Second client and the rain is here again

Well I went over to my other client's garden today (hark at me second client ) and it started to properly rain when I arrived. Typical! Got geared up and went straight to work.

My first task was to cut back a Buddleja so it wasn't flopping over onto the lawn. I shall give it a proper prune in March. It was tidy for now though and will be easier to mow the lawn, should the weather ever become nice again.
I then started to weed a border that surrounds the lawn that is in front of her patio doors. Thought it would be a nice place to start as she would see the results immediately without having to leave her house.

It was thankfully nice soil to work with and so the weeds came up a treat. I also edged and trimmed the edges of the lawn to make it look extra nice.
A few niggles were that I had a broken pair of secateurs, I need to find the other pair I have. I have to remember to bring a bucket or tub trug with me next time as I didn't remember that the wheelie bin was up some steps and so couldn't drag it to where I wanted it. I didn't have access to a loo or sink (the lady goes out a lot and leaves me to it), but luckily there was a tap outside so I used that to wash my hands and tools as well, and as for the loo I only did 4 hours and only wanted to go half way through so squeezed my legs together and prayed for no leakage ha ha

Well at the end of the 4 hours I had managed to do the border and it looked a lot better than it did at the start.

Later on in the day I got a text from her saying "Very pleased with what you have done so far will certainly give you a good reference". Result! again ha ha

Let's hope these ladies tell their friends good things about me!

 

The big floppy buckets from builders merchants are good for hoiking things about.

After years in the building trade, you learn to find out where the nearest bog to the site is Or just ask the client, most of them will leave the door open for you once they get to know you.

 

I think that's a bit late? I like to prune mine earlier, before the buds start to fatten / break (otherwise energy goes into the buds at the end of the shoots that then get cut off)

I don't know if it makes any difference, but I prune (hard ) half the shoots in February, and then the other half in late March - the idea being to spread the flowering season later on. But I may only be kidding myself?

 

Good idea, I'll try that next year. If you dead head buddleias the flowering season is extended as long as it's willing to grow, I find.

Tina, i'm enjoying your tales of being a paid gardener. If the weather is truly terrible will you postpone the job?

 

@ Kristen Doing it in March as I can do a few other plants at that time also. I have found that its been so cold to do it any time before then as well. At least its tidy for now anyway. Think it takes a lot to kill one anyway, pruned enough of those in my previous job... you try but they never go away lol

@ Zigs I need a van with curtains and a bucket

@ Madahhalia Thank you. Thought people may be interested (they might not be of course) in how easy or difficult it is to become self-employed as a gardener. I've wanted to do it for a long time but at the same time the fear of it has put me off. It took for me to be given no other choice but to give it a try to do it.

I'll work in all weather, but if its really heavy snow I'll have to work around it and go on a day when its thawed instead. Even though its constant rain at the moment its still better than snow and heavy frost, I can still reluctantly work out in the gardens lol Wet weather is excellent for weeding.

 

Won't matter when you prune Buddleja, per se, and it will flower regardless. And you are right, killing it would be hard, indeed But I'll wager that they will produce better flowers if pruned earlier than March ... but if your client timetable is March that's certainly going to put on a good show for them in late Summer (well ... provided they aren't that ghastly boring plain lilac colour!!)

 

I think it is most likely its that 'ghastly boring plain lilac' lol Nevermind the bees and butterflies love it lol

With how the weather is here I think my next vehicle should be a canoe. Lots of flooding in my area. Perhaps I should take swimming lessons as well. lol

 

Good marketing material ... "I arrive whatever the weather" and a picture of you arriving by Canoe with your Spade, Hoe, ... lawn mower ...