Landscape Gardening

teneighty

DominicH wrote: »

He could have decided to switch to operating as a sole trader rather than a limited company for various reasons. I don't think there's necessarily anything dodgy about it, although it looks like the company was simply allowed to be dissolved rather than him initiating it.
As someone who once had a one-man limited company for work purposes, the paperwork was a pain in the bum and I was glad to get rid of it.

Agree with this. The paperwork and formal procedures you need to follow with a limited company are a headache and the accounts are more complicated with large penalties if you make a mistake or miss a deadline. A small landscape gardener would be much better off as a sole trader. You could always ask him but obviously he should not be trading as the limited company, so he can be Joe Bloggs Landscapes but not Joe Bloggs Lansdcapes Ltd.

As for the artificial grass, I know a few people with dogs who have had artificial grass laid and the better modern stuff is difficult to tell apart from real grass. Its not like the horrible old green plastic stuff you used to get. It's not my cup of tea but I can see why people have it.

Richie_C

keith969 wrote: »

Get rid of the grass and put down gravel?

While gravel may be cheaper I cant imagine it looking better, plus is not like I can run around or roll around with my dogs on nice hard gravel. So really fake grass is the best option, its dog proof and we do plan paying for a good quality grass that doesn't look like a putting green.

Just need to work out if the quote above is a fair price. I have another gardener coming round in the next few days for another quote

Rain_Shadow

Richie_C wrote: »

While gravel may be cheaper I cant imagine it looking better, plus is not like I can run around or roll around with my dogs on nice hard gravel. So really fake grass is the best option, its dog proof and we do plan paying for a good quality grass that doesn't look like a putting green.

Just need to work out if the quote above is a fair price. I have another gardener coming round in the next few days for another quote

Can't say the prospect of rolling on dog pee soaked plastic does a lot for me.;)

Richie_C

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Can't say the prospect of rolling on dog pee soaked plastic does a lot for me.;)

haha. Well i'd wash/clean it. Though of having to hose down a garden once a week is much better than having to mow a destroyed lawn every week

kerri_gt

This is something we recently looked into (although have now dropped the idea due to costs elsewhere) - my advise is get a few quotes. Ours have ranges from £1500 - £3.3k for approx 25m/sq. Obviously a lot of the cost variable is also in what grass you choose. There's a company called Easigrass who do this kind of thing, our quote from them was 'reasonable' had we chosen to pursue that route.

andrewf75

Richie_C wrote: »

While gravel may be cheaper I cant imagine it looking better, plus is not like I can run around or roll around with my dogs on nice hard gravel.

I would say gravel definitely looks better than fake grass! But fair point with the rolling around.
I'm surprised dogs really trash grass that much. Maybe there are tougher varieties that you could use? From a quick google there seem to be some options.

moonpenny

Gravel is horrible!
I have had a gravel drive for years and am constantly buying weedkiller to treat it.

Although it was laid with the weed suppressant stuff underneath it is all the dust and soil etc that gets blown onto the top and enables seedlings to sprout.

iwanna

I just had artificial grass laid in a similar sized garden (in West London) and paid not too far off what you've been quoted for the grass alone - if he's laying a patio area too it sounds like you've got a pretty good deal !
Everyone has their own opinion on fake grass but you know yourself what suits your needs! All i know is i'll be sat in my pristine garden this weekend feeling very smug listening to the buzz of the lawnmowers in the distance :rotfl:

glasgowdan

iwanna wrote: »

I just had artificial grass laid in a similar sized garden (in West London) and paid not too far off what you've been quoted for the grass alone - if he's laying a patio area too it sounds like you've got a pretty good deal !
Everyone has their own opinion on fake grass but you know yourself what suits your needs! All i know is i'll be sat in my pristine garden this weekend feeling very smug listening to the buzz of the lawnmowers in the distance :rotfl:

...wondering why your kids don't know what bees or butterflies look like...!

smmeadow

Rain_Shadow wrote: »

Can't say the prospect of rolling on dog pee soaked plastic does a lot for me.;)

I second this!!! Especially in summer... The smell of dog wee is soooo hard to get rid of trust me on this one! Grass is the best for no smell everything else absolutely reeks. Save your money