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anyone willing to take me out for a day to learn a thing or two?
I did two or three gardens with general maintenance, but I am being caught out on some basic things e.g. cutting roses, basic pruning, cutting azaleas will traveketc
Anyone take me out for a day (who does this for a job) and show me some of the absolute basics? I live in Bournemouth, will travel 2 hrs.
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Buy some books too? I see myself as a total amateur learning in the garden, but I could tackle the jobs mentioned.
Lots of YouTube videos online - but I don't think you should be charging people if you've had no formal training or at least years and years of experience - I've been gardening for years, but I'd not charge anyone for doing anything - however I know times are hard out there for some folk and sometimes you have to just turn your hand to almost anything
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Sorry for the late reply. Think I learn best by doing it and getting stuck in. Not a great reader. I learnt so much from a friend who came and looked at my garden job and pointed out things needing doing. There's a college in Dorchester which I could enrol in, but I am sure if someone took me along for a day or two would learn loads. I live in Bournemouth, and am willing to travel up to 2 hrs and work for free?
College would probably be your best bet Jon.
There are gardening book like the RHS step-by-step Gardening Techniques.
It does have lots of text but half of it is just pictures and a brief description of what to do. Read the text if you want to be an expert, do what I do and go through the step-by-step pictures if you just want to do a job and get on.
I can't see that many gardeners would feel that they could pass on much in a couple of days? Surely it is all too season specific to really get you competent at tackling the jobs you would have to face in the future?
Jon, I started "gardening" when I left school . I got a job at a local garden centre working in the plant sales dept. With customers asking you questions all day long, you soon learn about plants. Maybe you could try that for a day or so a week.
I worked as a garden centre manager , then left , became a gardener, went back to college and qualified as a garden designer. It all takes time. For me , the most important thing is plant knowledge. I cringe at some of the mutilated specimens I see in some people's garden who have paid for "help"
I wish you every success.
A good rule is, don't go mad with the shears unless you know what you are doing. A little careful trimming can sometimes be all that is needed.
Bournemouth is stuffed full of elderly people who need someone to care for their gardens and not all of them have the money to splash out on someone who is qualified.
Good luck and I hope you find a kind soul who will show you the ropes.
Good luck, Jon, stick at it, mate, as a 74 year old self employed nurseryman with an intensely planted garden my advice would be to offer your services free for a few hours a week to a local jobbing gardener, now is the ideal time of year to get stuck in. Start by learning the basics, lawn mowing, lawn edging, feeding, weeding, pruning then you're off. Be tidy and neat and punctual. The degrees and diplomas mean nothing.
Hear hear Pansyface,
He doesn't need insurance to ride a horse and wear a stetson, but he might need a licence for the gun!
Get real mate, who are you kidding with no quals and a name like jon smith? Ha ha
There you go girls................nip that one in the bud a bit sharpish!