higgins 75 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 I'm looking for something to get out of working shifts and into a self employment capacity,and lately i've been doing the garden at home and have really got to enjoy it,so i was wondering if anyone can tell me if this is a good option and will i earn enough money to replace a job,also will there be enough people wanting theire gardens doing,any advice at all would be appreciated,thanks, Higgins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chimp 299 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 loads of money in grass cutting round this way Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted June 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 loads of money in grass cutting round this way Thanks Chimp,what sort of fees are charged for grass cutting,just for my future info,cheers?, Higgins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted June 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 my old fella done it a few years ago when he got layed off,good work through summer if you live in/near the right area's and advertise well,he basically charged £10 an hour as a guidleline for the gardens but in winter the only real work he could get was fencing. he wasnt a big time gardener just cut grass cut back branches and bushes borders etc because work can be very thin on the ground come winter i'd advise stay working until then and buy all the equipment you need e.g petrol mower ,strimmer,van if you dont have one etc then you can get a lot of work through summer we found advertising posting fliers door to door worked best and was cheap also if you can get to know some gardeners who are established they can give you the gardens they havent got time to cover and you can return the favour later on. good luck with it however you play it Thanks Blan,i was intending to do more than just cutting etc; is there a demand for landscaping as in people need something different done to make their gardens more attractive and functional? Higgins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 517 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 i know someone who makes a good living from gardening. He does it all mind, from hedge laying and grass cutting to laying paths. In my mind he is more of a handyman but he advertises as a gardener and isnt short of a bob or two from it. If your able to put your hand to most things then give it a go, A lot of old folk need help in their gardens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chimp 299 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 i am getting made redundant quite soon and have been offered a bit of farm work but im debating to do a bit of grass cutting myself as a bit of pocket money. the lads round here are charging £25 - 30 for about an hours worth of cutting and strimming so if you can get a few in the same area without travelling you would be ok , but it's never quite that clear cut as you need to get the work first , get the flyers out there etc.. atb and hope it works out ok for you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian71 3,187 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 (edited) my old fella done it a few years ago when he got layed off,good work through summer if you live in/near the right area's and advertise well,he basically charged £10 an hour as a guidleline for the gardens but in winter the only real work he could get was fencing. he wasnt a big time gardener just cut grass cut back branches and bushes borders etc because work can be very thin on the ground come winter i'd advise stay working until then and buy all the equipment you need e.g petrol mower ,strimmer,van if you dont have one etc then you can get a lot of work through summer we found advertising posting fliers door to door worked best and was cheap also if you can get to know some gardeners who are established they can give you the gardens they havent got time to cover and you can return the favour later on. good luck with it however you play it . Edited June 20, 2010 by christian71 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian71 3,187 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 my old fella done it a few years ago when he got layed off,good work through summer if you live in/near the right area's and advertise well,he basically charged £10 an hour as a guidleline for the gardens but in winter the only real work he could get was fencing. he wasnt a big time gardener just cut grass cut back branches and bushes borders etc because work can be very thin on the ground come winter i'd advise stay working until then and buy all the equipment you need e.g petrol mower ,strimmer,van if you dont have one etc then you can get a lot of work through summer we found advertising posting fliers door to door worked best and was cheap also if you can get to know some gardeners who are established they can give you the gardens they havent got time to cover and you can return the favour later on. good luck with it however you play it Thanks Blan,i was intending to do more than just cutting etc; is there a demand for landscaping as in people need something different done to make their gardens more attractive and functional? Higgins. Not another would be landscaper with no experince stick to grass cutting and pulling weeds out and laeve the landscaping to the proper trained lads Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scottishlass 57 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 i would take the farming before the gardening. My other half worked as a shepherd on a farm he got paid off found another job then got paid off again. he has now went self employed best move he has made never been stopped always cattle needing fed in some shed during the winter ,dykes,fences needing repaired Quote Link to post Share on other sites
christian71 3,187 Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 its hardly rocket science,christian71 higgins-it depends where you work what i found was the more upper-middle class areas would be very anal about there gardens and then try and haggle the price and split hairs about how long you took ('i thought it was £10 per hour so how can it be £20 for 1hr 55mins')and just generally be awkward wheras as a general rule the working class areas was just in cut the grass trim borders etc give you the money and your out. there is demand for it but you need to advertise like i said i found fliers worked well,also as i said before keep your eye out for people like yourself who are established lots of your clients will be to old to garden themselves so they get to know and trust their gardener and will indefinitely take the person recommended to them if they have too much on to do it themselves,also if you get a big fencing job you could even work together on it. i'd really say leave it till next year now,save up buy the kit you need and try and get to know a few lads already at it,there really is very little to do in winter except the odd bit of fencing and maintenance. NOT ROCKET SCIENCE DO ANY FLOWER SHOW GARDEN AND LET THEM BE THE JUDGE YOUED BE LAUGHED OF THE PARK GOOGLE CEALSEA FLOWER SHOW GARDENS TO SEE PROPER BUILT GARDENS BUILT BY PROPER LANDSCAPERS MAINTENANCE IS NOT LANSCAPING Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Christian71 thanks very much for your advice,although i'm no expert at flower displays i will look into it,i'm more interested in leaving a factory job to do gardening instead,Blan your advice is very helpful,i guess i would be into all aspects of gardening,don't get me wrong but if i don't have experience of a customers specific needs i would be willing to consult another experienced gardener the main objective out of my desire to go self employed as a gardener is doing something i would enjoy instead of factory work and choosing my hours and rate of pay.The future is indeed looking bleak from now on,and i believe more people are choosing to stay put and do up their homes and gardens,as i have had to do so.I also have a few strings to my bow and will add many more,my customers will benefit in many ways if i can find something extra for them as we get chatting.THE FUTURE IS NOT ORANGE,IT IS GREEN, Higgins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I suppose what i really need to know is can i make the transition from factory worker to self employed gardener and will gardening pay enough to replace the fatory job? Higgins. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stubby 175 Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Ive done it as one of my many jobs, enjoyable in the summer, with young housewives bringing you out cold drinks, could never have made a living from it though, remember, if your ever laying turf, its green side up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
higgins 75 Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Ive done it as one of my many jobs, enjoyable in the summer, with young housewives bringing you out cold drinks, could never have made a living from it though, remember, if your ever laying turf, its green side up Stubby did you not take advantage of the women serving those cold drinks?I guess that's part of the attraction of doing this kind of job? :thumbs:I think i too would be distracted when laying turf if scantilly clad bored hosewife's are serving me cold drinks,i guess it's better to sow seeds instead, Higgins Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dpb82uk 138 Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 you maybe get your self self sum pest control work doing gardening like mole traping and stuf like that do it part time and see if the work picks up Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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