This has GOT to be the final cut....

I can't believe we are still doing final cuts on grass in December!

I have been telling customers that this will be the last mowing visit for about a month now - but still it keeps growing!

I was hoping to service and moth-ball the mowing equipment back in November but we are still cutting. The poor machines have had a really tough season and luckily have lasted the course without any real problems, just a few wear and tear stuff like strimmer handles getting broken off and drive belts getting shredded etc but no large mechanical failures.

On the other hand, we did have an unusual one a few weeks ago with the hedge cutter. We were doing "the Hedge from Hell" for one of our letting agent customers in Kintbury which had not been properly cut back for quite a few years. The Council was starting to complain as the hedge had gone 18" over he pavement, making it a bit of an issue.

Basically, we were commissioned to reduce the size by at least 18" on the face as well as about 18" on the top. Instead of a nice hedge, this was a pyrocanthus, a very hard wood bush with nasty thorns which make you go septic if you get impaled. We decided that chipping the waste would be the best course of action to remove the huge quantities created.

As we started, I could see this job going a bit pair shaped as the shear toughness of the stems was proving quite and challenge even for our mega Stihl 30" heavy duty cutter, let alone our Husky commercial one. Chipping was also proving to be a challenge as the branches were so tangled together it was impossible to get them in the chipper without chainsawing them into chunks!

I sent one of the guys to trim the top of one of the hedges with the Husky, when after a few minutes he came back looking very sheepish. I asked him what the problem was and he said I should come and see....well I don't know what had happened but instead of a flat 24" blade, he had managed to bend it like a banana. Somehow, the teeth had got caught under each other and bent the bar! I took it to Kalehurst Garden Machinery and they had never seen the like of it!

Eventually we got the hedge finished and the customer was delighted - even though it cost me dearly in repairs!

Loads of Gardening projects completed

Over the last few weeks we have been totally flat out with work. The extraordinary weather has made life very interesting as people are calling us non-stop trying to fit in the last job before winter sets in.

We have done some really nice jobs - from the normal garden clearance to erection of children's climbing frames and swings.

Several really nice jobs of note:

Clearance of a very overgrown bank in Whitchurch on Thames for a very nice lady who seems to have had a constant problem with the bank on her property. It a bit of an odd one as there really isn't much you can do with it - but we are discussing a few ideas and hope to do some more work here shortly. I am forgetting to take the "before" pictures but here is some "after" pictures. The bank was covered in brambles to about 8ft tall and all sorts of other stuff too.

Scarification of lawns

We had a scarifier on hire from A4 Hire in Hungerford for a week and went around to loads of our customers just getting the lawns scarified. We recommend this is done at least once a year to ensure all ther old grass mass and moss is raked out before winter ensuring new fresh grass can come through in the spring. People are amazed at what comes out of the lawn in respect of the shear quantities of rubbish. One of our customers has a massive lawn and it literally took us all day to do - but it has made a huge difference.

Fencing has really kicked off again and we have already done quite a few fences in the last month - everything from replacing damaged panels to picket fencing for a dog friendly area on a new development in Thatcham.

Garden Clearances

We are still doing loads of garden clearances for letting companies or people who are selling their properties - some of the jobs are just unbelievable - but the difference after we have been is incredible. I have been negligent in capturing photos but this tend to happen with us so busy.

One really nice job we are part way through at the moment is a really pretty cottage in East Ilsley. This property has had a load of work done to it recently and so its our turn to sort out the garden. The existing garden was not really in character for the cottage and the front garden had become a real mess of plants. We have now re-turfed and cleared the front - all the villagers who walked past gave the comments and approval!

We have started on the back garden and cleared most of the borders ready for planting and will be building a raised vegetable garden over the coming few weeks to finish off this great project.

Maintenance contracts

We have increased the number of contracts quite radically over the last few weeks. This involves basic closing down the garden in readiness for the spring - pruning fruit trees and weeding boarders etc as well as hedge cutting etc.

A Rave Review about Garden4You

Its really nice when you get an email out of the blue from a supplier which a review of your service on.

I subscribe to The Best of Newbury which is part of a national web directory type of service who provide me with quite a lot of good customers and enquiries. Part of the service they offer is that customer can review your service and post it against your advert - a really cool idea (if you do a good job of course - not so good if you screw up!!).

Well one of my long standing customers did just that - I thought I would share it with you.

As a bit of background, we first met Kim whilst we were doing a fencing job on the side of the road in Newbury. She got our number off our roadside board and called me. I attach her review for you to read- its quite funny:

"Driving along the Oxford Road on my way back from Waitrose, I spotted these men at work. Well actually, it was their advertising board that I spotted, however it took 4 drive-bys for me to actually be able to read the telephone number that I would definitely be calling!

The thought of another weekend tidying up my garden spurring me on to do yet another drive-by (there's a message here Graham - the board works, but please make the telephone number bigger!).

So, having made the call and the necessary arrangements, I tried them out. I think I had in mind that it would be a one-off, but I’ve continued to use them and with this strange summer, they’re here each week.

In fact, they are now working with me to redesign and rework my existing patio and bank (something of a mammoth task!). Graham’s actively chasing other suppliers that he will manage too. Nevertheless, Graham’s not one to let the grass grow under his feet (pardon the pun!), so he’s got on and cleared the patio space whilst waiting and in preparation for the house painter to arrive (who sadly didn’t arrive when I thought he was coming!). There’s nothing like being ahead of the game!

So, who are these miracle workers you may be asking.... if only I knew all their names (however they respond really well to "erm excuse me.....", "hello thingy", "hi whatshisname", and even "OY!").Notwithstanding my lack of formality with names (or is it a memory thing, I wonder...), it is an absolute delight having Graham and his team of enthusiasts (thingy, whatshisname & OY), working in our garden. Each and every one of them are conscientious, honest, friendly and are always happy to help in any way they can.

The gardens are fairly large, so the new addition to Graham’s workforce in the shape of a ride on mower, has saved them hours of time, and me some money! So, thank you to the team, I’m so glad I found you."

I have some before pictures, but will publish them separately in another posting once the job is completed.

Commercial Clearance

As many of you know, we also get involved in lots of commercial work as well as normal domestic and home gardens.

We got a call a few weeks ago to come and price a job in Newbury - basically it consisted of 3 phases:

1. Cut hedges and clear access to a public footpath
2. Clear the garden area at the rear of the property
3. Provide ongoing garden and grounds maintenance

No job is guaranteed, but this one was right up our alley - it really is perfect for us and we love em. We are also highly competitive and at the end of the day the customer will not only go with the right outfit, the prices must be right too.

One of the other factors was that we do go the extra mile - I suggested the main hedge job was done over a weekend to minimise disruption in the car park and also reduce the noise of the chipper etc which was required for some of the larger branches.

As you can see from the picture, it really needed it. Also, working on Saturday brought us a very curious audience - we even had the chap who planted the trees and hedges 20 years ago stop and say hello!

The next phase was the rear garden. At some point in time somebody had cut the grass - I think it was Fred Flintstone by the look of the old machine!

It really was a bit of an exploratory venture into the bushes as they were so overgrown you could not actually see if it was a hedge or shrubs. It was basically hold your breath, get the hedge cutter going and jump in! We did discover some really nice shrubs which obviously need some pruning etc. The pictures show the before and after - there was also a set of steps leading from the Board Room window which could not be used - well now you can!


Some of the staff had never been to the back of the garden and they were really surprised once we had finished - we had some great comments.

The Maintenance Contract is about to start and we look forward to keeping this all up together.


Enjoy the pictures!


Rear Garden - Before and After

Steps from the Board Room

Mega House Clearance!

I had a call from one of our commercial customers which went along the lines of:

"We have 3 cottages we need you to take a look at - I think they might be a bit overgrown, but I am sure you can sort them for us".

So I popped over to take a look.......Well I have a Landrover and I struggled to get into the gate way as the grass was so tall!

Normally, this would be a case of just getting a tractor and paddock swipe and off we go, however access was a total problem as the 3 cottages all had small access and low trees etc making this a real problem.

After walking around the site - hoping not to be captured by some tribe that might be lurking - I came up with a solution to this problem - our awesome Etesia Mower with the windrow attachment and our trusty strimmers!

I was advised that the Etesia would not cope with grass so long, however with limited options we just got on with it. Luckily we had a good break in the weather and so the sun had dried out the grass otherwise I would have thought twice. So Ric D was set off on the Etesia, Pete was dispatched to the hedges (again so overgrown you cant believe it) and I set off with the strimmer to uncover paths and cut the roadside banks and boundaries.

After 5 days, we did manage to get this job completed - and the transformation is simply amazing - the pictures, whilst good, do not show the real difference but they will give you some idea.

We have just gone back and undertaken the first maintenance visit and I have to say that it is really looking great with the new green grass growth coming through - now we will be on a fortnightly visit to maintain the hard work.

Picture 1 - The Orchard - What no trees!




Picture 2 - Spot the Patio (and Path)!!




Picture 3 - An English Country Garden - well it is now!



The only casualty was a damaged drive belt on the Etesia which under the circumstances was pretty much expected - a truly great machine all round.

What a horrible week!

This week has been a disaster.

Our first job this week was to do a garden clearance in Beedon near Newbury. When we arrived the poor house owner was trying to clear up the 2 foot of water which flooded off the field and into their house. Despite this, she still wanted us to do the hedges and borders that we had agreed to do a few weeks earlier for the party they had planned for this Saturday - nothing damps the spirit really!

The next few days were a washout, Tuesday we couldn't do anything so I helped the local horse farmer Cliff Percy of Snelsmore Sheltand Ponies collect some hay from Swindon - hay is in very short supply and nothing will be made much this year. As we left Swindon, Cliff noticed there was oil on the back of the car. I couldn't see where it was coming from so we limped home.

Wednesday morning I went to Lancaster Landrover in Thatcham, where I was presented with a bill for £850 for the repairs to an oil seal from the 4WD transfer box. Luckily no other damage found. We did manage to cut one lawn before the heavens opened.

Thursday was rained off once more - my machines have never been so serviced and cleaned!

Friday was good - we managed to cram in about 10 jobs from last week and caught up on a few from this week - I even did my own grass before it got too dark! We did manage a curry with Adam and Emma and Neale and Sam - the ciders did flow as we all had terrible weeks - Adam had his car written off due to flood damage.

Today, I am going fishing - I could work but enough now - time for some relaxation. We haved no kids this weekend so me and the wife Karen will go into town and check out a few bars -maybe go to the Corn Exchange and probably end up in the Madagascan Gin Palace for a meal - get the table ready Richard!!

Next week has to be better - the forecast is for a heatwave over August - I cant wait!!

New Machine added

This week, after lots of investigation and research, I decided to add a new machine to the fleet.

I read loads of articles on the web and also in magazines like NFU Countryside's mag, which features very good reviews on machinery, before finally going to see Neil at Kalehurst Machines in Hermitage near Newbury.

The great thing about going to Kalehurst is they actually know what they are doing - not only for domestic customers but commercial and trade as well.

After spending several hours chatting through requirements, advantages and disadvantages of various machines, I decided that the John Deere X540 was simply not suitable for the type of work we do - even though it is a superb machine and would eat the jobs we have, it is simply too big to go into most of our customer's gardens.

I settled on the Etesia Bahia, which is basically the Hydro 80 commerical machine without lights and a horn (but significantly cheaper!!). I know it looks a little strange and not like a tractor as most machines look like now but its really well built and very strong - essential for us as its on and off a trailer several times a day.

This 80cm cut machine is perfect to go through normal sized garden gates, but definitely man enough to cope with long and wet grass. We opted for a collector type mower, rather than a mulcher as most of our customers want the grass collected.

Yesterday, we tackled a lawn which we had to cut a few weeks ago with a tractor and swipe. The weather has stopped us getting back on this lawn until yesterday. When we pulled into the drive yesterday I did think that the swipe would be required again as the grass had grown to about 6 - 8 inches long.

As we unloaded the mower, I thought it best to tackle the shortest area first, but Ric just put it in gear and ploughed straight into the main area - I was mistaken as the Bahia simply ate the grass and popped it straight into the collector. During the whole day we never had a single grass jam - most impressive on such long and wet grass.

The customer actually called me later in the day to say how impressed she was with the finish - she never believed her lawn would ever look good considering the mess it was in - another happy customer!

So far I have managed to use it once (on my own lawn actually) - the guys simply wont let me near it and squabble amongst themselves as to who will be using it!

Big thanks to Neil at Kalehurst for his advice and his team for getting it ready so quickly for us.

Garden Clearance like no other....

Picture: Spot the madman on the tractor!

We try our best to help customers out. We move heaven and earth to fit in jobs which must be done for one reason or another. This weekend was no exception.

I had a call late Thursday from a customer who we have a large garden clearance job booked with us in a few weeks time. This customer manages some very large properties in the Newbury area and most are, or are about to be renovated.

Anyway, the call went along the lines of "Can you pop and see a really urgent job for me - we need to get the Walled Garden cleared before next week". So I was given the address and off I went Thursday evening. Now I am pretty good at finding places, but this one was a challenge - luckily the local gamekeeper was passing and pointed me in the right direction.

As I pulled into the drive of this massive house, the Walled Garden was easy to spot as it was surrounded by a 10 foot high wall - hence the name I suspect! I walked over to the gate and pushed - nothing happened - so I pushed harder and it slowly moved a few inches, just enough for me to see a wall of brambles and nettles at least 8 feet high!

A feeling of dread washed over me as I squeezed in. I have never seen anything like it. I beat a retreat and walked around the side, where luckily there was a full sized gate. Nothing short of a serious tractor and brushcutter would cope with this.

So Friday morning I sorted out a tractor and swipe from the guys at A4 Hire in Hungerford for collection later in the day.

The picture above shows me on the tractor during my first pass - the area itself was about 1 acre - full of Horse Flies, wasps, mosquitoes and other nasty flying objects and the ground was littered with rocks, branches and tree stumps - driving blind on unknown ground is very scary as many people turn tractors over when swiping - so progress was slow.

I don't think I have every been stung and bitten so much.

Anyway, job done, customer sorted and area restored to normal.

Grass & Hedge Cutting in full swing

As well as loads of grass cutting being tackled, we are also flat out on hedges too.

You know when your grass is long when you have to hire a tractor and a paddock swipe to get in the gate! We did two jobs last week where we were confronted with jungles - one was Yogi's owners who needed the front paddock cutting down to size as well as strimming off Yogi's run - the other was a new customer who wanted a first cut.

We hired a tractor and swipe from A4 Hire in Hungerford as Paul and his team are very helpful and priced right and set off to do the jobs. Yogi's house was pretty easy really, but then the other one made up for it. When a 40hp tractor in low range first gear still can't get through the grass you know you are in trouble.

We did manage to finish it and then cleared 2 huge trailer loads of hay off the garden.

As for hedges, one of the best tools I have bought has been the chipper. I devastates all manner of vegetation and reduces the mass to a more manageable level as well as making clearing up much quicker - also it produces really good compost material or wood chips for the garden.

My chipper is a Jobeau, acquired from Neil and Kalehurst Garden Machines in Hermatige (see picture). This machine caters for the mid range chipper market and really does a brilliant job - maximum capacity is about 4" of Leylandii or Willow but in bang for buck terms, really kicks arse against the more costly chippers out in the market.

We have put most stuff through it and I have had no problems to speak of - the blades are a little difficult to change but this only needs to be done about every 30 - 40 hours of use - unless the guys put stones in it!

Before we bought it, Neil said "Bring in a few branches etc and we will show you it working". Rather foolish thing to say when you are half way through a tree clearance job - so we turned up at the shop with trailer loaded up to the brim.

After the shock, Neil wheeled out the chipper and we all set to work chipping the trailer load. I was impressed to say the least and ordered one the next day (Neil said I would!). Since then, its been pretty much in constant use - a good investment.

Global Domination.....

It had to happen at some point.

You can't run successful businesses without the odd thought of taking over the world - well today I had my first trans-Atlantic enquiry.

Though the power of Google, I was found by a lady in New York, USA who wants to give a gift of our gardening services to a close relative.

Initially, I didn't read the email too closely - general fatigue and years of "skim reading" only allow you to see certain parts that interest you - so I had mental visions of a flight to New York to do a site survey, leading to all sorts of ideas of how to get the equipment over there, or invest in a New York office etc.

Then I read it again - the recipient of the gift lives in Newbury, Berks.

I was a little disappointed not to go to NY, but nevertheless I would love to do this for the lady in question.

Anybody in South Africa who wants a bit of gardening - please just email me as I don't need too many excuses to go there!!

I am glad to see that all the money I spend on Google each month gets me found - nice one Google and of course my fantastic website as supplied by Webbuildpro

Gardens have gone mental

Picture: Small hedge planted at a nursery school in Reading to add colour and clean up a mud patch

With the brilliant weather over the last 6 weeks, it is inevitable that the rain must come - and didn't it!

In the winter, we expect bad weather and plan jobs where it doesn't matter if it rains, you just get on with it - but in the summer it's a nightmare. You cannot cut grass in heavy rain. You cannot re-point patios or treat decking.

I have had more rain - offs this last week than all over the winter. We have part finished jobs waiting for sunshine and grass is growing like wild fire - as I look out of my window, my grass will take the best part of the morning to sort.

Anyway, we have been very busy - we have actually been planting hedges and fencing as well as the normal grass cutting etc. Hedges also have gone a bit mental and we have done a few trims too - one particularly bad one over at Peasemore which was just a jungle - now tamed of course.

As to other jobs coming up, we are flat out on turfing and this rain has been good for that so I cant really complain - but I so hate wearing waterproofs when its so humid - its like having your own personal sauna all day.

Bit short on pictures as I keep forgetting to take the camera - note to self - put camera in the car!

Interestingly, at the job pictured above, we found a whole colony of Stag Beetles in a rotten tree trunk - I have not seen one since I was a kid - we left them well alone as it was a pleasure to see them. Funnily, my helper ran a mile as he thought things like that were in horror movies only!

Are you selling your house? If so read on...

One of our really popular services is garden makeovers.

This is particularly useful for people who are selling or letting a property.

This week I was called to a property in Newbury which has been on the market for some time. Inside it was really well decorated and it is situated in a tiny cul de sac near town. Despite this, the owners had over 30 viewings and only one mental offer, well below the value.

So we agreed to come in and "do a blitz". This involves a radical front to back clearance of weeds, cutting grass, cutting hedges and pruning trees and shrubs. In this case it also involved removing the dreaded ivy (you know my thing about this!) front and back as well as "Old Mans Beard" which had grown so thick and tangled that it had gone all around the TV Ariel as well.

We also suggested that the drive was looking very shabby and that taking off 2" of top coating and replacing with new 20mm Berkshire shingle was needed, which the client agreed.

So we set to work and did the blitz in the first day and the drive on the second. I did think that we could do this by hand, however it soon transpired that it was too big a task. So I called our friends at A4 Hire in Hungerford who came to the rescue with a 3/4 ton digger at really short notice.

Whilst we were doing the drive, the estate agent started showing a couple of prospective buyers around, which I must admit I thought was a little odd, however they were most impressed that the owner was still doing work on the house and that the improvement from the Estate Agents literature to the new look was pretty radical.

Anyway, job done, happy customer - and best of all, one of the prospective buyers came back for a second visit later that day and made an offer just short of the asking price!

Just goes to show that spending a few hundred on getting the pro's in to do a blitz will save or make you thousands - take a note from that woman from the House Doctor programs.

I hope I am not quite as annoying as her......Check out the piccies.