Start now</a></span></p>
</div>Record number of horticulturists seeking help from Perennialhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/record-number-of-horticulturists-seeking-help-from-perennial2013-06-03T16:16:49.000Z2013-06-03T16:16:49.000ZLandscape Juicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/LandscapeJuice<div><p>As the UK job market and economy continue to struggle, an increasing number of people working in horticulture are finding themselves faced with debt problems. Last year Perennial, the national charity for people working in horticulture and their families, saw a 25% increase in the number of debt clients it helped. The charity also reported a shift toward younger people seeking its help, with 86% of its new clients during 2012 under retirement age.</p>
<p>Perennial provides help and support during traumatic events such as major illness, debt, redundancy, homelessness and bereavement, as well as disability, severe financial difficulty and old age. During 2012, Perennial helped more people than ever, up 7% on the previous year, with a notable increase in clients from the north of England.</p>
<p>Sheila Thomson, Director of Services at Perennial, commented: “We are proud to have helped more people working in horticulture than ever over the past year, but given the current tough economic times, Perennial’s help is needed more than ever. Our clients see Perennial’s help as a real lifeline and, without it, many of them would see no future. The continuation of our work relies on donations and involvement from the horticulture industry and we have many opportunities for horticulture businesses to get involved and show their support.”</p>
<p>Among the horticulture professions helped by Perennial, the highest proportion were qualified and unqualified gardeners who were not self-employed – these accounted for 27% of clients. The next most represented profession was landscapers, which covered almost 22% of people helped. A category that is on the increase is groundsmen and greenkeepers, which now represent over 12% of clients. Another 12% were jobbing gardeners and the remainder was a mixture of estate gardeners, designers, arboriculturists, market gardeners and nursery people.</p>
<p>As well as an increase in numbers, the increase in complexity of individual cases was also very marked in 2012. This has been attributed to the ongoing changes to the benefits system and the impact of the economic downturn on people’s personal circumstances. Perennial caseworkers identified £636,000 worth of benefits that its clients were entitled to and assisted them in accessing these, compared to £543,000 in 2011.</p>
<p>The help Perennial offers includes financial support, debt advice, help with housing problems, care for the ill or elderly and support for children of horticulturists. Each individual’s circumstances are different, but their contact with Perennial usually begins with a visit from a professionally trained caseworker to help find a solution and offer support for their particular situation. Perennial also offers bursaries for horticulture students who are in need of financial support through its Lironi Training Fund.</p>
<p>Originally established as the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Fund in 1839, the national occupational charity for horticulturists was re-branded as Perennial in 2003 and now reaches out to anyone who works in horticulture, including landscapers, gardeners, tree surgeons and parks and grounds staff and their families for life.</p>
<p>A lifeline… What clients have said about Perennial:<br />
“To be honest I was at the end of my tether and I thought if this is my life, I don’t want it anymore. Perennial took the rock off me.”</p>
<p>“I don’t know what I would have done without Perennial. I was at the bottom of a pit, mentally, physically and financially. Perennial has been a real life saver for me.”</p>
<p>Get involved:</p>
<p>All of Perennial’s work depends entirely on voluntary donations from the horticulture industry and the garden-loving public. There are various opportunities for horticulture businesses to get involved and help the work that Perennial does, in particular by becoming a ‘Perennial Partner’ or by joining ‘Investors in Perennial’. The work Perennial does also relies heavily on its teams of volunteers and people are being actively encouraged to get involved this way.</p>
<p>For more information, visit: <a href="http://www.perennial.org.uk">www.perennial.org.uk</a></p>
<p>Follow Perennial on Twitter: @PerennialGRBS</p>
</div>The Threat of Phytophthora gets worse - Time to turn to the practitioner for help.https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/the-threat-of-phytophthora2010-11-06T18:00:00.000Z2010-11-06T18:00:00.000ZPaysage Durablehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/PaysageDurable<div>This is a scary time for European trees, since it was first discovered, <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum"><i>Phytophthora ramorum</i></a> and some of its <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.scientificsocieties.org/aps/proceedings/sod/Papers/Brasier/default.htm">relatives</a> have not abated. The spread of the disease has not been halted despite some serious investment and efforts by the FC and DEFRA in the UK and their European counterparts. Recent news that the spread is as a result of sporangia in Larch plantations is a massive new problem.<div>With most EU countries now adopting austerity measures or cuts to public spending, how much will the budgets of the organisations dealing with this problem be affected. This is already answerable and we know that funding has been dramatically reduced and will continue to be reduced.</div><div>However how much are the public involved in the assistance to halt the spread of the disease and also how much are the practitioners involved? How much are the nursery and horticultural industry responsible for the outbreak of <i>P. ramorum</i> and other diseases in the first place? And as such what measures should we in the industry be taking.</div><div>The FC have produced guidelines and introduced what appears to be an excellent and comprehensive package - advocating increased vigilance and following discovery serious efforts to curb spread through cleaning of tools, clothing, vehicles and staff. Following removal of the infected plants, r<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcreplantingrecommendations.pdf/$FILE/fcreplantingrecommendations.pdf">eplanting instructions</a> are provided. Financial aid is also given to landowners who have large outbreaks.</div><div>This does not alleviate the frustration many practitioners and owners must feel about being unable to stop the spread of the disease in the first place.</div><div>It was evident to some that an outbreak of <i><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2008/12/map_of_the_week_killer_fungus.html">P. kernovia</a></i> in Cornwall was spreading in localised areas away from land that saw public access on a large scale but that <i>P. ramorum</i> seemed to occur in areas which did see significant public access. On one plant I saw that had been affected it was evident that the Rhododendron in question had been clipped for cuttings by someone who did not work on the estate in question. Dirty secateurs by a cutting thief? The suggestion for controls to persons, animals and vehicles moving in and out of areas with the disease has been suggested plenty of times but restrictions have not been forthcoming in any tangible amount.</div><div>Media reaction has been largely good, the fear and horror angle of these diseases appeals to the public and consequently much has been written - surely aiding those tasked with trying to halt the diseases. Or maybe the cynics amongst us will think that this publicity was counter productive, media hype about a threat that is hardly the end of the world, leading to a slow down in funding.</div><div>With the recent news about the spread and the fact that budgets will certainly be lowered now it is surely the time to trust the practitioners to do more than just report on the disease and clean their boots regularly.</div><div>The current position of the UK land industry is well placed to assist: It is largely made up of smaller, localised but highly knowledgeable professionals. Many of whom are trusted by their clients to a degree unseen in many other industries. With a threat as great as this it is surely essential to arm those already trained in horticulture and land based industry with more than a 'mopping up' information sheet. The practitioners could already be out there helping to ensure; new planting is carried out to minimise the risks; checking up on the supply chain of plants; removing highly susceptible plants from contact with important native and ornamental trees and other significant specimens; warning clients directly; testing products and having the right to impose restrictions on high risk areas when concerned without waiting in consultation, etc.,</div><div>Quangos have frequently kept operations to themselves, but with these new threats and with the budget cuts looming it is surely time to allow the practitioners to relieve some of the burden of the work ahead in fighting these diseases. Indeed the existing base of practitioners, their knowledge and access to materials and different techniques specific for different regions is surely a good place to look for potential solutions or experimentation in reducing the continued spread.</div><div><br/><div><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.paysagedurable.com">Paysage Durable</a></div><div><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314154662?profile=original">pressrelease_forest20110307.doc</a></div></div></div>Growing rural enterprises.https://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/growing-rural-enterprises2009-10-11T10:00:00.000Z2009-10-11T10:00:00.000ZLawncare-4u.co.ukhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/RobinAinsworth<div><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.growingruralenterprise.co.uk/news.html">http://www.growingruralenterprise.co.uk/news.html</a>here is a link to a business-link free seminar i attended last week (photo of me page),but you can look at the 'homepage' i think from this.its for staffordshire/shropshire but there may be a local similar thing business-link are doing in your area.it was an informative day and good to meet people in the same sector.i hope this helps others in reviewing their business for 2010.Robin Ainsworth <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.growingruralenterprise.co.uk/news.html" target="_blank"></a><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gardens4u.co.uk" target="_blank"></a></div>cchttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/6660693_BlogPost_251532009-08-10T06:00:00.000Z2009-08-10T06:00:00.000Zrobert lewishttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/robertlewis<div>d d ddcd</div>Welcome to the Landscape Juice Networkhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/welcome-to-the-landscape-juice2008-09-28T08:30:00.000Z2008-09-28T08:30:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div><p><img style="float: right;" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3284612707?profile=original" />Welcome to the Landscape Juice Network.<br />
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My name is Phil Voice and I have created this site to help professional gardeners, landscapers, designers, product manufacturers and suppliers [and also private gardeners and home owners] who might be looking for inspiration, help and advice.<br />
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At the core of the site lies a very powerful search engine friendly matrix, which means any content (and this gets stronger and stronger by the day) that you put up is being picked up by search engines, meaning it can easily be found by others looking for information.<br />
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It is likely that anyone searching on the internet for topics, geographical locations and people that are linked into here, will be picked up in advance of anywhere else. And because it is the sister site of <a href="http://www.landscapejuice.com">Landscape Juice</a>, which has over <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">2000</span> <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">9,000</span> <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">87,000</span> 100,000 items of information and advice built into it, the effect is heightened enormously.<br />
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<b>Participation</b><br />
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I hope that you feel comfortable and confident enough to participate by adding information that you may consider to be of interest and of use to others. Bear in mind that we all know something that someone else doesn't and vice versa so please, however small or trivial you might feel it is, please add anything you feel could be of use to someone else.<br />
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Please also feel free to <a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2074886%3ABlogPost%3A2489">link out to any other website</a> on the internet which enforces or strengthens what you are saying. It may be to a photograph to help with an explanation or it may be a news item that is relevant to the discussion.<br />
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<a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/xn/detail/u_thisfrenchlife">Craig McGinty</a> has written a section about <a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2074886%3ABlogPost%3A2495">tips on using the site</a> which will help in getting you started. The tips page is always being updated so please check back regularly.<br />
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<a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/notes/Landscape_Network_Green_Tick">The Green Tick Logo</a><br />
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You will have noticed the green tick in the left hand side bar. This is a voluntary scheme for any member who joins here. The ethos behind it is that you if you are going to put yourself and your company up for scrutiny in a public place such as this network, then your intention is to provide the best possible service that you can.<br />
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Feel free to <a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/notes/Landscape_Network_Green_Tick">add the green tick logo to your own website</a> and to give customers the opportunity to check you out, link to your profile page on the network.<br />
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If you have any questions, suggestions or problems using the site then please do not hesitate to contact me.<br />
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Kind regards<br />
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<a href="http://landscapejuice.ning.com/profile/PhilipVoice" target="_self">Phil Voice</a></p>
</div>A free lead generating service for youhttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profiles/blogs/6660693_BlogPost_240222008-07-14T13:00:00.000Z2008-07-14T13:00:00.000ZPhil Voicehttps://landscapejuicenetwork.com/profil/philvoice<div><a href="http://www.landscapejuice.com/2008/07/finding-a-lands.html">Finding a Landscaper</a> <img width="202" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3314099554?profile=RESIZE_320x320" alt="" width="150" height="110" style="float: right;" />I have been searching for that 'Killer App' since I started this network and I have been determined to link and lever the considerable traffic that arrives on the Landscape Juice Blog. I have also held several discussions with founder members here in a bid to establish what they ultimately wish to gain from the membership. The feedback, which has been extremely useful, has flagged up one need in particular and that is to find a way of generating landscaping leads directly from the public. Today sees the start of this service and it is hoped, after an initial one month testing of the system, will be expanded further. It is early days so feedback will be needed but the essence of this concept is simplicity. The enquiring client will post their details into a simple form on the Landscape Juice site - after which it will be sent to participating Landscapers, Garden Maintenance operatives and Garden Designers via our internal mailing system. Only those who are signed up can receive the initial lead, however, you may forward on the email to a colleague or friend should the details not match with what you can offer or if you are too busy to respond. The important part is that you respond quickly and if you are unable to deal then pass it to someone you feel can do so. This concept has been used by <a href="http://www.helpareporter.com/">findareporter.com</a> and has virally, after starting on Facebook, reached 14,000 recipients and is now mailed out three times a day, seven days a week. Please email me any feedback via the site email service. Good luck - Phil
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