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Web Design Virgin

I am presently moderately mind-dead having decided to get online and build my own website (had a hosting account for months). I have started this blog, because by publicising my intent means I have to get on with it, and my experiences could be of us
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Comments: 2

An honest blog... and 'green' gardening tips

After posting my last blog (see "Who's bloggin' now?" on LJN), rumours abounded that I was actually Anne Widdecombe on some weird mission to ingratiate herself with the gardening gliterati on LJN.... true that these rumours were started by the lovely
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Comments: 2

Who's bloggin' now?

While 'ladies of a certain age' across the nation are settling down after the 6pm dose of Mr Titchmarsh... 'isn't Alan just lovely,.... sigh....', etc. Carla Bruni and Stephen Fry have tiptoed across my synapses met in the middle (where there's more
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Comments: 3

Garden Design Software

Now I am very computer literate, familiar with digital photography and its associated colour management. However when it comes to garden design - I believe listening to the client is the key, I do this, translate this to them verbally, with sketches
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Comments: 6

Urban Gardens

I want to let the network know about my blog, Urban Gardens (www.urbangardensweb.com) and ask if there are any of you out there who would like to contribute a guest post about vermiculture and composting, or any other subject of interest for that mat
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Comments: 6

A home for old bathtubs.....

Fereday and I spent a couple of hours yesterday weeding on a friend's allotment. I haven't been on an allotment since living at 'husband the first's' mother's house, a period I have largely blocked out of my memory, so I don't really recall what it w
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Comments: 0

Morris MayDay

The 1st of May was a bit of a landmark for me this year, it was the first time I'd seen the dawn from 'the early bird' side... previously, the sun popping up has largely been a feature when I've stayed up too late rather than something which I got up
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Comments: 10
I knew that Dale would be on site earlier than me today, as I went to buy grass seed for patching up along the back of the raised beds and Dale's usual jam doughnut's.Yesterday I planted up the majority of the garden which required deer and rabbit re
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Filthy, diiiiirrty creatures.....

So a couple of months ago, our bicycling-mad neighbour comes up with an offer.... He and the Missus are planning on spending August 'in the saddle'.... there's a spare raised bed in the garden.... would Fereday be interested..... had I not come into
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Comments: 2

Open forum activity

Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Gadgets that were surprisingly useful: catcher on hedge trimmer
"Bought one of those myself a year or so back for my HSA86    Really handy for doing tops and you can add/remove it in seconds..................... never bothered with the metal clips..... not sure why we even need them as it works fine without…"
1 hour ago
Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"Thank you that's very helpful. The only thing I didn't like with it was the handle seemed low down and I'm only 5' 8"."
1 hour ago
Mjc replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"Hi, I bought the honda hrx476 Hy this year. Very pleased with it. It's light weight and good balance makes it so comfortable to use. Seems to work well on the half mulch half collect setting. Cutting some fairly wet grass last week and the pick up…"
1 hour ago
James replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"Price per visit.
Tell the customer it will be X amount per visit.
In you head charge £30ph or £35/£40 whatever it is worth and work out how long it will take you.
Half a day is half a days money.
View the garden. Take pictures. Tell the customer you…"
2 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"How do you do price work for a weekly maintenance job though? Part of how these bigger clients justify knocking me down a bit is that they are 52 weeks a year, lawn jobs are only march - October really. "
3 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"Wow that's impressive, what fuel do you it in it? The engine that has failed on my Hayter is Honda, but that's because I hadn't checked the oil level."
4 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"Exactly, you the supplier are in charge of the cost not the customer"
4 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"The underlying issue here is charging by the hour.
The only way to achieve realistic rates is price work, the customer will always have control of the cost along with a perception of what they "think" is a good hourly rate ( or bargain) . The odds…"
5 hours ago
Honey Badger replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"Vics right there's money in machines.
Do not negotiate rates with new customers what you want to charge is up to you, its not for them to set the rates you are offering the service. If you don't get what you need walk away to another that will…"
5 hours ago
Honey Badger replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"The decks are very strong with no rusting issues. Honda claims in there marketing as tough as a rhinos hide."
5 hours ago
Vic 575 replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"I have an Efco self-propelled hand mower. I am not here to recommend Efco particularly, but rather the Honda engine that is fitted. The Honda engine is as sweet today as when I first bought the mower in, wait for it, 2005. So 19 years on and the…"
6 hours ago
Vic 575 replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"Hi Lee,
Yes, I think this is the problem with general gardening, the more horticultural mixed type of work. It is hard to justify very high hourly rates for pruning roses and planting borders. I can do and have done all of this type of work, but…"
6 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to James's discussion What is average cost for mowing a garden?
"Hi Vic. Yes I realise that I'm not charging enough, even after 7 years of self employment (20 years in horticulture). I don't really do lawn only jobs, I prefer to do the whole garden, but still £20/hr isn't really enough. I recently got a new…"
8 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"Oh actually it sounds like Polystrong is the same as Xenoy. "
9 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"This is very encouraging! I don't know whether I should go for the bigger machine with the Xenoy deck or the 19" Polytough. I'm a bit nervous about spending that much money on a plastic deck, if I'm spending that kind of money I expect a good ten…"
9 hours ago
Lee Davis replied to Lee Davis's discussion New mower time!
"Thanks for that James. I love the build quality of the Weibangs but it sounds like Honda might be more practical for me, although the grinding noise is a bit worrying, isn't it under warranty? "
9 hours ago
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New mower time!

Hi guys. I've been in business 7 years and it appears to be time to buy a new mower. I've been using a Hayter 41 Pro roller and AS 420 Superclip mulching mower, the combo has worked well. But I managed to wreck the engine on the Hayter and it's £530…

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19 Replies · Reply by Lee Davis 1 hour ago
Views: 167
PRO

Overseeding

Just after some input from you guysGoing to be doing a lawn scarification and overseed/top dress but because of the naff weather we have had it has taken me ages to get the weedkiller down on the lawn. I have to wait 4 weeks before seeding and that…

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16 Replies · Reply by Catherine Rose yesterday
Views: 465