Start a profitable gardening business

If you are a green thumbed retiree, who is still active and fit, starting a profitable gardening business could help supplement your income.

There are a number of different ways to tackle this small business opportunity. First you need to decide if you are going to work in other people's gardens or your own.

Other people's gardens

Private householders are most likely your target market. After all, if they are out at work all day they may not have the time or inclination to spend their spare time working in the garden, they may prefer to relax outside, when they get a chance.

You might be thinking of starting a lawn care service or providing general garden maintenance, such as hedge trimming, clearing leaves, weeding and pruning.

On the other hand, you might be required to plant spring bulbs, tend to hanging baskets and flower beds or even prepare uncultivated plots.

If you are knowledgeable about what plants will do best in their soil conditions; which need a shady spot and which need full sunshine; which need plenty of watering and which are drought smart plants; then you can charge more for consultancy, in addition to maintenance.

Your customer might book you on an occasional basis or ask for you to return regularly.

This type of work is normally charged on an hourly basis. The rate will depend on the client, the area and which tasks you undertake, but there are other expenses to take into account when setting your prices...

• Check whether your clients have their own gardening hand tools or if you would be expected to provide your own. If you are a keen gardener you most likely have the essential items already, but you might want to add a little to the price you quote, for wear and tear.

• Another thing to clarify is whether they will provide the fuel for machinery such as lawnmowers, If not you will need to allow for the extra expense when pricing your services.

• If you will be working any distance away from home, you will want some form of transport and, of course, there are costs involved in running a vehicle.

All these costs will be able to be claimed against your earnings later, so be sure to make a note of everything you spend.

Profitable gardening at home

If you would rather work in your own surroundings there are still many options for profitable gardening.

If you like growing vegetables or herbs, but have more than you will need for your own kitchen, then you could sell the extra to neighbours and friends. You may even go further and offer your produce to local restaurants.

Give some thought to what vegetables to grow - maybe some staples along with others that are harder to find in the local shops. It might be best not to go for totally obscure varieties, otherwise people will not know how to cook them and therefore you would not make many sales.

Another idea is to provide cuttings, young plants or seedlings, to keen gardeners in your area.

You could also plant up hanging baskets and sell those.

Promoting your services

Don't try to reinvent the wheel here - use tried and trusted methods, such as postcards in local shop windows. This also has the benefit of being inexpensive.

If you want to be a little more pro-active, why not create some fliers on your computer, print them out and drop them through likely looking letter boxes? Houses with large gardens, that look a little unloved and uncared for would be a good place to start.

Keep your postcards and/or fliers simple. Tell the reader that you are available to do the gardening chores that are necessary, but take hard work. Ask if they need lawns mowed or hedges trimmed. If they need other jobs tackled they can always ask if you can oblige when they call you. As you will be working outside, this is one of the occasions when putting a mobile or cell phone number on your literature would be advisable!

Word of mouth can help your profitable gardening business grow

If you know people who are not able to get out in the garden and do the heavy jobs any more, why not just talk to them! You could drop a little comment about your new business into the conversation and see if they pick up on it. Even if they don't take the bait, they may have stored the information ready to mention to a friend who may be interested in employing you.

It only takes a few satisfied customers to spread the word for you, and you could find yourself with plenty of work.

My father started by digging my mother-in-laws flower beds for her. Other people commented on how nice her garden looked and asked how she managed to keep it so neat and tidy. Guess who was recommended?