The Apprentice Ed’s Garden Operator Style

Ed’s Garden Operators’ Canine Helpers

This is a really busy time of year for an Ed’s Garden Operator. With the milder weather we’ve been having, the grass is still growing.  This means that  there is still mowing to be done. However, the challenges of Autumn (lots of clearing leaves!) and getting all our lovely customers’ gardens in shape for the winter ahead are there too.

We’re not complaining though.  We love it.  Especially when the weather is kind, with bright, crisp Autumn days.

With limited daylight hours, our Garden Operators can do with a bit of help to get on top of their workloads. Indeed, some of their own canine apprentices have been providing an extra set of paws to get the job done.

As everyone knows, we love reviewing performance at Ed’s so we just had to ask our guys how the new recruits are measuring up…

Baloo’s Review!

This is Baloo, a lovely and loyal German Shepherd. She has recently started helping Bob, our Garden Operator in Horsham, to deliver his gardening services.

Bob says, “Well, I’m probably a little bit biased as I’m very fond of Baloo. However,  she is really getting to grips with the challenges of being a sidekick . Nothing is too much trouble for her and she is very versatile in helping out with whatever I need.  She is just great at multi-tasking.”

“Whether it be guarding the van or helping me uproot a somewhat stubborn tree, she is on it. Her focus is amazing and even a rogue squirrel in a garden won’t distract her from the task in hand.  However,   I can see it takes every ounce of her willpower to ignore them!  What can I say apart from I’m really lucky to have her on board.  If she can keep her current level of motivation, she will go very far indeed!”

Monty’s moment of truth!

Another recent recruit is a rather dashing Hungarian Vizsla called Monty. He  lives with Stuart, our Ed’s Garden Operator in rural Norfolk.  Clearly a handsome and delightful chap but we asked Stuart if he could sum up how Monty is cutting the mustard.

Looking thoughtful, Stuart says “ Well, it all started off brilliantly in the summer when Monty was very keen to spring out of bed and get to work. Sadly, since the cooler days have kicked in, it has all changed. Monty does a quick weather check before he decides whether he is going to grace us with his company or just stay at home snuggling beside the Aga. It really isn’t good enough.”

“Monty is still a very young fellow but I feel that his current commitment level could be better. I am out in all weathers but Monty…well, he just doesn’t seem to be made of the same stuff.  In all honesty,  he seems to be a bit of a fair weather gardener.”

“If only he could get his work ethic right, he would go far in this business.  His  interpersonal skills are second to none and everyone who meets him tends to think he is wonderful. It’s not fair really. I toil away, day in, day out, without as much as a grumble and yet Monty is always the one who wins the popularity vote hands down with my customers!”

 

Dave’s Stars and Stripes

Dave Laing Lawn Mowing Expert Andover

Dave Laing joined Ed’s Garden Services earlier this year  as our  Garden Operator in Andover.

Before joining Ed’s, Dave had wanted to run a Garden Operator business for quite some time. He loves being physically active and enjoys both gardening and meeting people. A perfect fit for him!

Dave’s friendly approach, hard work and high standards are paying off and he already has a number of regular customers who are very appreciative of his work.

Dave has been getting a number excellent five star customer reviews. Here’s what Dave has to say about that:-

“ I genuinely love getting great reviews. I know that I try hard to please my customers and pride myself in doing the best job that I possibly can. Whether it’s lawns, hedges, big garden clearances or autumn leaf clearing, I try to make my gardens look their best. When I’ve finished a garden visit, I always hope my customer is as satisfied with it as I am. Over the summer and autumn, I’ve particularly enjoyed perfecting my lawn stripes.”

This is one of Dave’s gardens…

“When I get appreciative reviews, I feel like it’s a real validation of what I strive to achieve. That’s satisfied customers. I’ve got some great customers and making them happy is without a doubt the best part of my job.”

If you think Dave can help you with your garden requirements, please do get in touch.

Ed’s preparations for the season ahead

The RHS Wisley location

Ed’s Garden Services Operators were out in force last week for another great training session at RHS Wisley. The Ed’s team visits RHS Wisley in all seasons. It looks absolutely stunning at any time of the year. This was our view from the office …

The training we get there is truly excellent – we have access to the best horticultural expertise there is.

We always plan our Ed’s training sessions to coincide with the changing seasons and go for an early start to avoid disruption to our Garden Operators’ busy work schedules. Our Wisley training sessions really help Ed’s Garden Operators to prepare for the season ahead and to apply their learning in their customers’ gardens.

What we cover

Last week, we covered a whole range of horticultural topics. We learned about recent developments in new technologies for re-turfing lawns, advanced methods of dealing with problem areas with existing lawns and also got some great tips relating to hedges. Planting was also covered, which is always great to unleash our Garden Operators’ creativity. We finished off with a session on important new developments. This included health and safety regulations to make sure our Garden Operators’ are kept fully up to date in this important area.

No visit to Wisley would be complete without a stroll round the beautiful gardens. It is quite magical to be there before the gates are open to visitors for the day.  Autumn was certainly showing itself in all its glory. What a great start to a gardening day!

 

 

Gardening in Sutton Coldfield

My name is Pete Henchey and I established my Ed’s Garden Services business in Sutton Coldfield earlier this year.

I knew I would really enjoy being a gardener but, to be honest, I didn’t realise just how much. It’s been a very busy first summer for me but I have found the work to be really rewarding and I particularly enjoy meeting new customers and understanding their gardening requirements.

My work is very varied, ranging from re-turfing and mowing lawns to hedges and jet washing patios and I enjoy the variety of it all. However,  I particularly love transforming my customers’ gardens. I find it so rewarding to stand back and look at the finished article and I can’t resist taking a few photos here and there!

There’s something very satisfying about seeing the final product when you’ve turned an area in need of a bit of work into a great new piece of lawn. The first photo below shows the new piece of lawn in a recent re-turfing job. I was delighted with the end result.
Newly Re-Turfed Lawn by Ed's Garden Maintenance

The second photo shows the lawn after its first cut. Still looking good! My customer and I have now moved on to set up a routine maintenance schedule to keep those stripes looking as fresh and sharp as the first mow.

Newly Re-Turfed Lawn with its first fresh cut by Ed's Garden Maintenance

Finally, here are a few impressive hedges I have been working on lately. This job required a lot of attention to detail but I thoroughly enjoyed it and was delighted with how they looked when I’d finished the job.

Hedge trimming Services in Sutton ColdfieldHedge Trimming Services by Ed's Garden Maintenance

Ed’s Garden Maintenance Welcomes Bob

Bob Dulieu Garden Maintenance Services in Horsham

Bob Dulieu has recently joined Ed’s Garden Maintenance to service customers in the Horsham area. Bob was previously Managing Director of a risk management consultancy and is excited to be running his own Ed’s Garden Maintenance.

Bob is now fully up and running and delivering our core Garden Services of Lawn Mowing, Hedge Trimming, Jet Washing, Garden Tidy Ups and Garden Clearances. Please get in touch if you think Bob can help you get your garden in shape to make the most of Summer.

Richard’s Gardening Gallery

Watering the Grass in South East London

Richard Cooke, our Ed’s Operator in South East London, has very kindly showcased his excellent work by sending some great photos into the Ed’s Office. Richard has been running his Ed’s business for nearly five years and has loved having the opportunity to work his magic in a range of gardens.

This is what Richard has to say about his life with Ed’s:-

” I love being an Ed’s Operator. I’m a really high-energy, outdoorsy person and love a challenge. Before Ed’s, I did a variety of interesting jobs, but I always got itchy feet and felt that I had far too much energy for what I was doing. I’m at my best when I am on the move and solving problems!

I love the sense of achievement when something is a bit messy and difficult and I can look at the end result and see the difference I’ve made. I love the variety of the gardens I get to make a difference in, from small to large and new to old and established ones.

I also really enjoy the customer interaction aspect of my work and almost five years in, I still get a big thrill from feedback from delighted customers. It sounds a bit of a cliché but I feel really privileged to be able to run a business that suits my personality so well. My wife and I have recently welcomed a baby son and my wife jokes that I take almost as many photos of my ‘before and after’ gardens as I do of the baby!”

Here are some of the finished articles from Richard …

Garden Tidy Up in South East London

Garden Lawn Mowing Services in South East London

Border Edging Services in South East London

Clearing Garden Border Edges

Maintaining Balcony Gardens in South East London

Front Garden Maintenance Service in South East London

Paul is on the Ball

Paul Wellington's Gardening Services in Thurrock

Here at Ed’s Garden Maintenance, we are delighted to announce that we can now service customers in the Thurrock area. Paul Wellington has recently joined Ed’s to set up his garden maintenance business in the Thurrock area. Paul knows the turf (excuse the pun!) very well already, having previously been a black cab driver in the area.

Paul is now fully operational and is delivering a full range of Gardening Services including Hedge Trimming, Grass Cutting, Lawn Turfing, Pressure Washing and Garden Tidy Ups.

Paul is rearing to go with his new business. Here is what he has to say about embarking on his new venture:-

“I have a lot of customer service experience from working as a cabbie and I know how important it is to go the extra mile to make your customers really happy. For me this is all about delivering excellent garden services and building a strong reputation in the community.

I’ve spent time learning the ropes with other Ed’s Operators and the training I have had has been second to none. I feel very well prepared to take on the challenges of running an efficient business.

Prompt, reliable and efficient is our mantra and it is at the core of our business. It is a bonus that I really love the outdoors and am thrilled to be behind a lawn mower rather than a steering wheel.”

Please get in touch if you think Paul can help you with your garden maintenance needs.

It’s not just the grass that is growing, Ed’s is too!

The Ed’s Garden Maintenance team has recently grown to 42 garden maintenance Operators.  This increase in geographical coverage helps us to make our customer service even better.

 

Ed's Garden Maintenance welcomes their new Gardener Operators

(From left to right) Neil Miller, is providing  gardening services in Rustington, Haydn Jones, is providing  garden services in Southbourne and John Spencer is our man to go to for Maidenhead garden services. They all joined Ed’s over the last few months and have now finished their induction training and are rearing to get on with the gardening season ahead.

Pete Henchey offers Gardening Services in Sutton Coalfield

Pete Henchey has recently joined our team to provide gardening services in Sutton Coldfield.  Pete is available to help with all your  lawn mowing, hedge cutting, garden tidy ups, turfing and jet washing needs.

Dave Laing's Gardening Services in Andover

Dave Laing has is now fully operational and is delivering Gardening Maintenance Services in Andover. He is available for hedge trimming, grass cutting, lawn turfing and pressure washing.

Neil Collis with Warren Emsden, two of Ed's Gardeners

And last, but not least, Warren Emsden (on the right above with Neil Collis) has joined us to run his Ed’s Garden Maintenance Business in Petts Wood. Neil Collis runs his Garden Maintenance Service in Sevenoaks.

We wish all of our Operators all the very best with their new businesses.

 

Jet Washing the streets of Rustington

Jest Washing Services in Rustington from Ed's Garden Maintenance

Providing Jet Washing Services to Rustington

I have now been running my own business for nearly six months and I don’t know where the time has grown. Despite the winter months, I have really enjoyed being outside helping prepare their gardens, either for the coming Spring or to tidy up their gardens prior to placing their property on the market for sale.

I have already met many nice people and received some very complementary reviews.

The ethos of Ed’s Garden Maintenance is providing a prompt, reliable and efficient service and I am always looking at ways to improve the services that I deliver by investing in the latest equipment and ongoing training.

Having already completed a Power Pole Pruning Course, obtained my award in the Safe Use of Pesticides and attended a Fruit Tree Pruning Course, I am looking for the next course that complements the regular internal training that we all receive.

I am not sure how many people enjoy the thought of jet washing their patio or driveway, not only do you lose your weekend but end up soaked and covered in dirt. This is a service that I offer, but have to admit, the thought of jet washing a large driveway made my heart sink until NOW!

I am now the proud owner of a Flat Surface Jet Washing Machine that not only means no more hunching, but it also keeps the dirt on the floor, meaning that I stay clean and there is minimal mess to the customers property when cleaning that driveway or patio. Bring on those large driveways that I used to fear!

Jet Washing in Rustington with Ed's Garden Maintenance

I have now cleaned the driveways of three of my immediate neighbours with a fourth booked in. I have also cleaned 40 years of dirt from my father-in-laws drive. Of those jobs completed, the finished results have been excellent with a lot of positive comments. There are a number of examples available to see.

So, as we move into spring, I feel well prepared to cope with meeting new people and of course those long hot summer days being outside.