Backyard Ideas

Backyard Landscaping Designs and Ideas

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Backyard Ideas | Starting a Landscape Design Business

How about developing your backyard ideas further, why not start your own business?  To start your own Landscape Design Business you only need a computer and some design software. You can get some great programs and there are many free trial versions avaliable. One I have found is http://www.showoff.com/Showoffpurchase.html. This allows you to insert a photograph then add images to create the perfect garden. There is an upgrade for $40, but I only used the free version for my own garden.

Another tool to use Is at www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/design/virtualgarden_index.shtml it is a free tool and I had a play and found it was very good .

There are two types of landscape gardening: the first is self-explanatory, you design, then create someone yheir perfect garden. The second is probably more lucrative and the customers are usually easier to please, this is commercial landscaping for companies and businesses. I suggest that you start with landscaping people’s gardens, followed by taking on some commercial projects.

The first step you have to take is to make sure you are thought of as professional. To do this you will need to first learn to use the landscape programs above, if you aren’t comfortable with these just look on Google and you can usually find some different ones. Most have free 30 day trial.

Becoming a expert

To start with I would recommend you learn how to use the software above, do some designs, print them out on high-quality paper, and put them all together in a folder. To do this take some photographs of friends gardens, then use these with your landscape programs to show where you’d make improvements. The best way if your garden or a friend’s garden needs landscaping, is to do the work and keep a photo diary of it. If it’s for a friend, you could maybe do the work for free if your friend paid to the materials. This would help selling your service as you will have photos of a job already completed.

Getting your first job

Now there are lots of ways to approach this, and I think I have figured out the best for you. Do a show garden at a local flower show or country show, just about any large event where you have a lot of people who are interested in gardens or homes.

You can usually get the space for free, if you are willing to put on a display. If you do have to pay to space, I suggest selling a few plants to cover the cost.

Just type ’show and the place you live’ into Google with a bit of searching around you should get all events come up that are local to you.

You can either choose to exhibit inside or outside, I suggest outside throughout the summer, and to be honest, it’s not worth creating a show garden in winter because your display plants will not look brilliant.

For your display garden I suggest about 15 feet by about 15 feet. In this area incorporate a patio with slabs or deck covering about two thirds of the area, have a table and chairs with a few planters on the deck/patio. Round the edge of the patio, have a raised bed, using some wood to build up is usually the easiest. In the raised beds, use some large plants and trees if you can get them, then under plant with herbaceous perennials and a few bedding plants. You can usually drum up a lot of interest this way.

For more information on making money from plants and gardening click below:

How to Create a Business Growing and Selling Plants

 

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Landscaping Ideas: Free Online Gardening Tips for a Beautiful Yard : How to Care for Petunias: Free Online Gardening Tips & Landscaping Ideas

Posted by admin on Dec 12, 2008 under Landscaping Care

Learn how to take care of your petunias each year by digging them up after they have bloomed & other landscaping ideas in this free online gardening video.

Duration : 0:1:2

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Planting and Care of Landscape Trees Part II

Posted by admin on Dec 10, 2008 under Landscaping Care

Part II of a lecture by Pam Bone, landscape horticulturist and former UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, as she discusses the planting and care of landscape trees. Topics include proper tree staking, pruning, and fertilizing. Series: “California Master Gardener Lecture Series” [8/2002] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 6674]

Duration : 1:29:21

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Planting and Care of Landscape Trees Part I

Posted by admin on Dec 8, 2008 under Landscaping Care

Part I of a lecture by Pam Bone, landscape horticulturist and former UC Master Gardener Program Coordinator, as she discusses the planting and care of landscape trees. Topics include preparing the planting hole, watering, and mulch. Series: California Master Gardener Lecture Series [8/2002] [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 6673]

Duration : 1:29:13

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How much would it cost to start a lawn care business with the insurance and all?

Posted by admin on Dec 7, 2008 under Landscaping Care

How much does it cost to start a lawn care and landscaping business dealing with: retaining walls, mulch beds, laying out landscape designs, lawn mowing, and constructions of decks and patios. And also what would be the grand total abouts with the insurance and all the equipment i would need? Thanks! :)

depends on what equipment if any you already have –
for doing the landscape design portion – it won't cost much –
at all
for the lawn care – if you want to start with good equipment –
you'll need at least one walk behind mower, and a good tight radius mower – figure about $6000 – $8000
a trailer – $2000 ?
Pickup truck – used/new???
tools – rakes, shovels, etc….. $300- $400
chain saw – $300
trimmers- $250 ea

for the deck building – unless you want to dig footings by hand
figure on either renting a power auger for each job – or buying one – if you buy probably around $1200

then saws, hammers (manual – pneumatic??) levels , compressor, generator- etc…
$300 – $4000 depending on how much you buy

and you better have some operating cash as well –
at least $2000-$3000

for your lawn cutting business – you should get paid weekly – or try to set up contracts where they give you a downpayment at the begining of the year – and then pay you monthly

on your landscaping business – they should pay you something for the design – if they give you the landscaping job tell them you'll deduct the design fee off the cost of the landscaping job – for the landscaping you should get
1/3 up front – 1/3 after all the beds are prepped/top soil in and shrubs delivered – and then 1/3 when you complete

same holds true for your deck jobs – 1/3 up front – 1/3 when materials get delivered – 1/3 when complete

i wont to own my on lawn care / landscaping business (please read)?

Posted by admin on Dec 4, 2008 under Landscaping Care

i have experience in this field's because my dady own his own business but he never studyed for it he just started 1 day but that was about 25 years ago, i know what to do basicaly and i enjoy doing the work but i wont to go to college to learn more about this trade so when he give me the business i can make it grow more profitable, can someone please give me some suggestions on what type pf school to go to, and what i should study at school, thanks for the advise

If you're still in school, concentrate on math,communication skills and business courses. If your school offers trade school (it may be called something else in your area) options..look into horticulture classes and (again) small business classes. If you are out of school..most community colleges (or any college) offers courses in horticulture, small business, communication skills,and basic computer skills( word, spreed sheets, accounting programs). Of course you know what the horticulture classes would be for, but you will need small business courses(accounting and such) to be sure your books are in order(never totally depend on hired help to keep your company books) you need to be able to check everything at least on a monthly basis; communication skills(listening, effective speech, phone skills, writing);basic computer skills..because every business needs to be able to keep up with every transaction of any kind efficiently(you need to know how much money you have, how much you spent, how much you need,etc, at a moments glance). Find you a good local college that offers the courses you want and talk to your school counselor or the college councelor. And, 'man J' NEVER give up on your dreams. You sound like a very smart and determined young man, you keep reaching for your star(so to speak) and you will reach it. Good Luck!! But, I believe you will make your own luck with the determination that it sounds like you have.

Is landscaping business/lawn care, year round and could be good income (supplemental)?

Posted by admin on Dec 2, 2008 under Landscaping Care

I know the summer months are the best but is this a good route to take,……

By supplemental I take it that you are going to do this part time to augment the income that you have now. If this is the case then you only want to start with a customer base that you can handle in the allotted time that you are willing to commit to this. Customer service is the most important part of any business. Try to offer more than just the basic landscape service unless you want in and out. Roto- till gardens, flower bed design, hauling debris, hedge trimming, gutter clean out, snow plowing, firewood etc. It depends on how much time you have.
It can be a good source of income. Good luck.

I need to do landscaping and would like to know what shrubs are hardy, can withstand sun and need litte care?

Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2008 under Landscaping Care

I need to purchase mature shrubs and have limited funds. My shrubs were removed by mistake over two (2) years ago and I need to plant new ones. However, I need to know what to purchase and if nursery have warranties. I live in Maryland and would like suggestions on nurseries and plants. I do not have a green thumb. I want something that requires very little care and can withstand sun.

I have used Spirea with success. They are very pretty and have required very little attention. You can prune them if you want to in Feb/March. The kind that I chose are called little princess and they have pretty pink flowers on them in May. We live in Iowa so we have very cold winters and extremely humid/hot summers. My shrubs face south and have been extremely drought tolerant. I have had excellent luck purchasing things like this at WalMart. Shrubs are easy as long as you plant them properly (dig your hole big enough and deep enough, with plenty of water) and keep them watered after you plant them the first year. Good Luck to you. I've attached a picture of the shrubs below.

would i need a business licence to start a yard care business / landscaping?

Posted by admin on Nov 28, 2008 under Landscaping Care


yes first of all u need to think a name for your business u will
register this name after that u goona need a licence to run your business open a bank account on your business name.

what do i need to start a landscaping/lawn care business?

Posted by admin on Nov 26, 2008 under Landscaping Care

i live in nashville tennessee

You need:
A lawnmower
A flyer that says you cut grass
A business card that you can make from home on your computer and a print shop software package.
A burning, unstoppable desire to succeed.
Good luck.