Landscape Juice

Landscape Juice Network members hand over charity cheque to Thrive

A group of Landscape Juice Network members, who've worked their socks off raising money for the garden charity Thrive, were last week treated to a day touring the charity's Reading HQ.

The organisers, John, Gary and Rowly, were joined by Sally, Tanya and Craig talking to staff members and trustees about their day-today work helping disabled people teaching them the techniques and practical applications so that they may take part and enjoy gardening.

A research programme underpins Thrive’s work to provide evidence and improve understanding.

Thrive's work has helped individuals accomplish many things. Thrive says: "Gardening can help rebuild a person’s strength after an accident or illness, and can provide a purposeful activity for someone coping with a difficult period in their life."

LJN members raise £1,421.00 through a day of The Many Faces of Fu Man Pugh.

It's 'onwards and upwards' for LJN member Andy Doughty

Since joining the Landscape Juice Network in May 2011, gardener Andy Doughty has become a regular visitor and a friend to many on the site.

After six years of running his garden maintenance business, Andy looks set for a cracking 2012 after recently announcing his engagement to his soon to be wife Gina and further expansion of his business.

But it hasn't always been easy. Being a single parent meant Andy had to spend time at home with his daughter when she was younger. When she was old enough to go to school it gave Andy the freedom to venture out and set up a gardening round.

"being at home all the time when my daughter was young I spent a lot of time in my garden with her, and I really loved it. When my daughter started school I wanted to use the freedom that I hadn't had for 5 years."

Not having a driving license Andy pushed his tools - left to him by his grandfather - around his village in a wheeled cart. Six years on, having passed his test, Andy is building a solid business. He now has several commercial contracts and a 'brilliant' job at the local manor house.

Roundup of Landscape Juice Network news

It's been a very lively start to the new year with a buzz of activity since the festive gave way business as usual.

The new year has also seen a sharp rise in membership with thirty-three new members in the last seven days.

Stolen chipper

For some the start of 2012 hasn't brought much joy. Dan Hinde warned fellow members to be careful as he revealed the theft of his Greenmech chipper.

Dan says a couple of his lads were working roadside on Tuesday 03 January -their first working day of 2012 - when they had a Greenmech 1928 roadtow chipper stolen from the back of their van whilst his staff worked less than 50 metres away.

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Latest activity on the Landscape Juice Network

With page impressions currently running at over 10,000 a day, the Landscape Juice Network (LJN) forum is a constant flow of news, advice, help and opinion.

Here's a sample of current discussions.

If you are a member of the Landscape and horticulture industry then LJN could be helping you with a few of your questions. Why not join up today? It's free and priceless.

Possibility of LJN software for Garden Maintenance & Landscaping business's Talking with Phil the other day, we got onto the idea of creating a suite of programs that would sit on the web and allow you to effectivel… Started by Barry Richardson in SoftwareLatest Reply

Join the Key Business Objectives group Here's a selection of what's being discussed at the moment:   There is no such thing as a dumb question In fact it is often said that the… Started by Philip Voice in BusinessLatest Reply

Landscape Juice Network members' photostream

There are now 10,899 photos on the Landscape Juice Network any members are uploading new images every single day.

Subjects range from recent landscaping projects completed, copies of garden design plans through to natural landscape and wildlife photos. See our slideshow below.

Find more photos like this on Landscape Juice Network

Want to share your work photos as well as publicise your skills, why not join up today, it's free.

Real gardeners are not criminals so let's stop kicking fellow professionals

It seems all and sundry want to knock the gardening trade of late with the overly used term rogue trader being banded about all too often.

It gets quite wearing to hear my fellow professionals being kicked and kicked again by those who should know better, so it is rather pleasing to be able to report a couple of noble deeds by two members of our landscape and garden network.

Looking after elderly clients

Speaking from a position of experience I know that a gardening service is often more than lawn and border work.

Some clients view regular visits as being important to their well being with their gardener often becoming a friend and confidante.

Garages refuse to sell petrol to garden businesses after riots

It is so good to see so many people start to pull together since the recent riots.

Any decent folk would be abhorred to see so many people destroying the livelihoods and property in their own towns and cities.

Let's hope this is a watershed for political correctness and the government remains resolute and strong when dealing with these thugs.

The consequences of the actions of a mindless few appear not to be directly limited to those immediately affected by the riots.

This week, landscapers and gardeners on the Landscape Juice network have reported being banned from filling petrol cans at petrol pumps.

A continued ban or restriction would clearly have an impact on the many businesses who need fuel to go about their daily work and understandable, feelings are running high.

Professional branding is the key to success, says Arbworx

Jon and Sophia Lee are a husband and wife team on a mission.

Based in Brighton, their Arbworx landscaping and tree care business is going places and despite the difficult trading conditions they're expanding and hiring new staff.

The key to Arbworx success? Jon says professional re-branding has changed their business virtually overnight.

We found the secret to getting more leads came from a professional rebrand. I was very reluctant to change from our old branding but was convinced when the calibre of client virtually changed overnight. No more small low margin jobs that forever run over and have to be chased for payment, writes Jon Lee.

Business to business and business to local authority works have really raised our profit margin and continue to do so. The trick with these clients is not to get greedy and maintain a fair pricing policy. Just because they have a large budget to spend do not try to raise your margin to soak it up. This way you reap the benefits for years rather than months and generate a loyal customer base that return year on year.

2.5 million people in Britain have had a dispute with a builder in the last three years

A recent survey by consumer magazine Which? has revealed that nearly 2.5 million people have had a dispute with a builder with 15% needing professional help to resolve their dispute.

As many consumers opt for home improvements, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: 'Being left hundreds of pounds out of pocket after a bad experience with a builder can be a huge blow for families already feeling the pinch'.

The most common gripe was the quality of workmanship but other complaints included firms not turning up when agreed, delays over completion and sites being left untidy.

Twenty-five percent of those who had work done failed to receive a written quote before work started, and four per cent were even asked to pay the full amount for the job upfront.