17 Sep 2009 by david woodhouse
hi, i have been running my own garden maintenance business for 3 years and have now developed a keen interest in learning more about lawn care ie. the science behind soils,grasses etc, maintenance methods, which types of fertilisers and weed killers, which machinery and so on.
Could anyone out there please point me in the right direction as to how and where i can increase my knowledge whilst still operating my business. Thanks
Try greenthumb.
LOL @bath.
David, IMO the theory behind looking after a lawn isn't really much different to looking after any sports surface. Try looking at a couple of IOG courses and see if any fit your needs.
Alternatively try clicking on 'Training' at the top of this page - there's even a dedicated course on 'Lawncare'.
Of course there's no bounce, bend your back and put some bloody effort in.
David,
If you haven't already had a look at it I would seriously recommend the following book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lawn-Expert-D-G-Hessayon/dp/0903505487
basically the same elements appear for lawns as I use on my golf course, it's just the mowers aren't quite as big or the irrigation system quite as fancy.
a bit more technical but also widely available and reasonably priced is
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sports-Turf-Amenity-Grassland-Management/dp/1861267908/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253223702&sr=8-9
am I correct in saying the IOG is behind its publishing? anyway the guy who reviews it on amazon says it quite well: "As a keen gardener with a lawn I found this well written book filled a gap between very expensive reference texts and books such as "The Lawn Expert", although it is closer in quality to the reference. So although it has been written with turf specialists in mind it deserves to find a wider audience in the general public."
Good luck to you!
18 Sep 2009 by Poa7
There is a book, published June 2008, with the latest info specific to lawn care in the Pitchcare shop, it's called the Lawn Guide - only £4.95 with postage included
http://www.pitchcare.com/shop/garden-and-landscape-books/the-lawn-guide.html
Great reviews on Amazon also
Poa7 - TUT TUT. After the hammering you gave me over self promotion!!!!!!!!!
David - seriously, the book highlighted by Poa 7 is good.
Andy Turnbull
18 Sep 2009 by Poa7
The guy's asking for specific advice on a Lawn Care book Andy - What is one to do?? lol
18 Sep 2009 by david woodhouse
Thanks for all your suggestions they've been a great help but i am a little confused as to whether i should go on a college course or simply buy afew books and pick it up as i go along?
19 Sep 2009 by Mr R
Both David - if you can. Adding to your knowledge through reading up is essential, but actually studying in a college gives you a good foundation in turf care and allows you to talk and learn to your tutor and others in the turf care industry.
David,
For sure read the books. If you were going to college you would need to read them (we hope) if you weren't going to college you would need to read them.
Perhaps by looking at them first it would give you an idea of what you know already, and what you might need to find out.
There is a press release from the GTC (greenkeeper training council) here on Pitchcare right now about the changing set up for qualifications nationally, it seems NVQs are out, modular diplomas are in. This might suit you very well as you wouldn't have to commit to year long study in subjects that weren't relevant to your work. The GTC web page should have a link to colleges that do turf qualifications so as you could find a college in your area, perhaps have a look at that.
Myself I learn mainly on the job and through my own reading (Pitchcare very much included) however working in a team has given me the opportunity to be able to learn directly from thoses with vastly more experience than me. I imagine you are working on your own or at least don't have a manager with 25 years experience to go to when you need to ask something (or get told!). For me that was the best thing about going to college, meeting lots of other people face to face doing the same things and sharing the same problems. Eveyone says it but people in the turf business are a friendly lot.
If nothing else and if you haven't already; get your pa1 and pa6 for the spraying.
Cheers
Hi,
Newbie alert ! Apologies for hijacking this thread but I didn't feel the need to start a brand new one for this.
As a complete newcomer to the industry (I have one summers worth of lawnmowing under my belt !) I would appreciate some advice please.
I am 28 and to date I have never really managed to get a career going, but I would like to start in something which I can progress in and hopefully also enjoy.
I have recently considered gardening but am keen to specialise in something.
I have obviously read this thread but the OP has obviously got a few years experience already.
What would be my best course of action ? I am keen to train, but I think I am looking in the wrong places as I am not finding much (wrong time of year I suppose?).
I would happily call local golfclubs to see if I could speak with someone or even voluneer in the hope of getting some work, would this be worth doing or would I be laughed at ?!
And most importantly do you think this is a profession you would recommend to someone like myself, and if you were 28 with no experience (and a family to support!) what would you do in order to get yourself trained up ?
Lots of questions, maybe I should have started a new thread !!
Thanks in advance.
ps. I have seen the training link on the website of course, but thought it would be worth seeking some advice aswell
Always greener......where abouts are you based?
Mr Woddhouse, if you pick it up as you go, you are on a par with greenthumb...in all seriousness!
Dr Hessayon, good god...its a shame but it will give you some basics but is about 20 years out of date.
Haven't seen the lawn guide but it must be better than Dr Hessayons effort.
Best learning, voluntary work...talk to people...strike up a friendship.......you'll learn much quicker.
Always greener. I am no expert in gardening or business but I started off just over 3 years ago with nothing, not even much experience, but what I have learnt is that if you go down the own business route,you need to be honest with yourself and your customers. Start off small, if you can't do a job tell the customer,they will be happier you told them rather than having a go and making a right mess.
Something else that i remember when first starting was how much the customer was relieved to see me simply for turning up to give a quote when i said i was going to be there. There are so many out there that don't keep to their word.
You have got to ask as many questions as possible and that includes asking for work.
As regards training, at the moment i am looking at nvq courses that you can do whilst working. I will post info when I can.
Hi,
I am based in Kent.
Thanks for comments David, I have a little experience in running my own small business so have seen first hand that good communication is crucial.
I'm in quite a unique position right now, as I earn just enough (to keep the wolf from the door!) from my small business to allow me to train in something else and it takes up very little of my time if I use my time wisely. My wife will also be taking up some of the slack financially, at least until next summer. So really I need to be ready with at least something come April time so that I can earn, and be going in the right direction.
What I don't want to do is waste the next few months.
hi alwaysgreener, its alittle unclear as to whether you want to stay in this game as you have mentioned getting trained in something else.Its good that your other half can take the load financially as if you stay self employed work is very slow through winter. A simple solution to this is to earn enough in the summer to carry you through ,as you have already done.
If you want to be employed then you will no doubt be expected to start from the bottom and I would have thought you won't be earning as much as you would do running your own business.
As regards training I have a phone number of a college that provide nvq training in amenity horticulture- sportsturf. 01995 642 128.
They are based in lancashire but my be able to help you out.
sorry by "something else" I meant this !
thanks for the info
HI
I've been involved in this industry for over 20 yrs, which includes basic college training, full time college training for 3yrs and stacks of experience working on professional grounds,cricket,football, rugby etc etc.
If you're starting out on your own the best advice I would give is simply this:
Be honest with your customers as has been mentioned. Trying to flannel them with sh1t will mean no repeat work, which will eventually be the backbone of your business. Never ever lie, it'll come back to bite you on the ar5e everytime.
If you don't know,ASK(not the customer though, that may look dodgy).
Never half do the job. Fulfil your objectives, regardless.
If you're going to specialise in lawncare remember the fact that it is exactly that: specialised. Easy to do and equally easy to make a complete hash of(Greenthumb do that all the time, they're absolute jokers.) 'The Lawn Expert' book and a Spray certificate, a lawn expert does not make, and quite honestly you don't need them unless you are using commercially restricted products or on a commercial basis. There are many many factors involved in making sure your grass will be 'the best'. One core sample of soil does not open up a library of information regarding the treatment of a lawn, although it helps slightly.
You can use basic domestic(B&Q bla bla) products to produce a very good lawn 12 months a year. The correct application is key and the subsequent follow up treatments must be implemented. i.e. no point scarifying and removing dead matter etc without equally replacing it with that which you intend to improve.
I can spray weedkiller, mosskiller and fertiliser. I can scarify and topdress. I even spread granular products by hand casting. I can overseed and produce fine seed beds. I can also identify grasses by just looking at them and assessing their suitability for a particular lawn. But all thats useless if I don't do it right.
No Fork handles....Handles for forks!!
welcome back mickjm, where have you been ?
Busy, bath, very busy. Business is good!! Thankfully.
I've had a ton of things going on which has meant I have neglected Pitchcare message board somewhat. I still pop on for the weather reports as they prove to still be the most reliable.
I will obviously have to become a little more active. LOL. I have missed it TBH
No Fork handles....Handles for forks!!
18 Oct 2009 by bestparis69@hotmail.co.uk
Hey Alwaysgreener. I did an NVQ2 in Sports Turf @ Merrist Wood college in Guildford. We had guys from as far as Eltham coming to th course. By the nature of the course you do ideally need to be working @ a golf course or in sports turf enviroment. If you can afford to offer to work for free, or minimal wage so as to complete the NVQ course then contact all your local golf courses and another good one is cricket clubs as the ground and square is normally cared for by other members or voluntary help as far as I know. Email me @ bestparis69@hotmail.co.uk and I will email you a contact number for Merrist Wood. You will have to act qucikly thou as I believe the course starts in the next couple of weeks, if not started already !!
18 Oct 2009 by bestparis69@hotmail.co.uk
At the very least make sure you mower blades are SHARP. Blunt blades tear the leaf blade and this is the entry point for disease to strike !!!! Also sharp mower blades give a much nicer cut ;-) Look out for a decent 2nd hand Hayter as the heavy rear roller gives a lovely striped look to any lawn. Tyr to get one which has only had personal home use and you can't go much wrong. I picked a Hayter Harrier up for £100 and gave it a service at work. New it currently retails at around £700 and the one I got was 3yrs old just home use so just ex-demo really and an absolute bargain ;-)
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