how do others manage when they are getting behind due to bad weather

how do other manage them they get behind due to changable weather conditions we are having lots of heavy showers in cambridgeshire at the moment which causing a back log of work just had one customer on the phone saying that he does not care about anyone esle i got go to him

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David if you have domestic lawns that have still not been cut I would suggest you get on the case! All of mine have been getting cut for at least 4-6 weeks.

ditto....

Gordon

David Cox said:

I work even when its raining - thats what my etesia is for - I can cut grass in all but the worst rain.

For maintenance I usually work late till 7pm to catch up if I've fallen behind due to weather. As with this week though, when the forecast is particularly bad, I go to some customers lawns a day early, get the grass cut, and then return in the rain to do the borders and weeding. This way over a 3 day period all the customers for that period get their visit, but split over 2 to accommodate the weather.

For bigger one - off jobs, where weather or un expected underground disasters (Buried crap and utilities) the job can be come "Ex-diary" as its called, where it has to be fitted in around on going commitments, otherwise it could be like a pack of dominoes and go from being one job running late, to 3-4 jobs all running late, and that quickly becomes messy. Basically be like a tree - Compartmentalise delays so they do not cause other delays.

I got hit with hail yesterday, had to shelter under a carport - TBH even with very wet conditions I've found my Etesia copes fine, the only down site is boots can leave dints in lawns if your not very careful during a prolonged wet spell.

I wasnt aware cylinder mowers cope with wet grass better than normal rotaries?



   Wet weather is not all that bad ..

.......grows grass extremely well .......encourages neighbours to want  a quote when their machines are not up to the job ......... keeps me cool instead of overheating on hot days.

Good light waterproofs and a hard hat that sheds the water away are my self defence.

Gordon

one i did for the first time today since the end of September and they still wanted to Waite till the end of the month ? i have one or two that want to knock me off as soon as possible and start as late as possible

Dan Frazer Gardening said:

David if you have domestic lawns that have still not been cut I would suggest you get on the case! All of mine have been getting cut for at least 4-6 weeks.

Your based near me David, Boston Spa / Wetherby area I take it? 2 Local gardeners have just thrown in the towel - get leafleting Collingham (I'm not - I cant fit any more in at the moment) and pick up some customers who value your abilities!

Also In that area there are alot of customers who do their own gardens, but Like to buy in the Lawn care (Feed n weed, aeration, scarification etc) so you have plenty of chance to get good custom their.

Im surprised I havent bumped into you, I spend 2-and half days a fortnight in Boston.

Hi David. What happened there then? Retired, injured or just had enough ?

David Cox said:

Your based near me David, Boston Spa / Wetherby area I take it? 2 Local gardeners have just thrown in the towel 

Apparently 1 guy never came back in spring, and the customer could not get hold, eventually she was told by another customer that the guy had given up. The other gardener actually told his customer in November he wouldnt be coming back - 2 year old business (Wetherby based) and couldnt make the ends meet. I dont know any real gritty details, tbh I didnt ask.

Its not as easy to run a garden maintenance business and make a living out of it as some people think. 

Hi David,

As an aside, I read your, 'tbh I didnt ask' phrase and thought I actually know that abbreviation, hooray!

But I've racked my 3 brain cells for years to fanthom out 'BTW' and failed

now I looked it up and found this website

http://www.internetslang.com/BTW-meaning-definition.asp

quite interesting, for someone like me, who gets a text message maybe once a month, and finds it faster to walk there, than try to write a text!

David Cox said:

Apparently 1 guy never came back in spring, and the customer could not get hold, eventually she was told by another customer that the guy had given up. The other gardener actually told his customer in November he wouldnt be coming back - 2 year old business (Wetherby based) and couldnt make the ends meet. I dont know any real gritty details, tbh I didnt ask.

Award for The Understatement of the Year goes to .........Stuart!! 

If I had a pound for every time I've uttered that phrase, I'd be a rich man.  Every year a new crop of hopefuls start up – with an attrition rate worse than a newly hatched turtle!

Our new start-ups have to contend with early retirees topping up their already ample pension, the shift workers looking for a little extra cash, as well as breaking into a market of good, reliable and experienced contractors – it must feel like pushing water uphill!

I tell you what, it can be hard graft – or ‘challenging’ as the public sector would say, but if you can make it work, it’s not a bad way to earn a living.



Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance said:

Its not as easy to run a garden maintenance business and make a living out of it as some people think. 

Thanks for not telling me what it meant.... lol  

 Anyone that uses abbreviations on a forum (apart from lol ) should have their 

  damn fingers chopped off !!!!   LSOB

  It used to be acceptable with texting to keep the cost down, but with 5000

  texts a month on each package, it has now reverted back to LSOB......   lol

 

Geoffrey King North Yorkshire said:

Hi David,

As an aside, I read your, 'tbh I didnt ask' phrase and thought I actually know that abbreviation, hooray!

But I've racked my 3 brain cells for years to fanthom out 'BTW' and failed

now I looked it up and found this website

http://www.internetslang.com/BTW-meaning-definition.asp

quite interesting, for someone like me, who gets a text message maybe once a month, and finds it faster to walk there, than try to write a text!

David Cox said:

Apparently 1 guy never came back in spring, and the customer could not get hold, eventually she was told by another customer that the guy had given up. The other gardener actually told his customer in November he wouldnt be coming back - 2 year old business (Wetherby based) and couldnt make the ends meet. I dont know any real gritty details, tbh I didnt ask.

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