Landscape Hub

Specification: 50mm of wash graded gravel or Type 1 if you prefer, (wash graded is easier to work with and more free draining but Type 1 is fine). Preferably use 4-2mm limestone grit as a bedding layer, laid 15 - 25mm deep. 6 - 2mm is also OK. Both will give a very free draining bedding layer and works far better than sharp sand as it's anything but free draining and liable to deform under foot, (in my opinion). A layer of Terram 1000. Depending on usage you can either pin the perimeter with 150mm nails or screw it down to a treated timber batten or 50 x 50mm timber or for the most secure fixing, glue it down to a 100mm wide concrete strip, laid 25mm below the finished surface. You might use a mixture on a single job - gluing an entrance for instance and nailing non-walked on perimeters against fencing, etc.

Approved Contractor schemes are a great way for Contractors to forge closer links with suppliers and manufacturers. When run correctly they can help boost the profits of both parties and benefit the client as well. In the landscape and horticultural industries there are a great deal of these schemes available, both formal and informal. "Formal" ones might include a vetting process, annual fee and support in the form of training and promotional material, (the Marshalls Register is a good example). Informal schemes might simply be situations where suppliers have a list of traders names the'y're happy to provide. We've been discussing the merits of these schemes over on Landscape Hub -Approved Contractor Schemes. We'd be interested if you run or know of a scheme in the Arb sector and would encourage Arbtalk members to look into joining these schemes. They can be a terrific way to boost your business !

Thanks for the comments. The beauty of the tricks of the trade content we're building is they're all submitted freely by our members and no one's trying to sell anything. The whole project is about Landscapers, Garden Designers and Maintenance contractors passing on useful tips they've picked up during their time in the business. I'll say it again - A similar endeavour on Arbtalk would make a great resource for Arbtalk visitors.

Many can but as already mentioned, a smaller leaf is preferable. Easy starting species might include Hawthorn, Beech, Hornbeam, Larch. Don't forget many woody shrubs work well such as Cotoneaster, Potentilla, etc. Sticking with native / temperate varieties means they can / should be kept outdoors most of the time avoiding the trickier to look after indoor / tropical, sub-tropical species that so many people had years ago and let die. Once you get into it, Japanese Maples are a very good species because of their leaf colour, size and growing habits. Growing from seed is for the seriously patient, I'd suggest getting suitable material from your garden or the garden centre, (as in a small shrub / tree meant for general garden use). Then prune and train the tree from there, the methods being to numerous to add to this reply.

This is the contents of Landscape Hub's "Tricks Of The Trade" group - So far ! These articles are submitted by Landscape Hub's members and I was thinking that Arbtalk should start a similar group. Tricks Of The Trade Compost Areas Circular Ponds made from Drainage Rings Simple Bridge Made with Woven Willow Plants Used As Step Risers Integrating Manhole Covers Into paving Raised Brick Planters - Curved Corners Without Using Specials Garden Mirrors - Future Replacements Constructing Raised Planters Using Paving Slabs Garden Bridges - A Simple Construction Site Surveying Method Statement Push Tow Bar Dealing With Steep Banks Steel Edging Slate Patio Feature Building A Moongate Stainless steel Fixings Get Advice from Your Peers The Perfect Mould Compost Cutting Profile Tools For Paving Slabs Mini Ladder - Minimum Load Space Product Library - Protecting Yourself Handling Enquiries - Basic Essentials Topiary Using Shears Mazes - Hedge Cutting With A Difference Quoting - Saving Your Websites Hedge Cutting Contracting - Science & Methodology Garden Shed Makeover (2) Moving Sleepers around On Site Hedge Cutting Perfect Shed Felt Corners In Cold Weather Quick Way To Set Gutter Bracket String Line Lost Bar Nuts, (Chainsaws) Ammo Tins For Small Tools Fast Way To Strip Ivy From Brick Or Stone Work Creating Islands In Butyl Liner Ponds Stone Chips To Windows Tools For Digging Rose Pruning Skip Ramp - Another Landscapers's Essential Oops, The Pull Cord Has Gone! Foundations Forward Planning (1) Foundations Forward Planning (2) Two Pairs (Secateurs) Lawn Edging - An Alternative To Shears Work Platform For Sloping Sites Curved timber (1) - Segments Box Hedging - Fine Detailing Garden Shed Makeover (1) Builders Square - Paving Essential Laying Cobbles Concrete Rake - Invaluable Addition To The Toolkit Laying Paving To A Pattern Using Black & White Materials Power Bends Make Soil Concrete Artificial Grass Handling Equipment Disc Cutter Water Bottle A Sheet Of Ply Has many Uses Site Hose Tidy Gravel Footpaths using Nidagravel

I'd like to wish everyone on Arbtalk Merry Christmas & a prosperous New year from myself and my fellow volunteers who run Landscape Hub, (Landscape Hub - Landscaping, garden design, garden maintenance forum and resources). I think it's super-impressive the community built here on Arbtalk and it's an absolute goldmine of information. It's heartening to see how willing people are to help others out on a daily basis with experience based knowledge gained over many years. HAPPY CHRISTMAS

We wondered if this article might interest Arbtalk members ...... Landscapers who plant and protect trees know the active role they and their trees play in mitigating climate change, and this is certainly recognised by decision makers, if not yet budgeted for by all. DEFRA is half way through its Big Tree Plant, which aims to plant a million trees by 2015. A handful of UK cities have pledged to increase canopy coverage in urban areas – London hopes for a 5% increase by 2025, Bristol an impressive 30% increase overall. Natural Resources Wales has undertaken the Wales Urban Canopy Cover Study, which it is hoped will inform how much more needs to be planted and where. Not only do trees have a cooling effect on their immediate atmosphere, play an important role in flood prevention and have a positive effect on health and wellbeing, they are an essential carbon sink. It is estimated that during its full lifetime, a 100 year old broad leaf tree will capture and store over 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Indeed, a quarter of a living tree’s weight is locked away - or sequestered - as carbon, which is only released back into the atmosphere when the tree dies, rots or is burnt. read more.....

Landscape Hub will have a presence at this years Futurescape event. Nothing too fancy, just mainly a chance to meet and greet existing and prospective members to our network. If you're thinking of joining the Hub or not makes no difference, we'd still like to chat to any Arbtalk members that attend. We're a friendly bunch so if you're there, seek us out. For those that haven't heard of Futurescape, it's an industry event held for one day only at Kempton Racecourse, TW16 5AQ, (on November 19th this year). There's a whole raft of industry exhibitors and seminars on a range of interesting topics. For full details and to register, (it's FREE), visit the Futurescape website. Some, (but by no means all), of the Hub attendees have added their attendance to the event topic on Landscape Hub.

Do you think it's best to specialise in one service / sector or offer a range of services? Being a specialist can bring in clients looking for just that - an expert in the field, (no pun intended!). It also makes the choice of vehicle, tools, equipment and even employees that much easier. Your website can be heavily focused on that one sector, (a bit like Arbtalk really), and can reap benefits from that. Keeping up with training and H&S requirements might be easier as well. You might be able to command a premium rate for your service or through specialist equipment and staff, simply be able to make much more profit on a standard rate. Having said that, what's the downside? If demand for your specialist services rises and falls, so does your income. If your service is particularly affected by the weather you might find yourself sat at home with no wage coming in. You / your business could offer a range of services. This can help spread the net wide and bring in a variety of revenue streams. Diversification allows you to offer more services to your customer base and often clients seek out companies / individuals who offer a one-stop-shop, keeping the whole process easier for them. Diversifying can help keep the work interesting. Perhaps you'd get bored doing effectively the same task week in week out? Diversification also brings its own headaches however. Firstly you're perhaps no longer viewed as a true specialist. You're vehicles, tools, equipment and employees all have to be geared to a range of services with the danger that you're not really optomised for any specific task. Vehicles are a good example of this; a specialist might buy and equip a vehicle ideally suited to their trade. A business carrying out a range of services often wish for a pickup one day, flatbed the next and a panel van the day after! Targeting a website or adverts to a range of services has its challenges, (as we all know!). You're often trying to be all things to all people, which has the danger of making you look a bit unprofessional, (or unbelievable). So what's your take on it? Is there any real one size fits all answer to this and what are your experiences of being a specialist in one sector OR someone that offers a range of services?

We have a post today on Landscape Hub inquiring about a chainsaw scupturist, (is that a word?) in South London. If anyone on Arbtalk is interested, I can pass on the message, (or you can do it yourself if you join Landscape Hub). I've mentioned the post was added today, (17th September 2013), because these things are often time sensitive and threads can be visible for months, (if not years). Here's the original thread on Landscape Hub - chainsaw sculpture needed - Landscape Hub Cheers, Gary

Hi, I'm Gary. I run a paving & landscaping company and have done for 18 years. Prior to that I was in site management on construction sites in the SW & SE. I originally trained as a Site Engineer so I've always had a technical interest in things.I also have a certain interest in trees, wanting to be able to name them from an early age, visiting places like Westonbirt Arboretum occasionally and having an interest in bonsai. Also for my sins, I help run Landscape Hub - an industry forum for those working in or associated with the landscape and horticultural industries. It's a trade only forum, anyone can view 95% of the content on there but we don't encourage homeowners to join, (for instance). Nothing wrong with them of course, I'm one myself and they form a large part of our client base but like I said; the Hub is really for the benefit of and aimed at the trade. Landscape Hub is my main reason for joining a large and established forum like Arbtalk. I'm hoping to make the Hub as visible as possible so that people and businesses who could benefit from what we do can join. I spoke to Steve before joining Arbtalk and assured him I'm not here to say "join the Hub" on a regular basis, (which he was fine with - thanks). I've been around forums long enough to know you just help out where you can and if people like what they see, they'll check out your profile, company or whatever. To that end I've offered help if needed in Arbtalk's Landscape Forum. Other than that, there's plenty for me to learn from Arb experts but little I can add on that side of things. Of course, running a business for 18 years brings its own set of experiences and skills that I may be able to add opinion on occasionally. Cheers, Gary

Loving the humour in this thread. Which brings me to add this one... He who laughs last thinks slowest. Remembered from somewhere but not sure of the original author.

Knew I'd seen it somewhere, excellent choice of signature Ian.

The profile signatures on Arbtalk are great. One that stood out the other day, (apologies for not remembering who's it was), was, "In theory, theory and practice are the same. in practice, they are not" - Love it! - It's a quote from Albert Einstein. If it wasn't so unfitting for Landscape Hub's profile, I'd add one of my favourite quotes from Winston Churchill as our signature - "I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals". What's your favourite signature, (or quote), witnessed on Arbtalk? Don't be modest, you can nominate your own!

It's great to see the responses so far. I guess the original question might have been better related to trees that deserve admiration. There's a lot to be admired about an ancient Oak or large Beech tree for instance, where it's probably fair to say some trees are just fit for firewood or have little value. It's probably similar to horticulture in that some plants are spectacular but you're hardly likely to get emotional about a row of cabbage, (some do - it takes all sorts !). Take the Giant Rewdwoods for instance, (are there many in the UK outside Arboretums)? It would be hard not to be impressed by the sheer size and longevity of these trees. Similarly it's impressive, (at least), when you consider what human history has passed since reputably Britain's oldest tree began life, (at 2000+ years ago!). This is not meant to be a thread aimed at any sector of our community, just a discussion about whether at the root of it all, (nice pun?), we all have an admiration for the trees we work on or see around us.

As a website dedicated to all things arboricultural, would you say a love of trees is a requirement to work in this industry or optional? Was an interest in trees what got you into the profession in the first place, have you grown to admire them since or frankly are they of little interest, (other than a source of income) ? Sometimes this type of topic can get emotive, this one's not meant to be, it would just be interesting to hear people's perspective on trees in general and their interest, (or not) in them.

Ideally you would look to build a schedule of 4-6 weeks work before you actually start your first job, otherwise you really will be living hand to mouth. Initially you will probably be best advised to keep your advertising costs as low as possible, (you'll need plenty of funds as it is for tools, equipment and transport, etc). Ways to build a schedule of work when you're basically starting from scratch might include: Approaching friends and family, (and their contacts). Leaflet dropping - Doing the hard miles yourself. Cards in local shop windows. Small ad's in local magazines - Sometimes a good way to burn money mind. Sign written vehicle. Signs outside work place. Use all the free resources the web has to offer... Freeindex, Facebook, free web building sites, forums, free directories, etc.... Leaflet drop road you're working in. Basically it will be very tempting to start spending money on advertising, unless done correctly this is the easiest way to blow hundreds of pounds. There's often no one answer to what works and what doesn't, sometimes a magazine / paper can deliver decent returns and yet inexplicably dry up. Often local magazines only perform well once you've been in them long enough for people to recognise you as a regular advertiser. When starting up you basically need to stay lean and retain your cash as much as possible. Many make it but some fail to get past their first winter. Hopefully you'll be determined enough to be one of the former.

I see this particular sub-forum of Arbtalk is "for those wishing to diversify into landscaping". As someone who has run a paving & landscaping company for 18 years, I'd be happy to offer any advice I can give. More useful perhaps, I also help run Landscape Hub, (a forum for those in or associated with the landscape and horticultural industries). We have a wealth of knowledge there in both landscaping and garden / grounds maintenance, so any questions I can't answer, (there might be many!), I can always ask Landscape Hub members for assistance. Similarly if I see any Arb questions on the Hub that can't be answered, I'll definitely be referring them to Arbtalk. Gary