Hi just seen some of your videos. This one in particular hits the nail on the head! I'm 45, I've been a gardener all my working life. Working on private estates and for various grounds maintenance companies. I currently work for a landscaping, maintenance firm which I enjoy and not bad pay. Left to my own devices on jobs and have a one to one with the clients. My plant is ok to pretty good and never have any complaints with my work. I've often thought of going self employed but it's the winter months that frighten me. I like security. The company I work for, there is only two of us out of 20 men I'd say with horticulture experience and those sort of skills.
Hi Andrew, I have just subscribed to your channeland find your videos very informative. I started as a self-employed gardener back in 1987, but soon realized that, at that time, there was more money to be made by just mowing lawns. So since then that is all I have done, and made a reasonable living from it. However, over the last few years it has become increasingly obvious that things have changed a lot and now people want more than just lawn mowing, and there is a huge demand, here in the Midlands anyway, for good, knowledgeable proper all-round gardeners, and now people are prepared to pay decent money for them. Everything you said is absolutely true, and I am now learning about plants, pruning and so on and preparing to go back to my roots (no pun intended!). Thank you for your videos, they are inspiring me to move forward with the times. I have always loved plants and it's great for me to be planning to return to gardening rather than just boring mowing!
Good for you man. I agree and think that's the way to go. I am down to one customer who I cut grass for now and am not taking on any new customers who want lawns, purely to differentiate myself. Thanks for taking the time to comment Stephen and all the best with your business.
Just started watching your videos and really enjoying them. I am a gardener done it for 4 years now I am still young 24. One thing I have no clue about really is plant names especially and even though I did conservation, what was more habits and learning about mammals, so I have good knowledge of that side of things, like I say I my weakness is plants and would like to improve my knowledge of them even just getting a book about different plants has really helped me. :)
Agree with everything you are saying, customers know straight away if you know anything about plants or not and will pay more for experience I've been in horticulture for 37 yrs now in commercial nurseries and now garden maintenance
Hi Simon, I'm so glad I found your videos today. Your passion and enthusiasm is really refreshing, and I love how straightforward you are. I recently decided to "take the plunge" and commit to working more as a gardener. I'm doing quite a bit of maintenance work at the moment, but really want to expand into garden design, as I've noticed that my eyes light up when I think of it, and when I get to do more of it. I'm looking into studying online, for an RHS accredited diploma in Garden Design. The favourite part of my work is helping people to enjoy their gardens again.. so the story you shared about the lady you work for really spoke to me 🙂 thanks for all of the amazing knowledge and passion you share. It's massively appreciated. Cheers, Dylan
Hiya Dylan. That's a really nice comment - thank you very much! I haven't watched that video in a long while so good to reconnect with it. All the best with the course if you find the right one for you. If you ever want more specific help then send me an email...I don't publicise it on here but people seem to find me nonetheless! Good vids by the way. All the best, Simon
@@westcountrygardenpro7535 thank you for the offer, I may just take you up on that. And thanks, I'd forgotten my videos were still on here, I deleted a lot of them. Had a bit of a career change! Just wondering where you are in the West Country..? I've got family in Weston-Super-Mare. Random question - what brand of work pants do you wear? I'm looking for something that's going to withstand the elements, and thorns!
I wear pretty much exclusively a brand called Scruffs. Very hard wearing, comfortable and lots of useful pockets...sensibly priced as well. I'm about 10 miles outside of Yeovil so not a million miles away from Weston
@@westcountrygardenpro7535 Ah that's great mate, cheers.. been looking at Scruffs 🙂 Never been to Yeovil, but love the area as a whole. I find it more friendly down there than up here! Hope you're not getting too washed out down there.. we've got heavy flooding at the moment.
Yeah it's pretty good down here on the whole, good and bad bits like anywhere! Yes you have got it pretty bad up there...whilst I did resemble a drowned rat today it was not one that needed a canoe as well so you have my sympathies!
Visit local garden centres and nurseries, have your van parked in a nice prominent position with flyers for the business in a waterproof holder, walk about in your uniform, great place to pick up new customers!
Just started subscribing to your channel mate, and your vid was very thought provoking. I'm at a cross roads at the minute, I'm a gardener and cut grass and trim hedges look after some gardens and started to do some landscaping on the side. And also thinking of expanding my knowledge of plants, and how to take care of them. I thought you came up with some very good points. I think I'm a bit of a 'jack of all trades and master of none', at the moment. I would like to pick a field and become very knowledgeable and just do that. Great vid mate
I really like your videos , I am starting something similar as I am a tree surgeon and I have brought a ford connect like yours in orange and I am starting small jobs and also charge a fixed rate , I share you point on it Vs the whole hourly rate thing , my friends don't get our view so they charge £12 an hour but yet again they don't know much about anything , but anyways keep up the good videos , and could you do one based on weed killing and spraying and how to make customers based on weeds. thanks man keep it up!
Really it's learning by doing. I have done that course and whilst it's useful it isn't terribly practical and I think for gardening you learn by getting your hands dirty. You could do that through working, or if you are just starting off maybe work for someone else, or even volunteering at large open gardens like national trust. Good luck my friend
