Top 5 Beginner tips for a Commercial Gardener

[@paullush4647]

Excellent stuff. My number 1 advice would be look after yourself. Being a gardener is hard work. It's physically demanding and catches up with you over time.

[@jimallan9631]

One more tip from experience , I have a transit and I found on nearly all mowers if you take the bag off and put the mower to its highest setting tilt it back the front wheels reach the floor of the van ,no lifting and its quick 👍

[@LeanneCole-o8k]

Just stumbled across you! I'm second year into my gardening business too. Thanks for the videos! Nice to know I'm not alone here in Suffolk.

[@tgsgardenmaintenance4627]

Leaf bowers are such a time saver. I bought a Makita MM4 handheld from Screwfix as soon as I went self-employed. Excellent blower for the money, since upgraded to what I consider the best handheld blower on the market, the Husqvarna 525BX! For the heavy-duty jobs, I have a Husqvarna 580BTS, it is a bit pricey , but worth every penny!!

[@LongJonSilver]

Great that you've put something that will benefit your health as number one. Your most important tool is your body. Great work.

[@terryspears4756]

Just stumbled across your blogs which are a mirror image of me starting out.I retired just recently as a gardener after 22 years my back told me it’s time to pack in😔the lawn mower the ramp the dog shit etc sounds very familiar.I had several vans large and small but the partner was the best of the rest.Good luck stick to what your doing and don’t let sympathy get in your way,I fell for it loads of times when I first started worried about will I have enough customers but do a good job and the word spreads fast especially with facebook KZbin etc. Terry,Liverpool

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Thanks Terry, some sound advice 👍

[@ferhatbaba6895]

Your a really genuine guy well done good luck in you’re journey , helped me allot

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Thanks mate you too

[@123cupman]

Can't wait to start myself you have given me alot of confidence to start sooner than I thought I would. Keep up the good work👍

[@maintainyourgarden]

Agree with these, I’ve pulled something in my back/neck from what I think is overstretching with the hedgecutters/long hedgecutters. I’m gonna take it easier this year.

[@robertdavies850]

Great video, I'm at the same stage as you, and I'd agree with all the tips you gave! I'd also add another couple - know your limitations, so don't say you can prune a 60 foot lime if you don't know one end of a saw from another, and don't be too upset at losing difficult customers - there's plenty of good ones there, after a while you can keep the ones you want and gradually lose the ones you don't. Keep fighting! 👍

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Thanks mate. I have a video coming out soon along the lines of knowing your limitations so I'd definitely agree with that point

[@CurtisBennett96]

Been binge watching your videos mate lots of very helpful information, just starting up now and so grateful I found this channel! Cheers

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Cheers Curtis, best of luck mate

[@thomasmccullagh8282]

When i started out many years ago,didn't have an awful lot of money tbh always preferred trailers and have had them ever since. Had a small wooden one and physically had to lift it in and out,about a year later saved enough to buy myself a 6x4 galvanised trailer with a tail ramp was best thing i ever did no more lifting unnecessary but at the same time being kind to my back. These days i have a tipping trailer, because we do alot of garden clearances.but i have a 1 ton mini crane installed on the trailer to lift our mowers on and bags of green waste. Is a godsend you really have to look after yr body for sure.

[@brianconnor1810]

Exactly, ramp for mowers. I ended last season with a hernia. Wearing a hernia support belt now, can't get it fixed because of the waiting time as it will be smack bang when I'm busy this season, will have to wait till the end of the year🤞 Felt it for a while and only started using a ramp last year. A case of shutting the gate after the horse has bolted lol....

[@whitevoodooman7276]

I do the wood ramp thing in the same size van makes life well better When stacking them back in van I'll spread them side ways sitting onn where the wheels come up inside the van

[@cosworthization]

BRILLIANT TIP'S!!!! Fantastic video. Happy New Year.

[@danch123]

Great video. My number 1 tip is always health. . . Both physical health and mental health. Definitely look after yourself. All the best for 2023 mate.

[@jimallan9631]

Good vid as always , I've had lots of self propelled mowers but my fav is a push husqvarna royal plastic deck , weights less than 20kilos so easy and light for smaller to medium sized lawns anything big I use a Honda hrx , horses for courses. When I started I thought bigger the better ,not true

[@josephmccole4132]

You've done well. There's no point getting into debt! You gradually get new kit each year. Wait till you get a backpack blower! Stihl BR800! 😀

[@NorthernLycanthrope]

Great advice mate. Gonna get a ramp for my van, my mower is bloody heavy!

[@stevewood7371]

Cheers mate. Great video as always! 👍

[@oopsydaisy4637]

Couldn't agree more. My next purchase is power secateurs to save my hands. Also a mini chainsaw instead of a lopper. I've jut started going the itemised billing route thanks to your videos. It just makes sense. Thanks for the helpful videos!

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Glad you're enjoying them 😊

[@kieronbeard]

Excellent advice all of it 👍 my mower weighs 39kg so definitely need to build a ramp asap

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Get it done mate honestly. My back felt so much better. It creeps up on you as well, in and out 7 8 9 times a day or whatever just for a few seconds. You don't think anything of it but it leaves an impression on your muscles

[@kieronbeard]

@@TheGreyGardener1990 yeah cheers buddy will do thanks for the videos you've been a great help 👍

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

@@kieronbeard cheers 👍

[@chrismaughan7975]

Great vids as usual mate. 👍🏻

[@SlySH123]

Great video mate, keep up the good work

[@grahamtownley3646]

Great advice on starting your own business with Refrence to garden waste how do you deal with the waste if the customer wants it taking away

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Take away in big dumpy sacks and pay to dispose at a local waste facility. Save the sacks up until I have a full van. Google waste carrier licence. I charge £20 per sack

[@JustBens]

Have you done your PA1/6? To use weed killer. Seems a touchy subject for some

[@LS-vy6pm]

Really appreciate your videos. I've been thinking of starting out for a long time now and watching your videos has given me more confidence to take the leap! Just wondered, do you tend to despose of the garden waste for most of your clients and if so, how do you go about it?

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

99% of waste goes into customer bins. Otherwise I went to my local recycle centre (not council tip) and paid to dispose but I believe they have just closed so I'll have to find an alternative

[@Ppp-kk6hw]

I've had surgery on my spine and got bulging discs, I've got disc probllems bottom of my back from lifting lawn mowers for the last 15 years. I've got lower back pain as I'm writing this so be careful

[@sgm-gardenmaintenance7408]

Great video mate.

[@adrianbrewer1708]

Hi there. Happy new year to you. I enjoy your channel and its good to watch your progress. I do some handy man jobs as well as carpentry and wondered how you are getting on with your Wilkes USA pressure washer. I was thinking of getting one to offer a drive way clean for my clients. Please let me know if you think is worth the cash or wether you would choose a different machine now you have had it a while. Keep up the good work. Regards Adrian

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Hi Adrian, I've only used it 6 or 7 times so in terms of longevity I can't really help too much. I have a driveway clean coming up shortly but in terms of performance it's fine for me...someone who uses it a handful of times a year. If I was using it every day I'd invest in a more expensive one, not that it's rubbish or anything though

[@simoncopeland9761]

Do you hold a pa1 and pa6 pesticide license, and a environment agency waste carriers licence ?.

[@ferhatbaba6895]

My questions are do I need a petrol lawn to start the business or would Electiric be enough is there good electric lawns around , same with the grass trimmer , Is there any specific brands and models you would recommend on both petrol and electric, And what size does the trimmer and the lawn has to be , minumum , for a good use

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I'm not too familiar with different models to be honest. I'd personally choose a petrol mower as I've heard electric mowers aren't quite as good. Electric trimmers if you buy a good one would probably be ok. I'd buy an 18" mower, that's good for both smaller and medium sized lawns. Not too heavy

[@andobreslin8735]

I'm going to use a push mower because I want as little machinery as possible. Yes it makes the job a bit longer, but it's more eco friendly and less noise pollution. It's also free Gym. Same as power walking for burning carbs. We need to remove the concept of physical application reduction equals better quality of life. The opposite is true imo. I get the convenience, but more TLC will go far and the clients will see that and be happy to keep offering the work. A leaf blower will be the only powered item I'll be getting 👍🏻

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Whatever works best for you mate 👍

[@Grahams-Grass]

All good tips self propelled 👌🤠😉. My tip would be learn how to fix and maintain your gear there's no point breaking your back all week to have to take it do a repair shop and give it all the way ... I was over a year before I got a blower🙈🙈🙈

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

I keep saying it but repairing them is what I want to learn. Or at least learn how to do a service!

[@Grahams-Grass]

@The Grey Gardener Micks mowers on you tube is a great teacher.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

@@Grahams-Grass cheers will have a look for him

[@robertrhodes2758]

Great video. Do you think 59 is too old to start a gardening business? Probably just grass cutting.

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

Not at all. Only thing anybody of any age needs to ask themselves is if they can handle it physically. If you're good, then go for it mate!

[@robertrhodes2758]

@@TheGreyGardener1990 Do you need to get insurance ?

[@TheGreyGardener1990]

@@robertrhodes2758 Public liability plus obviously any vehicle insurance etc

[@robertblount3143]

Great video. At the end of every month I get a full body massage. The difference this makes is unbelievable to your body