How to budget for your 2019 Garden and Estate Management

There’s a lot to think about when you are managing an area of land. Keeping on top of grass cutting, managing ponds and waterways, hedge trimming, drainage, fencing, woodland management, conservation and everything else is enough to keep you busy all year round.

However, when you are short of time, skillsets, machinery or labour, a reliable contractor can make your life much easier. But of course, there is a cost to it.

In this article we’re looking at the cost of estate management, how to delegate tasks and how to plan ahead to make your budget go further.

Essential and routine grounds maintenance

Grass cutting and lawn care

Grass cutting is time consuming, but if aesthetics are important to you it really needs to be done little and often. Letting the grass grow long and then cutting it short will weaken the grass and allow moss and weeds to take over.

For best results, machinery should be kept in tip top condition with supersharp blades. I would recommend collecting clippings too – so much neater.

Weekly mowing is essential during the growing season – usually march to October and sometimes into November, depending on the weather.

As well as mowing, a sensible lawn feeding regime will keep your lawn looking resplendent all year round.

Hiring a contractor to cut your grass ensures that the work is done regularly, even if you are busy elsewhere. It frees up your time and also saves you having to buy and maintain grass cutting equipment.

Hedge trimming

Personally I hate to see a poorly trimmed hedge. If you are part of the government’s environmental management schemes you will only be able to cut hedges every second or third year. So when you do come around to trimming time, there’ll be some seriously strong branches to cope with. A powerful hedge trimmer in untrained hands can be a recipe for disaster. Hedge trimming is best left to contractors who have the right training and equipment to do a really neat job.

Beds and borders

Do you ever look at your ornamental garden or your vegetable plot and wonder how you’ll ever bring it under control? Digging, weeding, mulching and feeding can be hard work if you try to do it all at once. But if you do a little at a time it’s like painting the Forth Bridge. As soon as you get to the end it’s time to start again.

I’ve found that bringing in a small team of people with strong backs and plenty of energy is the best way to tackle the management of formal gardens. Firstly, you’ll only be inconvenienced for a day or so and secondly, the results are instant.

Two or three times a year should be enough to keep an ornamental garden looking fabulous if it’s being tweaked in between times. For the veg plot, once in spring to prepare the beds for planting and once in late autumn to turn the soil over and incorporate some manure.

Jet washing

Driveways, paths, patios all look better for a good freshen up. Jet washing needs a careful approach though and the correct equipment. The nozzles you use to clean mud from under your car can soon dislodge the mortar between pavers.

Projects and improvements

Gardens and grounds are never static. There are always improvements to be made. What will you do this year?

·       Create a wildflower area?

·       Plant new hedges?

·       Dredge the pond?

·       Replant the borders?

·       Replace the shed?

·       Clear that neglected corner?

·       Take down any sick or dying trees?

·       Coppice the woodland?

·       Put in a new pathway?

·       Fix the fencing in the paddock?

·       Replace the moss patch with new turf?

I’m sure you have a million and one things you’ve been meaning to get around to. Why not make 2019 the year that you get help to cross some of them off the to-do list?

Book ahead to get the best prices

Now that you have compiled a list of jobs that need doing, decide if you can realistically do them yourself.

Think for a moment about my pal in Norfolk. She’s more than capable of vacuuming her own car – but she never gets around to it. Since she started employing a mobile valeting service she’s never looked back. The guy comes to her house and leaves the car looking immaculate. All the time he’s there, she’s indoors working. If she were to stop working to have the car cleaned she’d lose money, this way, she actually breaks even.  Should you be thinking the same way about grounds maintenance?

By agreeing prices and booking well in advance you will definitely get a better deal than rushing around last minute. You can be sure of the quality of the services you receive too. The best contractors get booked up quickly.

Do you need a single contractor or a number of specialists?

Using several different firms involves quite a lot of project management on your part and the whole idea of delegating is to make your life easier! Keep It Green Grounds Maintenance have the staff, the equipment and the expertise to carry out almost all the jobs you might need doing. If something is beyond their remit, Chris will organise a qualified sub-contractor on your behalf.