New Winter Work, Advice Required. (UK Gardener) 

What i do is book hedges small trees , fence and shed repairs rather than doing them right away i book them in for winter and try to take on more lawns when everyone is wanting them . Gutter cleaning is good getting moss off rooves . One other thing i offer is wheelie bin cleaning through the season and just put that in my winter pot

I've been a maintenance gardener for 20 years.. I work everyday.. try and find the right customers... there's always work to be done in large Gardens.. and if not go home early and have a cup of tea

Hey mate thanks for your vids. I’m 19 and just started out in the gardening world, I have no proper idea of what I’m doing but your videos are educating me a lot. Keep it up Bosman✌️

Don’t spend your cash rob just have a pair of ladder and some gutter cleaning tools and pole then when your asked or you ask the customer it’s an extra bonus I’ve offered this for years and it does alright … but I would never shell out £2.000 plus on gutter vacs etc not worth it mate 😉

How many times have you paid for or cleaned your own gutters, not many would be my guess, get more lawn treatments and get them on a subscription, I have started doing 6 a year for my customers (not every two months, none in winter but more in spring and summer) I offer pay as you go or subscription, they all do subscription, I get paid monthly (lower cost per month than one off) for them, keeps you in regular contact with the customer and you do get a genuine and visible benefit after each visit and keeps a few pound coming in over winter.

From what I’ve heard and saw people are charging less and less for gutter clearing thought about it but the ROI isn’t really there in my opinion could get a wicked jet wash for that and earn it back if 2/3 jobs rather than 30 gutter jobs, each to their own I suppose!

I'm a window cleaner who also does Gutter Clearing. It's a great stand alone add on. It can definitely be done without fascia cleaning. Personally i love clearing gutters, easy work and good money. Fascia cleaning is hard work. Market it to your current customer base around September each year, and book the jobs in from November, once the leaves have come off the trees. Good luck.

Just Subscribed mate, Keep it up :)

Try tree pruning. Get a harness, strops rope hand saws and a small chainsaw and your good to go

Hi Rob I like it, you got my cogs working . Going to do some research. I think I live in a good catchment area to offer this service and not seen anyone doing it. Thanks Rob. 😊Merry Xmas to you and Yours. Ps. I always pretty much write December off and hope January is kinder.

Merry Christmas Mate. It’s hard here in Hertfordshire too. Great idea by the way, I’ll add it in my business.

You can get universal gutter pipes to attach to your leaf blower. ether vac the gutters out or blow them out .. minimal spend for a start up .🤷‍♂️

Rob ur always looking for new ideas good man.

Hello Rob, Just something I've seen and that's the gutter cleaning attachment that fits on the wolf garden telescope handle,I've seen a couple people cleaning gutters and facia boards with this, just a thought just to start off with to test the water! Another great video Rob 👍

Hi mate, I've been doing garden maintenance for 25 years now, and still going strong. Just wanted to say you've done really well, I like your videos and what you have to say. Have a good Christmas, keep the videos coming. Regards Steve

Hi Rob Sam's garden maintence y/tube has just covered this topic recently. Freezing here bad too, sunny Lancaster & my heater doen't work in the fix or repair daily, ford connect van.

Hi Rob, First of all is a good idea. I was thinking the same about gutter cleaning. I like because you're always thinking on something how to improve your income. I just started this year the gardening business so I find out you always have to do more task's. I am doing decorating during winter as I am painter but I enjoy more gardening then painting. So I think is a good idea to start cleaning gutters.

Good Luck

I use a long ladder, trowel, bucket and wash the gutter out with water (from a tap). Very low tech but works better and quicker than a vacuum. Also you're 2k down at the start. I clean a few windows using a brush and a bucket of water. Then wash everything down with a cheap battery driven jet wash using pure water (3.5p a litre). Never any complaints. Start off cheap then by all means build up to expensive stuff but honestly, no one is interested in watching a video of their gutter being cleaned. You have an honest business so people trust you. Keep us informed as it's interesting how people think. Thanks Rob.

Go for it mate, what you got to lose? I've also been looking into that myself alot of people also asking about Gutters cleared/cleaned by me... if the gutters are flowing keep on blowing!🤣

Kev in Ireland I have a sky vac atom it's great it's lite and you can take it anywhere it's never let me down keep up the good work kev

Same down south Rob iam normally busy right up to Christmas but this week is in minus temperatures all week which is annoying as iam fully booked up , as with gutter cleaning I already do a few of my regular customers bungalow gutters , but generally their window cleaners do that job

The gutter clearing sounds good plan , i do gutter clearing but only for bungalows as much easy to do

you could also try patio cleaning. Hire a petrol one and see how you get on, or get into more hard landscaping, fencing or maybe garden design? When I was working as a gardener for my old boss, it was the big gardens that got us through winter. There was so much to be getting on with, it kept us busy. Good luck with whatever you do.

Hi Rob, Same as you I was thinking what I could do but my regular customers made my decision for me, asking if I can pressure wash their patios and drives. So I've got myself a petrol pressure washer and a flat surface cleaner in the black Friday deals and I start doing them this week. That £2k for a gutter vac is a bit steep for me a the moment!! Maybe next year?🤣 👍🏻

Hi Rob i looked at this once and i think the window cleaners all have sky vac's and do this in the winter, and have most of the market for this. I recon you will get some work but i asked a few of my garden clients and they all have the window cleaner do it. I get a few people ask about lawn treatments too but i turn them down (tell them about the big two) as don't get the time plus don't want the hassle of storing and buying kit etc. One of my mates has a few office contracts where he blows and litter picks the car parks early on Sat mornings when they are empty i'm looking at getting some of those 🤔😉. keep the videos coming mate. ps i know what you mean about your chipper just sold mine 👍.

Hi Rob... hope youre feeling a bit better.. that's the issue with gardening - you definitely need a few arrows in your bow for different things. I used to have a number of things and basically through the year I would either leave leaflets with customers, or Id be casually mentioning things I notice and pop them down into a "winter job" list to pick and choose from. Youd be amazed how many weird and wonderful jobs you can get through the year - plenty of folks are happy to wait for some big jobs to be done over winter - fencing, new borders, pressure washing etc. As for your questions, I honestly believe you can make money from any of these but like anything it'll take a good few years as people tell theirfriends the following year and so on.. Good luck in your decision mate, Ive 100% been there several years ago and its one of those horrible situations.. really feel like getting on a plane for a month and go relax. all the best for xmas and new year....

Hi mate just a little thing you could start off with a good wet vac and some Cheap poles so you haven’t got the biggest outlay and will pay itself off with just a couple of jobs but if it doesn’t take off you could resell and wouldn’t lose any money from it thanks for your videos I started in spring 22 so dealing the winter problems and have been thinking this as well so just my take on it can’t wait for the green gold to start growing all the best for the new year

we do a lot of planting jobs during the winter months. when I was doing landscaping I would do a "winter price" for old people to make sure I got plenty of winter work

Listening to you is like hearing my journey and how my business progressed. I no longer scarify. I offer both gutter clearing and cleaning. But the clearing is much easier money than the cleaning. Most just have them cleared tbh. Plenty of money to make but I wouldn’t make the mistake of a large vac unless you plan on pushing the gutter clearing. I made this mistake. Because it’s just two or three jobs a week I clear I could never be arsed to make room in the van for the large vac. I sold it and got the gutter sucker junior. Loads easier to move around and small enough to fit in with other stuff. I do more gutters now with the small vac because it’s much less of a choir. I love it! Merry Christmas Mate!

I like the way you think Rob, its good to have different services so you've got multiple streams of income. I know a few guys who just do the gutters without the fascias so it's definitely possible... maybe you could get a few booked in (weather permitting) and hire the equipment in before investing? All the best mate 👍🏾

The guy you mentioned has some really good videos. He tries out lots of gear. Not sure about the window cleaning. You need to filter the water, but if you get the gear to clean facia boards, you may be able to soft wash roofs. I would start with the customers you already have. We are still mowing but it is slowing down now. First daffodils flowering last week.

Rob. I think I'm the only person on here airing a word or two of caution. But I can see quite a few potential negatives. So here goes. 1. I think it would be a physically hard job. Even with light weight carbon poles, stretching up 20+ft and removing sludge along the length of a gutter I think would be hard work. Sore arms, aching neck, and none of us are getting any younger. 2. Access. Will you be able to reach gable ends of semi-detached houses or over garages to the house? 3. It's not repeat work. You get the job, go and do it and thats the customer done for 12-24 months. So your constantly having to advertise for new work. 4. Return on investment. At say £2500 set up costs and £80 a pop. You'd need about 31 customers to break even and the machine to pay for itself. That could easily be 1+ yrs. Depending on take up. 5. Liability. Plastic gutters can become brittle over time. If you damage one do you want the headache of having to fix it? 6. Tax. If your going to do it. I'd consider settling up a separate business for tax reasons and possibly make it a Ltd company, again for tax reasons. 7. Cleaning machine and Waste. Where you going to put the sludge you've just collected? Customers waste bin? Will they be happy with that? 8.Reputation. If you do decide to give it a go I'd advise keeping gardening and gutters very separate. You don't want to weaken your gardening brand and be seen not as a professional gardener, but more of an odd job handy man. I Don't want to piss on your parade. I just thought I'd mention some potential negatives as I see it, so your at least aware of them.

the gardens i work in rightly or wrongly i generally clean gutters out for them as part of my service it generally gets done after all the leaves are down it’s up a ladder with a bucket and scraper but it is food for thought to offer it elsewhere 👍

Brilliant ideas Rob my good friend🙏 I just uploaded to my channel👌 happy christmas Damien from Ireland

Build up your hedge cutting rod. Hold must off till November then it will take you into February. I only work 4 1/2 days a week all year round. So work builds up m8

Hi Rob It’s adrian I do gardening / pressure washing / gutter clearing and cleaning / and other jobs; fencing and fence repair. based in Barnsley South Yorkshire/ (WhiteRose gardening and pressure washing and gutter cleaning ) I’ve got my van wrapped advertising all this; I use a sky vac with carbon pole’s fantastic. I do use a big boy for cleaning, but if customers haven’t got out side tap I just clear the gutters. One thing I do have is a portable generated that I use to run the vac in case the customer is out. And yes you can subsidise your earnings through autumn and winter, doing this. Also I do conservatory roof cleaning which is a good hernia. I’m 60 now and used to do flagging and stuff but I try to stay clear now, the old back doesn’t like it now::: This is how I work my year… from march I do my gardening work Monday to Thursday: then Fridays I do pressure washing:: then mid November I start pushing the gutter work and cleaning work till mid January then I finish and me and my wife go away, for a month or so, and then start again::: but in this weather nothing is happening: all the gutters are frozen and you really don’t want to be spraying water round. Hope this helps, I got all my gear from spin a clean in Northampton, good luck for next year mate👍 Regards Ady

I’m an external cleaner not a gardener but 100% there will always be work for a gutter vac. As someone else has said, to check out your local market as there is a lot of folk doing gutter cleaning and patio cleaning. Around here I think there is to many for me to solely do gutter cleaning but as an add on to my window cleaning through winter it has definitely been a worthwhile investment. Most of my gutter jobs come from my window cleaning customers. I would imagine your gardening customers would use the guy who already does work in their garden than having to find someone else. Hopefully it’s successful for you if you do go ahead with it.

Hey Rob. Absolutely go for it. Ashley and Dave are great guys, and they have some great advice. Check out Ashley's training courses. Exterior detailing us the next step up from exterior cleaning. You could link up with a local window cleaner, and maybe offer jet washing as a service too. Do you listen to Ashley's podcast ? Check it out if you don't.

I plan to do houseplant care and supply all year round as well as pressure washing and gutters

I'm a window cleaner and always busy so don't need any add ons. A pal of mine who does says it's fairly lucrative, but the only caveat is on some jobs the downspout will be blocked at the gutter and the only way you'll clear it is by climbing a 🪜 so you'll always need a ladder and a head for heights. 👍 Good luck in what you do.

Oh blimey. Rob, you have me thinking now. Well, that’s Half true as I was already thinking about this myself. There’s one chap I follow on RU-vid but I’ve forgotten his name. When I remember, I’ll tell you as his kit With a camera cost about £1,200. I have Just quit my full time job to take a less paid one with better hours so I can focus on my Handyman business. I’m thinking, Gutters could be a good string to my bow.

Hello Rob, I started gutter clearing about 18 mnths ago, just to extend the season and to stop me getting too bored just sat at home. Its a nice little extra, I wouldn't say it will get me early retirement but its decent money. I started just with ladders and a couple of Pro Gutter attachments fixed to an extendable painters pole - still doing me proud. Come spring I will have enough saved to buy the Spinaclean Gutter Vac system, so next season I'm ready to go. Any repairs needed can be highlighted and added to the bill ie broken clips, etc The only issue I have found is when the gutters are frozen, but I always check using my action camera attached to my extendable Wolf Garten Pole. Honestly mate us gardeners are resourceful chaps/chappettes always find a way round obstacles. I also keep it away from my gardening business just so people don't get confused - magnetics on the van really help also. Good luck mate and wishing you & yours a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Had this idea a few years ago. Used a generator so no need for electricity. Bought the sky vac including camera, over 2 grand, just didn’t get the work. Posted leaflets even added it to my van signage. Sold it within 3 months lost money. This was my experience Rob, Good luck with it. ABS Landscapes.

There is work doing guttering especially around trees, I do a few but, not many out of choice, just remember wet cold hands in winter so waterproof thermal gloves are a more 👍

Hi Rob, hope you feel better soon yes your video is thought provoking I started as a add on Jet washing and it can be very profitable with the professional kit.. Outlay £1000.00 Honda with extensions... Always get my customers asking not always getting due to my prices I charge...£100.00 minimum-£350.00.. About 80% get.. I think you have a great idea for filling in quiet period November- February... I wish you well in your personal choice and will look forward to seeing your choice... Have a great Xmas and take care... Lee....😃🧑‍🎄

I would check your local market as sometimes the area is over saturated with windys with gutter vacs - check Facebook etc. You should be fine with the waste as you already dispose of your gardening waste but don't forget the clean up time of vac and poles. The GVS Panther is a great machine even though it's only 1700 watts plus it's easier to manoeuvre in and out of van and for difficult access properties. Check your business insurance covers you. I would say dedicated Facebook page would be best plus advertise to your existing customers. I don't think you can actually run it as a different business - accounts wise, as you will use same van etc for both but your account will know better. Lastly watch your back and shoulders as swinging 30ft carbon poles over a conservatory is no easy feat! A Gardiner backpack for spraying is better than the Big Boy as the carry handle is on the top. Have a great Christmas.

Go for it Rob. Setup as separate business name. I’d get advice from the accountant for the best way tax wise to setup.

I have a garden services business doing mainly grass and hedges but bought a skyvac this autumn and have found there's good work out there for gutter clearing. Haven't been asked about facia/soffit cleaning at all. I feel I've barely scratched the surface yet. December not been a Great month due do everything being frozen though.

I add it on as an additional service, but just use triple ladders that I already owned, I bought a set of " gutted pro " shaped tools that fit onto an extendable 5 metre pole. This allows me to reach over conservatories and single storey extensions, unless the house is massive, with a five metre pole you move the ladder very few times. Outlay £100.

I watched the same the video from premier lawns and was also considering it. Decided not to bother with it due too buying and storing the equipment plus watching some of the other gutter videos most end up going up ladders. Might be hard to sell with out being prepared to do repairs and cleans too roof gutters. If you do have a go at it just invest in a basic set up, see if it pays before going for the pro kit Am hoping to get out if this ice thaws tomorrow or thurseday still a couple tidy ups to do All the best Mark

Hi Rob I'm a gardener and my mate is a window cleaner who does jet washing and gutter vac he's says he earns more money doing the jet washing and gutters than doing the windows. But he's also said a word of warning if you are thinking of only doing gutters in the winter months he's had to cancel some jobs as the gutters are totally frozen up and the vac just won't touch the ice. Just a thought...

I usually do painting and decorating for clients. They Just hang on until the end of the year for me to do it

Morning Rob, I bought a kiam gutter vac 2yrs ago paid £1200 brand new it had a camera with it. 3 1200w motors, so it was 3600 w. I was charging £50 a house here garages and extensions that was extra. I used it the whole winter Rob it made me money no bother it was a good investment the only reason I sold it was because i soley didn't depend on that type of work I was busy else where a man made me an offer and I sold it on. I used the customers electricity it's not a problem at all there happy to let you use it so don't worry about that. I bought an extra attachment to add to the machine as to stop blockages which was really good. ROB let me tell you if your trying to clean fascias with a 30ft wfp it is real hard graft and really difficult to do I found. So now we clean fascias with an extension wand that attaches to the power washer with high pressure jet nozzle. ROB get a unit with at least 3600w that's enough power to suck the worst gutters out. AND yes you will definitely make £300 a week off it that's part time that's all can think of at the minute but if you have any questions I didn't answer ask away 👍

Gutter vac won't clear frozen gutters and all my enquiries for gutter cleaning is usually when we're flat out towards the end of lawn season and starting on the hedges as people want them done when the leaves have come down but before the bad weather sets in. I generally pass it onto the local window cleaner as they're set up for it. Would you rather build an annual hedge trim client base or a gutter clean business? Would 2 sets of books be 2 sets of accountant fees and all that come with it etc. Have you though about 3 months abroad like a lot do😅 Good luck on the decision

Keep your money in pocket Rob. I have quite a lot of customers & have to say not many ask me to clean the guttering over the 12 years. When they ask i pass it on to the m8 but it's not very much. I fine people only ask when they are blocked or they have trees close to the house.

Rob my friend works in emergency in our local hospital, and said the biggest volume in admissions is men over 50 falling off ladders ! Gutter cleaning over here is done by professionals who have a truck and vacuum an do a great job , There are a lot of gardening companies that provide a gutter service using a ladder and bucket but unless you have the correct equipment to clean the most important thing .. downpipes , those portable vacs are useless for sucking from them so unless you geared up with the truck unit a ladder and a hose is required . There is good money though 350 au for a standard house so what do you do if it’s double story ??? do climb that high , remember mate the chances of falling increases with age !! Good to see you post some thought provoking ideas though and when I was young I made good made from gutters .. 2 jobs a day used to equal a days mowing back in the day

Rob please don’t take this the wrong way but I feel like you let your clients control everything. You talk about 34 weeks of the year a lot … I’ve never heard anyone talk like that. I’m a gardener mate 12 months of the year. If any of my clients told me not to come over the winter I’d walk. Today was -5 in Surrey - I was shredding dry leaves and repairing a shed. There’s always work mate. You’ve just got to make it happen All the best

Hi Rob, As well as gardening we also pressure wash and gutter cleaning in the winter months. We use a generator with the gutter vac, therefore not having to use the clients electricity. Have a look at ‘Gutter Vac’ I paid around £500 a couple of years ago and I can reach two storey property’s no problem.

Hi Rob , I saw a fella and his Mrs cleaning a 3 story town house block gutters with the fibre poles and cameras , in what looked like a franchise written van in Malton , If you don't mind a walk beating pays ok about 15 hours a week , but as your saying the cold has shut us down atm , but I try and offer a broader service to the gardening to get ahead of the part time £8 / £15 grass cutting merchants .

squeaky dave 👍 ashley seems more like a salesman these days....gvs predator good vac,but icey weather is no good for gutter cleaning

Hi Rob, check out GVS systems as in my opinion the best on the market. Obviously it's regional specific and seasonal but should be a good long term investment. I went for a powerful domestic and commercial machine and glad I did. As mentioned, there's always gonna be competition and those that will do it dirt cheap however in my option you get what you pay for. Good luck. Mark

Hi Rob I would caution against any kind of work that you have to Use extended polls but if you Do go-ahead make sure that The poll doesn't conduct electricity as there was a case of someone using extended poll who had lots of expirance But unfortunately touch a live electric overheard cable with his poll and died Anyway all best in future I enjoy you channel Cheers

Only had one regular customer ask for their gutters to be cleaned, thankfully a bungalow, did it with gear I already had. This made me look into it a few years back, saw the price of investment needed and decided it wasn't for me. If you do go for it I'll send any requests your way.

You're business You're decisions to make Rob

Hi Rob, Great video it's a good question I personally bought a Honda petrol jet wash and extras £1000 , and it gets me lots of work around November-February.. £100-£350...My prices are dependent on size of Gardens... Hope you manage to sort something good for yourself in that quiet period....Have a great Xmas... Lee....🧑‍🎄😃

Ever thought about renting the scarifier out?? Obviously take a deposit etc then a daily charge ... the tool hire place near me charge 30 a day 45 weekend and that's for a very basic machine. Mybe to others in the trade 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Hi Rob, we are a partnership, and we are a gardening company primarily. We do offer gutter clearing, but we just spent £1k on a great ladder system. We clean gutters with our hands and a bucket.

Hi Rob, re your gutter clearing idea. We do gutter clearing for clients , but by hand , the old fashioned way. I find that the gutters often have ice in the bottom if they need clearing. I am not sure how the gutter vacs cope with ice in the bottom ? As your colder in the north, I think that it should be a consideration ? I understand about spending some funds to reduce the tax liability, but is there anything else that could be purchased. Even if it makes your life easier ? Trailer ? Ladders ? Have a chat to your accountant, see if they have any ideas ? In the South , we have increased costs now to dispose of green waste, 20% in one hit, so bare this in mind? We also do fencing, fence repairs, gates and fittings basically anything to keep busy. Good luck , Happy Christmas Mark

Have you thought about a branch chipping service or a twice yearly service for older people who like to do their own garden but can't do the heavier stuff

Hi Rob your better off cleaning windows than gutters,in sub zero temperatures you will find leaves and crap will just freeze and stick like sh1t to a blanket unless you want to get up there and break it out

Rob Honda Europe haven't stopped manufacturing the Lawn Mowers they've only stopped manufaturing them in America

Hi Rob, hope you are well, i get asked to do gutters a lot and patio cleans i have considered it but sometimes you will get the call in summer to do some. how i look at it is where do i want the business going i am looking at some big investment and development for the business. but with all going on i panic flap what ever we want to call it but i also have 5 new gardens this winter asked me to carry on slower but through the winter months also a few football clubs i look after keep me busy in winter i am still doing end of season clean ups that are booked in until end of Jan and Feb i have some spring cleaning jobs booked in maybe scarifing bits weather pending and then its March green gold will be growing the supply side of thing has gone made over the last years with all that has happened i am still getting 3 to 5 call a week for work at this time of year how?? and as it stand i am doing some paper work now for all this development plans i have people booking me up 12 months in advance now so much so i done a job last Saturday the 10 they have booked me for next year already and i have 2 other jobs down that same road booked in now. i can see us chatting for many hours when we meet up lol all the best mate Shane

Hi Rob I am based in the South East and more and more people are getting solar panels fitted so here is a thought why don’t you offer cleaning solar panels the reason being the cleaner they the more efficient they are. Might be worth researching but potentially another add on and revenue stream. Cheers Kevin

I do a few gutters at the back end. Just a ladder , bucket and pair of gloves. Usually end up dismantling down pipes as they can sometimes be blocked. Offer it to your existing customers? What chipper do you have. I’m looking for a greenmech cs100. Cheers . Tom

Hi rob , did you decide not to do the driving job this winter ?

I used to try and stick to gardening until I realised I was limiting myself

How do you advertise pal

can you not get gritting on your commercial jobs?

Hi Rob. I have the GVS 3000W with the aluminium poles from Guttervacuumsystems. I would highly recommend this company. Julia is fantastic to deal with. You wont be disappointed with their customer service. The Predator is the top model. You shouldn't need that model if your only using it seasonally. I only have a 5meter length of flexie hose. I would recommend going with 10 meters. It's a good earner alright, and its handy work especially if your just doing "gutter emptying". Cleaning the gutters and facia and soffit can be tough work especially on a 2 story. I always use the customers water as i dont carry water cos I'm not a window cleaner. Whether there's a market just for gutter emptying it's hard to know. Yes, certainly some folks are happy to have the gutters empty and aren't worried about how clean they look. (All depends on the colour of the gutters and facia/soffit too) Buying a waterfed pole wouldn't cost a fortune I guess. You wouldn't need a terribly expensive one. Check out squeaky clean Dave's channel or AE Macintosh for tips and advice. The ov8 pole is supposed to be good as its anti spin. I'm using a Gardiner clx 27 pole. I'd recommend something stronger and a bit longer. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Message back if you want any more advice. 👍