Where I live - there's a huge variety of residents. Single people of both sexes, families with young children, and older people. Lots of people have small gardens and no real interest, so I'd expect they are the kind of people who would be glad of your services. Older people who are unable to do heavier jobs - hedgecutting, tree pruning etc, as well as grass, would also be keen. Many residents have fences rather than hedges, so there's always a bit of scope for painting, and repairing too. The ones I see round here doing grass and 'tidying borders' [ie pushing a hoe along them for five minutes ] seem to have plenty of work, and I doubt if they have a lot of knowledge. I think if you can tailor your services to suit the areas you work in, that would work really well. Being able to offer advice, or how to alter something without being too pushy would certainly be good.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
You may not realise, but there are plenty of elderly people, living on pensions, that are unable to do their garden themselves but wish to have it ket "tidy"!. This is a huge market and if you are fairly (notice i did not say cheaply) I think the word would get around quickly. My parents are in their 90's, I do their garden. This gives them great satisfaction, as throughout their whole life they have loved their garden. I just keep the lawn mowed, pic the fruit and plant some annuals, they love it.
I think it’s a great idea as I’ve been
looking for someone like you to keep my mother’s garden tidy. She has a shed
full of tools she can no longer use.
One thing to be aware of when
dealing with older people if that they be somewhat cautious about letting a
stranger have access to all the tools and items in the garage. At least, that was
a concern my mother had when I searching for a gardener.
Personally, I like getting flyers about
services available in my area but we don’t get too many so maybe that’s why I don’t
mind.
About 4/5 years ago I was desperate for some held, that was before OH took over all the grass maintenance, I tried to get some to help. The only person I could find wanted £50.00 per hour, I wasn’t prepared to pay £150.00 per week to have the grass cut. so If feel you have a chance of making it, then go for it. You can read up on any shrubs or trees the client may need pruning. Just say you’ll be back to do that job. Then study.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I think there will be less suspicion from older people if the recomm comes from word of mouth.
The help I have had has really been invaluable. I think I would have had to pretty much give up most of my vision for the gardens if I didn't have someone to help with heavy work. Even then, I still do my back in when I'm not concentrating.
I'm interested that you say you love gardening. It may just be that I live on a small island, but round here gardener means person with mower or hedge trimmer. Landscape gardener means person who can put in slabs or decking. This work is valuable, of course, especially for older or very busy people, but if you actually want someone who knows a daisy from a dahlia, don't engage these people. I think there will be loads of work for someone who actually gardens.
Gardening can be a seriously profitable business once you've built up to it.
I highly recommend you don't entertain this idea of using customers tools for too long. You can get a useable mower for £300, a strimmer for £150 and hedge trimmer for the same. Just beg and borrow to get you started.
It's no use doing work charitably. You need to make enough to keep your interest. Whether or not you have plant knowledge shouldn't stop you making a living doing the labour intensive jobs of grass, hedges, weeds and border maintenance.
And don't listen to anyone saying "the going rate round 'ere"... I've heard people saying that whilst quietly knowing I'm making 2-3x what they're saying.
So, maybe go with a 6month plan to learn running the business, then focus on making decent cash from it.
The key thing, most important of all, is DON'T CHARGE BY THE HOUR... AT ALL. EVER. Agree what work you'll do, quote a set price, crack on with it.
Maybe at the start an hourly rate will let you relax and learn, but it is a ball and chain on any garden business.
Posts
The ones I see round here doing grass and 'tidying borders' [ie pushing a hoe along them for five minutes ] seem to have plenty of work, and I doubt if they have a lot of knowledge.
I think if you can tailor your services to suit the areas you work in, that would work really well. Being able to offer advice, or how to alter something without being too pushy would certainly be good.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My parents are in their 90's, I do their garden. This gives them great satisfaction, as throughout their whole life they have loved their garden. I just keep the lawn mowed, pic the fruit and plant some annuals, they love it.
I think it’s a great idea as I’ve been looking for someone like you to keep my mother’s garden tidy. She has a shed full of tools she can no longer use.
One thing to be aware of when dealing with older people if that they be somewhat cautious about letting a stranger have access to all the tools and items in the garage. At least, that was a concern my mother had when I searching for a gardener.
Personally, I like getting flyers about services available in my area but we don’t get too many so maybe that’s why I don’t mind.
so If feel you have a chance of making it, then go for it. You can read up on any shrubs or trees the client may need pruning. Just say you’ll be back to do that job. Then study.
I highly recommend you don't entertain this idea of using customers tools for too long. You can get a useable mower for £300, a strimmer for £150 and hedge trimmer for the same. Just beg and borrow to get you started.
It's no use doing work charitably. You need to make enough to keep your interest. Whether or not you have plant knowledge shouldn't stop you making a living doing the labour intensive jobs of grass, hedges, weeds and border maintenance.
And don't listen to anyone saying "the going rate round 'ere"... I've heard people saying that whilst quietly knowing I'm making 2-3x what they're saying.
So, maybe go with a 6month plan to learn running the business, then focus on making decent cash from it.
The key thing, most important of all, is DON'T CHARGE BY THE HOUR... AT ALL. EVER. Agree what work you'll do, quote a set price, crack on with it.
Maybe at the start an hourly rate will let you relax and learn, but it is a ball and chain on any garden business.