Ed’s Gardener training

Ed’s gardener training is taken very seriously in Ed’s Garden Services. This goes far beyond initial training in competently and confidently delivering our range of gardening services. Initial training is really important. However, it is just as important to continuously build on this knowledge with the provision of ongoing training in a wide range of topics. We learn from the very best in the horticultural business. We cover developments in products and equipment. Furthermore, we concentrate on topical areas relating to lawns and plants. Finally we keep abreast of any important regulation changes. This is all part and parcel of our gardeners having all the tools (actual and metaphorical!) to deliver really good customer service.

Ed’s Gardener Training – Hot off the press…

Just last week we ran an Ed’s training session at our office. We invited along our go to horticultural expert who put us through our paces on all that is new in the world of gardening. We really enjoy these interactive sessions which often include quizzes etc. to test our gardening knowledge and to keep our knowledge current.

Furthermore, we structure our training sessions so our gardeners get a chance to share their gardening challenges and successes. This is really valuable as we learn from each other’s experiences and we can build this in to our day to day customer service.

The after party…

Ed’s gardeners are most definitely a sociable bunch. They join us partly because they thrive on the social interaction aspect of running a good gardening business. It’s Ed’s tradition to put on a barbecue after our training sessions. This gives everyone a chance to catch up socially and our gardeners really enjoy it.

As luck would have it last week, just as we were winding up our classroom session and were getting ready to fire up the barbecue, the heavens well and truly opened. However, no one was fazed by a spot of rain – we are gardeners after all!

Ed himself started off on the barbecue, another Ed’s tradition. His burgers topped with stilton are truly legendary!

However, on this occasion, David, our Tunbridge Wells gardener offered to lend a helping hand at the helm of the barbecue. David is originally from South Africa and joked that barbecue cooking is in his DNA! His barbecuing skills were indeed pretty impressive – almost as good as his gardening ones! As always, Wellington the Ed’s labrador, was on hand to pick up any dropped pieces of, well anything really.

A well spent afternoon and evening before our gardeners headed home, well fed and with lots of food for thought to keep themselves at the very top of their gardening game.

RHS Wisley

Taking inspiration from nature

The Ed’s team had an early start (even by gardener standards!) last week.   We got up with the lark and  were out in force for our seasonal visit to RHS Wisley, Surrey.  Our spring training session is an important event in the Ed’s calendar.  

The Classroom 

On arrival, we kicked off the morning with an expert-led classroom session.  You can’t help being impressed by our expert’s encyclopaedic knowledge of all things garden-related. It is great to hear about all the  new products and developments in the world of gardening.  We know how important that is to provide the best possible gardening services to our lovely customers.  We continued with a  full briefing  on recent changes in gardening regulations and wound up our session with an open-floor question and answer session.  

The Gardens

We can’t visit RHS Wisley without taking a tour of the beautiful gardens. We are always bowled over by their stunning displays and spring is very special indeed. It is so inspiring to seeing gardening creativity at work in this very special place. The gardens are even more magical in the early morning light, before all the visitors arrive. 

We were lucky to be visiting while it felt like spring (before the snow hit Surrey again!)  

Back to business

Our training was all done and dusted by 9.30 am.  We had time for a quick chat after the session before we headed back home to get on with  the very important business of keeping our customers happy.

Ed’s preparations for the season ahead

The RHS Wisley location

Ed’s Garden Services Operators were out in force last week for another great training session at RHS Wisley. The Ed’s team visits RHS Wisley in all seasons. It looks absolutely stunning at any time of the year. This was our view from the office …

The training we get there is truly excellent – we have access to the best horticultural expertise there is.

We always plan our Ed’s training sessions to coincide with the changing seasons and go for an early start to avoid disruption to our Garden Operators’ busy work schedules. Our Wisley training sessions really help Ed’s Garden Operators to prepare for the season ahead and to apply their learning in their customers’ gardens.

What we cover

Last week, we covered a whole range of horticultural topics. We learned about recent developments in new technologies for re-turfing lawns, advanced methods of dealing with problem areas with existing lawns and also got some great tips relating to hedges. Planting was also covered, which is always great to unleash our Garden Operators’ creativity. We finished off with a session on important new developments. This included health and safety regulations to make sure our Garden Operators’ are kept fully up to date in this important area.

No visit to Wisley would be complete without a stroll round the beautiful gardens. It is quite magical to be there before the gates are open to visitors for the day.  Autumn was certainly showing itself in all its glory. What a great start to a gardening day!