Forum

Replies

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  Kieran Ray January 10, 2010 at 7:06pm

  Yes I'm sure they will profit and so will we, When I do planting for people I always offer a guarantee, If plants die due to extreme weather, heavy snow, heavy raid that causes water logging then the plants are usually replaced but not at my cost, also there will be people this year that have probably lost large plants and I'm sure that will profit me as I offer a specimen planting service. Hopefully we will be quids in!
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  claudia de yong January 10, 2010 at 7:12pm

  Sounds like everyone is looking forward to the thaw then!
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  claudia de yong January 10, 2010 at 7:46pm

  I think it will be a good opportunity to contact clients even if you have finished a garden in the last few months to ask if there was any damage and plan the re-planting. Even if new work is slow to come in, at least you will be kept busy and earning.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening January 10, 2010 at 9:16pm

  Do people get much work planting up? I would think that's one of the 'fun' parts of gardening that clients like to do themselves. What sort of people tend to ask for this work?
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  Kieran Ray January 10, 2010 at 9:49pm

  We often just get to do the hard landscaping then are asked to create a list of suitable plants, most of our planting work comes from the commercial side or if people want specimen plants as that means too much work for them. I always try and get bare root hedging jobs over the winter, didn't get any this year though!
  
  Dan Frazer Gardening said:

  Do people get much work planting up? I would think that's one of the 'fun' parts of gardening that clients like to do themselves. What sort of people tend to ask for this work?
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  Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus January 11, 2010 at 7:47am

  Can I presume that most will be visiting Garden Centres to replace plants? As professionals surely it would be better (and cheaper!) to get them from nurseries?
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  J January 11, 2010 at 9:20am

  I am sure you can get a greater trade discount from a variety of good quality wholesale nurseries. I expect at least 40% which makes planting good profitable business. The only problem is having quite a busy maintenance client base I find planting opportunities are limited now that I have planted in to most of these gardens. Only choice is to expand. I definately find the planting and design side of work more rewarding and enjoyable. Good luck everyone with the year ahead!
  
  Gaynor Witchard said:

  I tend to use my local independent garden centre most of the time because of the plant quality - plus I get 10% trade discount. If I want specific or specimen plants I use a local nursery where I can get 15% trade discount, but I also shop around online and ask for trade discounts on everything and I haven't been refused yet. If you don't ask you don't get!
  
  Nick Donaghey said:

  Can I presume that most will be visiting Garden Centres to replace plants? As professionals surely it would be better (and cheaper!) to get them from nurseries?
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  claudia de yong January 11, 2010 at 11:00am

  Yes you presume right. Nice yacht!
  
  Nick Donaghey said:

  Can I presume that most will be visiting Garden Centres to replace plants? As professionals surely it would be better (and cheaper!) to get them from nurseries?
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  Nick Donaghey @ Garden Gurus January 15, 2010 at 9:18am

  Thanks! I bought it........in my dreams :(
  
  claudia de yong said:

  Yes you presume right. Nice yacht!
  
  Nick Donaghey said:

  Can I presume that most will be visiting Garden Centres to replace plants? As professionals surely it would be better (and cheaper!) to get them from nurseries?
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  jim pi January 16, 2010 at 12:47pm

  As a pro-active contracting garden maintenance company we are approaching our 300 or so clients with the following mailer, thought some of you out there may find the following beneficial for your businesses:
  
  Dear ???
  Address: ???
  I am sure the severe weather conditions of the last few weeks have not escaped your notice. The severe temperatures have caused the loss of many plants in our gardens which obviously need replacing if the resulting gaps are not to detract from the appearance of our gardens.
  Being a pro-active company in ensuring your gardens are kept in a premium condition, we have detailed below a list of replacement plants relative to your garden/site, with the intention of replacing on a 'like for like' basis in February and March, dependant of course on the weather:
  
  Supply and replace the following plantings in a professional compost planting mix and inclusive of mycorrhiza slow release fertilizer tablets:
  1 x 3lt Aucuba (Evergreen shrub) far rear border.
  1 x 3lt Rosmarinus * (Herb shrub) herb garden.£ ??? + VAT (* denotes a VAT free plant
  etc etc
  NB Please note all new plantings are fully guaranteed for 12 months by EGC Ltd.