An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Cullompton, Exeter, Devon.

Day 12

View previous day here

Coffee.

Video footage applying the scratch coat

It's not until you watch yourself at work you realise your little habits, it would seem I like to tap the plastering spot board each time I fill the hawk, this is to ensure my steel trowel is clean for the next lay on.

Concreting the reflection pond

Concreting the reflection pond

Whilst I'm applying the scratch coat to the garden feature walls in the Marshall's kitchen area and the raised seating area the team mix the concrete for the base and footings to the reflection pond, 200mm depth of concrete in all will allow four courses of 225mm wide block work with 10mm joints, bringing the top of finish block work to 72mm below finished paving level.

Plastering the scratch coat

Plastering the scratch coat

I have completed the render scratch coat, all but one small area, now where's my Jewson lintel, I can only assume the missing lintel is walking the 5.7 miles from the Tiverton branch to my Cullompton landscaping project, perhaps I seek to much by means of an explanatory  phone call ??

Whilst I await I'll feed the last perimeter up-lighter cable through the electric ducting to the seven raised Marshall's black limestone planters.

Ducting draw cord connection

Ducting draw cord connection

I bend 200mm of the cable and clamp tight, I fasten the internal draw cord from the duct to the clamped loop of the electrical cable and wrap tight with duct tape.

At the furthest point of ducting from the draw cord connection I pull the cord slowly through the ducting, once the cable is fed through the ducting I include 500mm at each end for the electrician. Plastic is wrapped at both ends of the duct and the cable is wound up and secured.

Cable pulling

Cable pulling

This simple device of two road pins at the same height and a small bar or broom handle assists me when pulling the cable.

Still waiting

WAITING !!

Where's my Jewson lintel. 

Where's my Jewson lintel

Where be my lintel to I know where he be ?, actually I don't.

This kind of poor service would never occur from Phil Skeats at the Newton Abbot branch, what do I have to do to climb ranks in the Tiverton packing order?

Garden reflection pond footing and base

Garden reflection pond footing and base

With guidance from the rotating laser level at dig level I set the laser to 200mm above dig, this level is used through out the concrete pour, once all concrete has been mixed the levelled concrete is tamped and left to cure.

The lintel arrives !!

The lintel arrives !!

YAY 3.45 pm ........ I bed down the lintel and clean down the site.

I detest being in the hands of a sales rep, I call it a day for today.

Tomorrow were not relying on others.

Tomorrows blog:

Garden reflection pond and overflow system build.

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Open forum activity

Ian Harvey replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"I would also look at the feasibility and cost of adding a tow arm and 2nd hand small trailer to your car. This instantly adds to your ability to undertake multiple tool jobs and to remove waste. A gardener in my area has been doing this for decades.…"
45 minutes ago
Sean Clarke replied to crawford smith's discussion Brass trigger,lance and fittings on CP15 Evolution
"I have two sprayers, one with the brass Lance and the other with the plastic one. I have to say, I prefer using the brass one 'upside-down' with the anvil nozzles. It soon becomes very easy to use, requiring only downward pressure from the thumb -…"
1 hour ago
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…
13 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…"
yesterday
Andrew Bentley replied to Andrew Bentley's discussion Finding work
"Thank you for your thoughts and support! 😊"
yesterday
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…"
yesterday
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...😊"
yesterday
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
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Lawn Water Conserver

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…

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0 Replies
Views: 11

Brendon 2000psi pressure washer

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. 

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 29

Finding work

Hi everyone After a couple of years employed as Head of Horticulture for a charity, I decided to return to self employment as a freelance gardener at the end of March. I am struggling to find clients and don't know what to do! I have a website, a My…

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21 Replies · Reply by Ian Harvey 45 minutes ago
Views: 370