Winter Driving Job. What Happened? UK Gardener.
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Hello You Tube, it’s Rob from Maxwells Grass Cutting Services, based in the North East of England.
Today I want to talk about winter work. Why I made the decision that I did, when it came to taking on a winter driving job.
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel.
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Remember, when the green gold is growing, keep mowing.
All the best.
Rob.
No one lies on their death bed fighting for one more breath and thinking "I wish I’d worked a bit harder"! It’s bloody horrible outside in this weather better to stay at home, spend some time with your loved ones, maybe do some diy, or maybe have a little think about what the heck this life’s all about! You’ll be glad you did and come the spring you’ll be well rested and rearing to go at it again.
Wise words. Thank you .
fair play
Cheers👍
How do Rob. I run a window cleaning business, and we operate all year round in all weather so long as its safe.
I get that in gardening you're pretty limited as to what you can get done, but the mindset of some people (including me) is that we offer an all year round service and we don't take on short term customers, as we want to focus on the customers that see the value in having us round all year round...could be the same in your industry for some folk.
Although what jobs can gardeners get in the winter. Great channel keep em coming.
Thanks Chris, appreciate your comment. There are winter jobs to do in the garden. However it does slow down dramatically. Good luck with your business. All the best.
Yes rob agreed i cut Lawns from middle of march or beginning of April to the end of November has been that way for 20 plus years for me .never have cut Lawns December January or February ever.
Sounds like a great plan.
Nice to take some time out mate. Happy Christmas toy you and a better 2023
Thanks David. All the best to you too.🎄👍🏻
A bit of down time is always good for new ideas.
I agree Adam. All the best to you . 👍🏻
Great videos. Thanks
Thanks Stewart. All the best to you.
From down south of the UK Peterborough area are season down this end of the world starts first or second week of feb and we go through to probably late November early December
That’s for our gardens, and to be honest, most lawns
That’s a great season. We are a bit colder up North. Thanks for watching and your comment.
Great video. Interesting what comes out of the R&D time and an unlikely trip to the shops. I’m like you I stay away from the shops… I go only when I have to. Some would say the diesel is different in the Supermarkets… mileage isn’t in it, I don’t know, seems to come from the same fuel depot as the ESSO and other brand names. Keep up the good work.
Very true! Thanks for watching and your comment.
Hi Rob,
Hope you recover soon from your infection I admire your motivation and love to see your enthusiasm for your business..
Thanks Les, appreciate that. All the best.
9:31 hi like your content. First time messaging. I own a gardening business - sunshine gardens baldock for 30 years. I employ 11 staff. Not boasting just want you know to make a judgment. ALL of our near 300 clients are visited 12 months of the year. Fortnightly from the start of March until the end of November and then monthly during December January and February. If they don’t want us during the winter they have a new quote at the start of March for an initial tidy up before re starting their fortnightly visits again. All of us need paying for 12 months and not just 9 months so we insist on an annual contract. Perhaps all new clients you take on are told this so they don’t have a choice and ease your existing clients into it over a couple of years. You still have direct debits etc coming out over 12 months - van insurance and tax and MOT, public liability insurance etc etc. it’s a business not a hobby. I do appreciate you are up north and maybe the weather doesn’t allow you to start earlier and finish later but your clients will see a big difference with those extra visits in and if you get the winter months in ( digging over borders , remove last of leaves and mowing lawns ( on a high cut so like a hoover ) your work will be lighter during the start of spring. Just a suggestion and sorry to have rambled on. Keep up
The good work 👍👍 Dave
Great advice my business is called sunshine gardening aswell ( Buckinghamshire ) ivr really suffered this winter luckily I have a a client who always gives me extra jobs in the winter , that said it’s still been a slog thanks again
Wise words Dave. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This is something that I will look at. All the best.
Hi Dave just a thought , If you do monthly payments and the weather means you can’t attend the garden what do you do ?
@@FLIPMODE630 great achievement though visiting nearly all 300 clients 12 months of the year.
@@pablo9364 brilliant absolutely 👍
Well it's a great time to chill at the moment -5 so put your feet up and enjoy a rest.
Wise words. Thank you .
Building the business nicely. Have you thought about any winter gritting contracts.
Not gritting. I have thought about pressure washing. All the best to you .
Good video Rob. I also feel a bit guilty when I’m not doing ‘proper work’, but then I just think that I did 25+ years of gardening full time, and it doesn’t feel so bad.
Thanks for watching and your comment. We are programmed to work flat out. We need to change our way of thinking. All the best.
I think we have pretty similar climates. I am in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Generally I would agree about the season being from mid March until the end of November. That's if your primary focus is mow and blows with spring and fall cleanups. If ya want to extend your season you'll have to diversify your offerings. We prune fruit trees in the dead of winter here. A lot of people do Christmas lights, mulch, pressure washing and fencing in the winter. Firewood is popular in my neck of the woods too. My focus is large properties. There's always something to do and I like a bit of a slow down. Large commercial year long contracts are good too. And of course there is nothing wrong with a bit of holiday if ya budget and plan accordingly! Go find some sun!
Wise words Kelly. Thanks for watching and your comment. 👍🏻
pressure washing is the way forward , been looking at Spinaclean set up ,Honda engine ,just not earning enough from gardening.
I understand where your coming from. Adding additional services like pressure washing and gutter clearing can lengthen your season and add to you turnover. All the best.
Hi Rob, Season's greetings from Ireland. Like you I have time on my hands since the freeze. Toole maintenance is something that needs doing and those days are good for that. I also do some chainsaw work before and after Christmas. All the best Rob enjoy your clips.
Thanks Aidan. All the best to you .
Minus 5 here in Manchester today. I’ve saved the composting the weather like this so sees me through a week or two. Also all the digging keeps you warm! 😅. I’m avoiding the cold this Jan though with a month long holiday in the phillipines/Indonesia. Back to it in Feb. Don’t forget your slice of pizza after the Costco shop aswell 😎
Get a cup to catch the greece dripping off the pizza though 🍕
@@LongJonSilver v true!
Thanks mate. Enjoy your holiday.👍🏻
Keep up the good work enjoy watching
Thanks Michael. Appreciate your comment.👍🏻
Great Post Rob........I would say 80% of my customers are march until the end of December, I do have four big all year round jobs still going, used have more but some job's move away or I move on to new jobs myself, but I tend to keep generally busy, with tree pruning and fencing jobs through January and February, but like yer say it is nice to have some down time to reflect on the last year and plan ahead for the next , glad iam not the only one who hasn't worked this week its been -6 at night and not above freezing in the south east , take care and blessed yule to you
Thanks David. All the best to you. 👍🏻
Hi Rob, i tell all my small /medium clients my Rota starts March 1st to Xmas if weather ok . a few others go all year but Jan /Feb are thin on work. But this year i've only had four holiday days off and its been a long slog so its good to take some down time and plan for next year !
I agree James. All the best to you .
I decided to keep on my school bus work until mid February. I’m glad I did! During November it never stopped raining and I lost loads of days because everything was waterlogged. This month has been cold with snow and heavy frosts. I haven’t worked all this week because the school I drive for has been closed due to weather and heating failure.
I can sustain not working, but need the weather to improve sufficiently for me to do a bit of driving, and some 12 month customers. I hope to get back out this week as the schools have broken up for Christmas now.
It’s good news that you have found a way to get around the city tax. Your customers would be delighted that you haven’t dropped them.
Have a great Christmas with your family Rob, and look forward to seeing your vids in the new year.
Chris ( East Sussex Lawn Care)
Thanks Chris . All the best to you. 👍🏻
Hi Rob , great video. I've said this before but you will always succeed. Have a good Christmas.
Thanks Michael. All the best.
Glad you've managed to find a solution to keep those customers on Rob 👍🏾
In regards to the gardening season, practically all of my customers are march - October then I use the winter months for the one-off tidy ups where I can charge enough to keep me afloat
Me and you both. All the best.
March - November In Dundee Scotland for most domestic customers who want maintenance done Rob so maybe I'm doing it wrong too?👀 all the best for 2023 and have a great Christmas 🎄👍🍻
All the best to you James. Thanks for watching and your comment.
Have a great Christmas Rob to you and your family. All the very best, Nick in Wolsingham.
Thanks Nick. All the best to you. 👍🏻
i couldnt agree more ....ive just taken this year off...starting up again in the spring
Sounds great. All the best.
As for fule. You need a fule card. Only Desiel. But save a fortune.
Thanks for that . I will check it out.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices i can give the company i use your detales. Just nymber email. And if you take it out i get a small thank you gift. 🙂.
Hi Rob just being looking at Premier lawns video on gutter clearing, he’s built own set up and only does it November December and January and says it’s good. Worth a look.
Thanks Neil. I did watch Robbies video again. I am looking at the GVC panther machine with carbon fibre poles.
All the best.
Have a good Christmas and keep the videos coming
Thanks Mark. Appreciate your comment. All the best.
I’m down south and did my last mow on 14th December. Never mowed in December before!
The world is changing. All the best.
All about communication. Some customers will want your season, others are fine being told you're an all-year gardener. For my regulars, I'm doing leaves, hedging, weeding, composting, bonfires, fence panel replacement, light tree work, deadheading and shrubbery. Winter for me is a lot of lucrative one-off tidies. Sounds though, that you prefer your season, which is legitimate, it's your business, do it your way and reap the job satisfaction! I admire your diligence to number crunching Rob.
Thanks Jon. It’s my aim to build the winter work. Sounds like you have in all wrapped up. Thanks for watching and your comment.
Love listening to your videos Rob and your enthusiasm. The way you think things through and explain your decisions is really good to hear. Keep warm, have a great Christmas and a prosperous 2023! All the best
Thanks Mark. All the best to you .👍🏻
Make Christmas wreaths rod you should get all you need from your gardening work. Fren, Holly get the word out around your customers 😉
I am not very artistic Simon. All the best.
Happy Christmas
All the best to you, my friend. Have a great relaxing time.👍🏻
Hi pal .I been off for few weeks. I know u mean about feeling guilty. But I been non stop since early March. Finished beginning of December. Back in early January weather permits. Thanks for video
Thanks Dave. Good luck with your business.
Rob. Glad you don't have to give up that big chunk of your round.
You know my thoughts on gutter cleaning. I think pressure washing idea is a much better bet.
All the best for Christmas to you and yours from me and mine 👍
Thanks Gary . You take care.
Hi Rob, you could try selling Christmas trees to your customers in November and early December. In january construct bird boxes, bird feeders, bat boxes, and bug hotels to upsell to your customers toughout the year.
Sounds like you have is sussed. All the best to you.
Just never walk down the tool isle in costco… you’ll struggle to come out without being £200 lighter! Cheers Ciaran
Your so right Ciaran. It’s a challenge going into Costco and not coming out with a full trolley. All the best.
Absolutely first class Rob and you all take good care of yourselves won't you buddy and have a very Merry Christmas
Thanks Wayne. All the best.
Cheers Rob
Hi Rob, i tell all my customers that i am there when they need me they may have winter jobs they need i say i will work all year but will always look at the conditions for the job they want i was cutting grass about 2 weeks ago as it was flying still now froze ground so when can cutting hedges and some clean up jobs so i set my self to the jobs it works with the reviews to i guess the 34 weeks is mainly aimed at grass but we can and do work all year so i always say i work to suit the garden/job not to a book it seems to work and gets me plenty of work all year now i cut 5 hedges the last week or so all clients have booked me in for next year already i find that works well. if we dont speak before have a great Christmas and new year all the best Shane
Thanks Shane. Your right regarding the weather. Fingers crossed it warms up a little. All the best.
Hi Rob before I retired from my grounds maintenances business for 10 years all my customers where on 12 month contracts And invoiced a 12th of their annual cost each month and in all those years I only lost about 5% of those customers over that period.
The advantage is you had a regular income over the year,you obviously work more hours in the summer but a lot less in the winter but once explained to the clients they accepted those terms.
Wise words. Thank you for sharing that . All the best.
For me Dec to Feb gardening is not financially viable. Quality of work is affected too much by winter weather. I also feel good about not disturbing wildlife And plants too much.
You make a solid point. All the best to you.
Have a look at partridge exterior cleaning learned a lot from his vids
I will. Thanks.
Rob, just a thought, during winter weeks, why don't you buy some timbers and hinges and knock up some raised beds in your garage where it might just be warmer and also in the dry. There are loads of YT instructional videos and you can offer them to your customers and then help them to fill them (Huegelkultur). Knock up a couple of sizes and your customers will love them since they are great for keeping weeds down (Charles Dowding - No Dig Method) and since the beds are raised, even the oldest owner can tend some vegetables for the spring, summer and autumn.
I looked around for pallet collars - something many people use for raised beds since they can fold down but to date, I have drawn a blank - so I built my own last summer with some stackable timber planks from Selco- not easy for a fat old bird who lives alone and doesn't exercise, I can tell you but in the Spring my small garden will be yielding peas, beans and brocolli hopefully. Anyhoo, that would keep you in the dry, keep you productive and give you something to offer your customers ready for the spring.
You could also knock up some concrete planters - all you need is to make some moulds and again, YT is your friend there. My bet is you already have spare old bags of cement and use the same throughout the season too - well don't throw away the left overs, drop them in your moulds instead and then you have another product you can offer to your customers. Colour them too with black or terracotta pigments from ant builders' merchant. Also, consider making a lighter version of the concrete planters - Hypertufa - you will most certainly have all the ingredients and you will both keep yourself busy AND keep your customers happy.
Happy new year ... Nikki
Thank you Nikki, some great ideas there. All the best.
I have just started getting some customers to pay over 12 months for their 36 week season it works quite well to bring income in over the winter period.
Good for you mate. All the best.
Good shout about costo diesel, thanks rob! Will nip in whenever im in the area. Nothing at all wrong with clocking off in November mate! When im making enough from lawns its exactly what I'll be doing.
I'll add that i love working outside if its cold and dry, and because most of November was rained off, a lot of hedge jobs need catching up on. Last year it was storm arwin that created most of my winter work up until lawns started again!
Your right. There was lots of clear up last year. Here is to a warmer winter. All the best.
@@maxwellsgrasscuttingservices same fella, all the best
I always go to Costco first thing in the morning, 7 o’clock as there’s never anyone there filling up. Straight in and out as queues are ridiculous during the day
Your right Brandon. Small changes like saving on fuel make a massive difference. All the best.
Sacked it off as well everything forzen solid I was a bit too optimistic about getting out again this week lol
same happened to me in eastbourne
Me and you both. It’s freezing up here. All the best.
Your dead right about ya customers soon as the grass stops they want rid fast till March....I looked into gutter cleaning model was cheaper and easier to set up for powerewashing enjoying ya vids m8
Thanks Rob. Good luck with the gutter cleaning . All the best.
I used to get guilty to..not anymore.we kill ourselves all through summer,6 maybe 7 days a week so we deserve a break like anyone else does.
We don’t get holiday pay or sick pay…enjoy the rest before the summer madness starts again 🙂
Wise words. Thanks for watching and your comment.👍🏻
Thanks for the video, you are so right, when you are working all the time, you can’t think about anything else, take care
Thanks Stuart. All the best to you.
Get a fuel card mate. My price this week is £1.30+vat/litre.
I will have a look at that . Is there a minimum spend.
Where abouts in Nottinghamshire did you live?
I'm from Clipstone 👍
Ollerton, I know Clipstone well. All the best to you.
Have you ever bumped into Scott...or is he miles away.
Neither of you seems to acknowledge each other!
Do you mean Scott from SC Landscaping?
I believe he works out of South Durham , approximately 15 miles away.
I don’t know him other than watching his videos.
All the best.