Need advice being a gardener.

[justgivein]

Hi I'm a bloke in my 50's and have worked as a gardener most of my life but have now been diagnosed with a condition which means I cannot now drive or climb ladders without the help of my wife which makes it difficult to take tools lawnmowers etc to jobs .My wife has been brilliant giving up alot of time to drive and pick up from long term customers and hold ladders when I have to cut hedges I am very lucky to have her.But she will have to go back to work when her employers decide to reopen her offices full time so will have to use buses to walk to customers because doctor and my wife won't even let me ride a bike.

I have in the majority been employed by ladies so would like to ask should I explain at the onset why I cannot drive and can only bring small tools to jobs.Or should I keep quiet which I'm not keen on being a very open honest person I think and just explain if asked why I'm not allowed to carry out some tasks that alot of gardeners carry out.I just need some advice thank you.

I'm sorry about your troubles OP.

I would keep things very matter of fact with your customers; eg "I'll bring a few hand tools with me but as I'll be arriving on foot / by bus i'll need to use your own lawnmower/ hedge trimmer/ rakes, spade so please make sure they are left out for me etc. I'm not able to use a ladder at the moment.

People won't want to know about your medical problems. Sorry I don't mean for that to sound unkind, rather just that they will only be concerned about their garden being well looked after. So don't feel the need to go into details. I hope things work out for you.

Sorry about your diagnosis. I would let loyal and repeat customers know what you can and cant do when your wife returns to work not now just in case her work circumstances change or you could schedule bigger jobs on the weekend when she is around or she could drive you early morning or evening to leave the tools at the customer's?

and if you are asked bigger tool job on the spot explain that you are unable to do it or can do it later and why.

I'd be cautious with unnecessary disclosure as it may affect your business but at the same don't risk your and others safety.

Is it feasible for you to take an apprenticr who drives? He or she will benefit from your experience and you get a hand.

If not then is there something you could branch into like garden design? Would you be able to partner up with another gardener? Is there a different career you can do?

Thanks so much for your advice has given me some ideas to think about.I've pretty much worked alone and has been a shock to the system not sure how to advertise for a partner at this time.I have told my long term customers they have been very understsnding but I will have to advertise for new ones locally to bring money in I'm used to for bills because is a strain on wife's finances.
But it is tricky with new customers but being a one tricky pony and loving my job as a gardener am determined to find a way to still work.

All the best to you, OP. I would say that if you have loyal, long standing customers they would probably be more than happy to understand and accommodate your new way of working. But as a previous poster said, they don't need to know the ins and outs of your medical condition - just be matter of fact and honest (as you clearly are) about what you can and cannot do now. Good luck.

Oh and ... to add to my previous post - get testimonies from your long standing customers to give to prospective new ones. Personal recommendation is a trusted and valuable thing.

Is there another gardener local who you could team up with, s/he does the driving and ladder work, whilst you do the rest - it would mean sharing customers but in the end could work for both of you?

Yes I could ask gardeners that I see locally.Really given me some hope now thankyou.I have to go now lol have a very determined wife who wants me off the internet to do work around garden,thanks for some great help.

Many of the "gardeners" around here are people who trim hedges, cut lawns, and prune bushes into round blobs.This seems to be what most people want. But others (I for one, and my mother before me) would like a gardener who actually gardens, who knows the identity of the plants and how to care for them. You could over time develop to fill that niche, and try to reduce the heavier tool side of the job. Although the snag with that is that gardeners who need help tend to want help with the boring stuff and keep the expert side to themselves, so I don't know whether that suggestion is practicable.

Yes thinking back over the years customers I have worked for on the whole need a gardener that can covers all aspects of maintaining a garden .They usually need a gardener to weed,maintain plants and shrubs ,cut lawns ,hedges etc they rarely need someone to only look after their plants which narrows down the work I need at this time.It would be ideal for me because I would not need a van for heavy equipment, but i'd miss the hedge and lawn work I do enjoy these as I'm sure many self employed gardeners do but not sure if customers out there that only need a gardener for maintaining plants.I'm not even sure about my liability insurance whether it effects this like holiday and car insurance .Anyway have decided to ask other gardeners if I can assist them but think I must be honest about my condition and hopefully someone will take me on.I can be a bit blinkered so am really grateful for this idea hoping it will be the answer thanks