likeitorlumpit

That looks a great bit of kit- How does it work with ladder restrictions at work- I mean how can you use tools on the ladder- is there a conflict there as a fall from 4-5 metres would be bad. What do you do- clip in or just work free.

Sorry folks- I've researched further and there is a jelly like slime mould and it would appear this may well be the culprit- They say to wash off and apply dilute vinegar plus feed the lawn so that is what I'll recommend. The power of arbtalk- takes on gardeners question time.

Thanks- But I think thats eliminated slime mould though as its more like a black jelly and is on the soil rather than using the grass as a support. It looks really vile like someone has spilt thick engine oil with the viscosity of jelly on the lawn though the grass is still struggling through about 50% reduced density I know this isn't strictly tree related- I was thinking someone may have seen something similar with all the wet weather- I'm sure that is related somehow.

I'm hoping someone will know what this is. A customer has an area of lawn with reduced grass growth and the soil that it is growing in is covered in a slime about 2-3mm deep that is generally black but doesn't smell petrochemical or decay- in fact doesn't smell at all. It's a wet area as its by the patio and at the low side of the garden with underlying clay. Any ideas- I don't think it is anything spilt.

We must be a similar age. Also you're right - the smells and feel We were on boulderwood drive in the New Forest 2 weeks ago and got out for a walk and found some large redwoods and giganticum- biggest in UK small by usa standards but even so it felt and smelt much like Yosemite woods.

weekends = about 6 hours weekdays= about 8 hours I do tend to get up as soon as I wake and in the summer that can be 5am Nothing worse than waiting for the alarm to sound knowing you've got a set time to get up and ready for work. Much prefer just pootling around waiting for everyone else to get up (that doesn't include the youngest who will lie in till as late as possible)

Your Mrs has Bangladeshi diet then- she must be size 0 Me I'm Argentina- I didn't want to be that - mind you all the steroids don't help:thumbdown:

There always seems to be someone:thumbup1: Selling is not something we do though- much better to get rid as close to the job as possible. There is a farmer near here who composts local authority green waste and I keep meaning to approach him. Probably give it though- just not worth the aggro doing it any other way

One clever bunny Makes you wonder why people don't sell timber by the yard- it would be 10% less wood and maybe you could charge the same price:thumbup1:

I'm wondering whether any of our work is like yours. Have to say we do do a small amount of work quoting for another company although we get every job we quote. The rest is management companies/housing associations or just private firms who use us direct and the few private jobs we still do. I don't know what I'd do if I was quoting for 8 days a month for one middleman. I suspect I'd be thinking - wow thats 50-60 jobs I've quoted for and I've got 25-30 of them so theres plenty there to make money. I may be thinking ' well I could have another 25-30 jobs but at what risk- lose them all. Now this security company- lets look at them- Question= do they work for many companies= industrial estates and does this bring in more tree work and of this- do you get any? See my point- it's not that clear cut-upsetting people in business can be costly. If you win the tender from the council then they (the security co.) will know. Yes I know- firms out there- especially small firms- often try to poach work from others but by doing this they risk losing their original contact and it's contacts that in the long run really help you succeed. I run a successful business employing 4 full time and 3 part time staff so I'll let you judge whether I am 'doing it right' On the other hand you may be right and if I'd followed your approach then I could be boss of a much larger company. Only the future has the answer and like I said' good luck' for in life you reap what you sow. You must let us know how this pans out. I am genuinely interested even if it means my approach is flawed.

Have you tried Julian Bore Lloyd Bore Landscape and Ecology Not sure whether he's that cheap but to ask don't cost Or try Knighton Countryside Management- not based in Canterbury but presently regularly visit the area and may be able to help or know a man who could

Sorry for you. Our local dealer had this problem and had a master blaster fitted with smoke so they were deafened and couldn't see the kit- worth looking into. Are the police being helpful.

Body Language of Trees available Kent Libraries when I've finished it- Probably find some others also available through the libraries. Check online and order what you want

Don't despair I know one old timer (70ish) who still puts in a full day.(not climbing I hasten to add) He seems to get younger as time passes. However that works

Physical strongest= 30 mental strongest = not there yet

Andy Collins is right it don't matter how you started If your dad worked hard and built a thriving business then why should you feel or be made to feel bad because you benefited from that. I love the fact that I made my own way but also don't feel animosity towards others who had a helping hand. That's just the way it is. Some on here would be proud to pass their business onto their kids- don't make them feel guilty for this.

Hmmm..... theres way and theres ways Good luck though

is this the one You seem to be doing ok at what you do I wouldn't spoil that by trying to cut out your supplier

do you know a farmer with a hedge flail

How hard would it be for that splitter to be removable- weld channels onto the beam then if necessary you could swap it for a different design= single blade or double blade= just a thought

My partner used to visit farms in kent Lots and lots of small farms finding it very hard to survive- but you have to keep the land in the family so struggle on. Its not all cereal barons or cattle barons

Mate- you can kill existing weeds with roundup but that won't stop existing weed seeds in the soil germinating along with your new sown grass seed so you've got to ask the question whether it's worth it. That depends on the weeds- if they are soft growth then they will easily rotavate in- if hard(old dock/bramble/ big thistle) or if they have a lot of volume(you don't want to be variably digging in big weed) then best to clear somehow= mow or strim and rake depending on the site. You sound very new to this and I would recommend you really bone up on gardening as you will find it's not the job so much as conversations with customers that will let you down- they will ask you the name of something and when you don't know what a buddleia is or whether a tree is an ash or oak then you will feel inadequate and slightly cowboy. Unfortunately you can't make a business from rotavating alone- you need multi skills. Go to college or spend some time working at a garden centre or with a gardener who will show you the ropes and you will save yourself a lot of embarrassment. Seriously this is good advice- it'll give you the confidence to succeed. Confidence in yourself translates to the customer and they will be happier to employ you.

I love that line Was it Seasick Steve or did he nick it from somewhere else

presume you mean 'rip off'

I agree with this We took our car out of the company once we went Ltd and pay ourselves 45p a mile to use it:thumbup1: Also pay staff who use their own vans occasionally 45p per mile- it's tax free so everyones happy.