Snapshots of spring are constantly being sent to the Ed’s Office at the moment. The temperatures are certainly climbing this week and the Ed’s gardeners’ cameras are clicking away. There is also a bright yellow ball in the sky that we haven’t seen for quite some time and it adds to the beauty of everything we behold.

As spring arrives once again, we are out there observing up close the freshly blooming flowers, feeling the spring sun on our faces and witnessing up close all the signs of nature’s rebirth. It doesn’t matter how many years we are gardeners, the beauty of spring always astounds us.

Snapshots of spring – Out and about with Ed’s gardeners…

Ed’s gardeners love snapping photos from our travels and sharing them…

Magnolia season is here. We caught this beauty earlier today. So magnificent against a perfect spring sky.

There are daffodils, crocuses and other early spring flowers all around. So wonderful to behold after the gloomy winter months. We never tire of snapping daffodils. Here are two hosts from our travels today.

The blossom is also starting to billow. Another beauty we caught on camera earlier today.

Even the later blooming trees are starting to bud and leaf out, signalling the return of warmer weather.

One of our customer’s acers is just getting started…

Birdsong is most definitely in the air with harmonious choruses from all types of birds from goldfinches to coal tits. It can be quite a cacophony at certain times of day but we are not complaining. We always have our ear defenders to fall back on!

We wouldn’t rather be anywhere else than in the depths of nature at this wonderful time of year.

The sprouting of spring is a gentle reminder that summer is just around the corner. Thoughts wander to al fresco meals like these sitting in lovely outdoor spaces.

Spring is a call to action to get plans in order so we can all enjoy our gardens to the maximum in the warmer months ahead.

If we can help you with any of your plans to get your garden ship shape and make it a space you love, please do get in touch.

Investing in the future – Community Commitment

Investing in the future is at the very core of Ed’s. Our Ed’s gardeners love underpinning the longevity of gardens as part of serving their local communities. However, some of our gardeners also take active roles in community service beyond their gardening. Andrew, who runs his gardening business in Chertsey has also had a prominent volunteering role in his community for over 20 years as an active member and leader of Runnymede Scouts District.

It is Andrew’s Scouts District’s 50th anniversary this year. This September, as part of a weekend of outdoor scouting fun, Cub Scouts from Runnymede District helped Andrew plant a commemorative copper beech tree. Ed’s was very happy to sponsor this project.

Did you know that a beech tree was considered a symbol of knowledge and wisdom by Ancient Greeks? Furthermore, beech trees can live for 250 – 400 years.

Over to Andrew…

This is what Andrew has to say about the project…

“I have an outdoor job as well as being a Scout leader. Therefore, I know how much we all benefit from time spent outdoors in nature. So, I was delighted when Ed’s HQ offered to cover the cost for the tree. Ed’s turned our hopes for a living reminder of the 50th anniversary into reality.“

“Around 200 young people and adults attended Runnymede District Cub Camp for the District’s 50th Anniversary this year (20-22nd September 2024) and to mark the occasion in an environmentally conscious way, the Cubs planted the commemorative tree.”

“The tree planting event, which took place at Birchmere Campsite on September
21st, was part of a weekend of outdoor scouting fun. Cubs of all ages took
part in a wide range of woodland themed activities, followed by a traditional campfire on Saturday evening.”

“Our new tree will contribute to the environment and be enjoyed by current and future Scouts for many years to come.”

Of all the garden services Ed’s offers, lawn mowing is a favourite among our gardeners. They take pride and satisfaction in a well-maintained lawn, and the stripes are always a crowd-pleaser!

So take a seat, grab some popcorn and have a browse through this showcase of lawn mowing jobs, done by our Ed’s gardeners over the years.

Wimbledon-worthy

We caught up with Kevin and asked him what his secret ingredient was for such spectacular lawns. This is what he had to say…

“The secret is continuity of care. Lawns need a lot of care to get them looking their very best. Therefore, I work with my customers and look at the job holistically. That is to say, providing care and attention all year round to make sure that lawns can flourish to be the best that they can be.

“When customers see the results of this, they are very keen to keep the process going so that they can enjoy their beautiful gardens to the fullest. Each lawn is different and it is all about coming up with the best care plan for treatments and mowing, taking into account all the external factors affecting the lawn in question.”

“I really enjoy all my gardening jobs but I get a special sense of satisfaction from nurturing lawns. I’ve been doing this job for quite a while now and yet a perfect lawn still never fails to thrill.”

Fit for a King

These gorgeous stripes were the handiwork of Chris King over the coronation bank holiday weekend in 2023. Lawn stripes make an excellent backdrop for a bank holiday garden party.

Indian summer

September is a really rewarding time of year for a gardener. The weather is lovely but not too hot, and the late summer growth spurt gives our gardeners a lot of opportunity to make lawns look great again. Dave enjoyed taking care of this garden in Andover.

A two-toned technique

Ed’s operator for St Ives, Richard Weightman, got to grips with a customers lawn early in the season. He made use of two Honda professional mowers – the larger one to put stripes on the main lawn, and a smaller one to mow around the daffodils which had been planted the previous autumn, allowing for an elegant display of lawn mowing techniques to bring out the best of the garden.

A winning lawn

John was asked to mow his local children’s footie club. He said: “It may not look like the hallowed Wembley Turf, but I think I did a good job – and they won 4 – 2 on Saturday!”

Clean-cut

This clean work from former Ed’s gardener, Dan, who used to cover the Esher/Thames Ditton area, immediately gives the whole garden a feeling of being well maintained.

Total transformation

This refurbished lawn was in a very poor state before Nick got his hands on it. After deep scarification, re-seeding and treatment it is now close to bowling green standard.

The two photos below are also courtesy of Nick’s green fingers.

Hay making

Paul from Bristol took care of these very over grown lawns. What a transformation!

Does your lawn need a trim?

If the stripes in these photos have tempted you, find your local Ed’s gardener and get in touch with us.

Ed’s Gardeners going the extra mile – Mark saves the day

Ed’s gardeners going the extra mile is a common theme in our business. Here is a recent example…

Ed’s gardeners going the extra mile – The background

Mark runs his Ed’s gardening business in Ramsgate, Kent. He recently got an unusual request from a customer. Their young children are obsessed with pirates and were besides themselves at the idea of having their own pirate ship to play on in their garden. The customer had been able to find a wonderful wooden galleon pirate ship. However, the garden wasn’t totally flat and the ship needed full assembly and to be installed properly to make it safe for the children. The customer asked Mark if he would be prepared to do the job. They recognised that it was outside his usual remit and also at a busy time of year.

Ed’s gardeners going the extra mile – The job in hand

Mark tells us ” I thought about the scope of the project and was confident that I could complete the job to a high standard. Now, who would dare disappoint apprentice pirates! And so, it was a yes from me, one very relieved customer and some very excited junior pirates.”

“I planned the various stages of the job. There were three parts to it. First of all, I had to level the ground so that the structure would be on a flat surface. Next, I had to insert pins into the ground sunk in concrete to make sure that the structure would be secured properly. Finally, I had to build the actual pirate ship and get it in place.”

Ed’s gardeners going the extra mile – The end result

“The job ran very smoothly and each phase was quite straightforward. I was able to complete the job in good time. Just as well as my mini customers were waiting patiently in the wings in extreme anticipation of the final result. No pressure!”

“Chatting with my customer afterwards, they mentioned that the junior pirates have already set their sights on a garden climbing frame for essential pirate training. They wondered if I might lend a steady hand once again. Of course, was my reply.”

” I love the challenge of types of unusual jobs. This was a particularly nice one as there is something very special about sharing children’s excitement in a project.”

Our Ed’s gardeners can help you fulfil a whole range of your garden’s requirements. Please just get in touch.

Gardener reading material is certainly the topic of today. Why? Well, it is World Book Day today and that means we should all be thinking about our very favourite books. In schools all over the country there are children taking part in the fun day. They go into school with their favourite book and dress up as one of its key characters. Lots of fun is had by all and a love of reading is fostered at the same time.

“What does all this have to do with Ed’s Garden Services?” you may ask. Well…

The Big Tiger Day…

Penny and Pierre are very busy running their Ed’s business in Camberley. However, when they are not busy gardening, they are very involved grandparents. Penny sent this photo into the Ed’s office today. It was taken of her five year-old grandson this morning. Penny’s grandson is a great reader and loves all sorts of books. His favourite book of the moment is “Tiger” and he most definitely looked the part in his fantastic outfit. Obviously Penny’s daughter takes after her mum in the clever hands stakes as she made the tiger outfit. Dad made the tiger mask.

The Star of the Day…

Consequently,Penny’s grandson won the school prize for the best homemade outfit. No surprise really – what a scary tiger (with a lovely smile)! Celebrations all round at home afterwards (we wonder if there may even have been a tiger who came to tea!)

And so, delighted with winning his prize, Grandma was put on the spot and asked if she had a very favourite book. Gardener reading material must be a thing, surely? Without missing a beat, Penny responded “Of course I do. It’s Eddie’s Garden. What else would it be!” Everyone was very amused by that, not least the clever tiger, who pointed out that Penny even has her Ed’s garden uniform outfit to go with her favourite book.

Tim’s Latest Challenge

Unique gardening jobs are a key part of Ed’s. Ask an Ed’s Gardener and they will tell you that no two days are ever the same. Gardening jobs can vary greatly from mowing large lawns to delivering mini-projects with a very specific remit.

Tim runs his Ed’s business in Taunton and always enjoys meeting his customers’ needs. Tim thrives on the challenge of different types of jobs. He has recently completed a transformation of a new build front garden. This is what Tim has to say about it…

Unique Gardening Jobs – The Background

“One of the things I love about Ed’s is the variety of my work. You never quite know what a customer is going to want doing. I enjoy the challenge of that. This recent job was the front garden of a new build house. The turf that had been laid by the housebuilder was not of a very good quality and, although shrubs had been planted, it had all been done in quite a haphazard way. Furthermore, as it was the front garden and visible to all, the owner felt that the space really impacted on the look of their house.”

Unique Gardening Jobs – The Plan

“I had a good chat with the customer as there were clearly a range of options from which they could choose. However, it became clear that, rather than fill up the space with lots more greenery, the customer preferred a clean-cut look that was visually pleasing but also really low maintenance. The maintenance aspect is a very important consideration when deciding on the best course of action. And so, following a good chat, we charted our course of action. Consequently, we were going to remove everything, put down a membrane and lay bark. We would have a few specifically chosen plants to grow in the space. And so, to work…”

The End Result

“My customer was really happy with how it all turned out. They said it was exactly what they wanted. It looked good and it was very low maintenance. A good result all round!”

Indeed, if you would like some help sorting out your own garden, Tim would be very happy to help. Please do get in touch.

From the Garden to the Cricket Field

Ed’s all-round gardeners is a term that generally describes us well. No garden maintenance job is too big or too small. We are happy to turn our hands to a whole range of different gardening services. We provide all of the following services:-

• mowing,
• hedge cutting,
• patio washing,
• tidy-ups
• garden clearances.
  
  

Ed’s All-round Gardeners – Community Spirit

However, Guy Lilford, our Ed’s gardener in Maidenhead (West) takes being an all-rounder to a whole new level. Guy is a very experienced Ed’s gardener who provides a whole range of gardening services to his loyal customer base. Many have been customers for a long time and he has very good relationships with him. Guy’s gardening business fits very well with the satisfaction he gets from being actively involved in his local community. Here is an example of how he took this involvement one step further…

Ed’s All-round Gardeners – Bringing the Ashes to Berkshire

When Guy’s village primary school announced plans for a local fundraising village cricket match with a replication of the Ashes tradition, Guy was more than happy to roll up his sleeves and lend a hand. He volunteered to be one of the sponsors of the cricket match as well as actually playing in it himself. Here is what Guy has to say…

“I have always been a big cricket fan and enjoy playing too. When our local village primary announced plans to run a charity “Ashes” competition, my interest was piqued. They were replicating the ashes tradition and customising it for our own little Berkshire village. Charmed by the concept, I volunteered to play immediately but then thought it would be a great initiative to sponsor and all for a good local cause. And so I put my Ed’s business forward as a match sponsor. All our players had the Ed’s logo, as well as those of the other sponsors, printed on our cricket shirts.”

Ed’s All-round Gardeners – The Match

“It ended up being a really fabulous day, with the whole local community involved. The match was great fun with everyone in good spirits (even the losers!).”

A New Village Tradition

“We followed up our cricket match with tea and home made cakes. Furthermore, the sun shone for us throughout the day and we raised a good sum of money. It was really great to catch up with some friendly faces and my whole family had a lovely time. I often see people when I am out and about wearing my Ed’s uniform so it was a change to be in full cricket gear (although the Ed’s logo was still present!). Everyone was buzzing and saying how we should definitely make the cricket match a new Hurst annual tradition. The Hurst Ashes – who knew that Ed’s would become part of English cricket tradition! “

Gardener News – Marcus is the new Dave

Gardener changeover ahead

We have some gardener news at Ed’s. Dave, our Ed’s gardener in Andover has recently decided to hang up his gardening gloves, sell up and move from Andover to Suffolk. Dave has spent five happy years as an Ed’s gardener. We are all very sorry to say farewell to Dave, who has been a great and enthusiastic member of the Ed’s team. He will most certainly be missed.

However, we are also very happy that Marcus, will take over the service of many of Dave’s lovely customers. Marcus has recently moved from Streatham to run his Ed’s business in Stockbridge and surrounding area. Dave has delievered a very smooth handover. Furthermore, Marcus is very much looking forward to provide the excellent customer service that Dave has delivered.

At Ed’s we pride ourselves on this level of customer service which includes providing continuity as much as we possibly can. Our team of experienced gardeners like nothing more than to help each other out and be great team players. In many cases this can lead to them growing their own businesses. As is the case with Dave and Marcus.

We wish both Dave and Marcus all the very best in their future endeavours.

Ed’s Gardener Chris – customer service is key

Ed’s Gardener Chris Snowball runs his growing gardening business in Chislehurst.

Chris enjoys delivering a whole range of gardening services as follows:-

• Lawn Mowing
• Turfing
• Power washing
• Garden tidy ups
• Garden clearances

Customer service is at the very heart of Chris’s business and he strives to delight his customers with this approach. And so, we asked Chris what this means to him. This is what he has to say…

“I frequently think about what the most important things are in the service I provide to my customers. There is a lot more to being a good gardener than completing a really good gardening job. Therefore, whilst it goes without saying that work should be delivered to a high standard, great customer service is a lot more besides. In reality, the customer experience starts when your customer first makes contact with you and should continue right through to returning for repeat visits. As such, good customer service is continuous and it is more of a relationship than a single job experience.”

“I believe that good communication is key to many things in life and so very important in my own business. My customers deserve clear communication right from first contact. Of course, Life is busy enough for them and they should get clear, comprehensive communication from their gardener. It goes without saying and it is key to your garden being a happy place for you.”

“However, communication is clearly a two way process. I love nothing more than customers sharing their ideas about their garden’s potential with me and understanding them and then working to turn them into reality. That’s one of the very best elements of my job and I find it extremely rewarding.”

If Chris can help you fulfil any of your garden’s needs, please do get in touch.

Gardening galore is definitely where it’s at in Ed’s. Gardening is our business and June is such a wonderful time to be a gardener. It goes without saying that Ed’s gardeners are really busy at the moment. However, it is glorious to be working outdoors in the summer sunshine. Furthermore, it’s wonderful seeing the glorious results of our gardeners’ hard graft.

Gardening galore – Showcase

We thought it would be good to give an insight into some of the gardening that our gardeners have been doing recently. It gives a flavour of the work that we do. We love our stripy lawns at Ed’s but it is not all about that. We pride ourselves in the transformation and ongoing careful maintenance of a whole range of sizes and types of gardens. Furthermore, we focus on what our customers really want from their gardens. The old adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is key when it comes to gardens.

Without further ado, and firmly handing all the credit over to our excellent gardeners, here is a little flavour of their recent gardening endeavours…

Ed’s gardeners at work

So we do love our stripes at Ed’s! Our gardeners are masters of the stripy lawn. So we’ll start with a nice stripy lawn…

They don’t come much more stripy than this one. All credits to Marcus, our gardener in Streatham.

Peter, our gardener in Eastleigh has been creating some wonderful stripes in this large garden…

Peter‘s team are also good at vertical gardening. They have been scaling some impressive hedges earlier this year…

And Ali, our gardener in Cambridge (North) is clearly demonstrating that beautiful gardens can come in all shapes and sizes…

Kevin, our gardener in Raynes Park, has to get the prize for the greenest garden. He assures us no filters were involved in this photo!

Matthew, our gardener in Folkestone, has been very hands-on working closely to his customer’s spec by creating this lovely outdoor space.

Finally, in the summer of the staycation, Mark, our gardener in Ramsgate, has been creating a perfect Mediterranean oasis for this delighted customer.

However, our gardeners do have their helpers to assist in delivering all the magic. Here’s a very fine example of an Ed’s little helper…

Moreover, this is just a flavour of what some of our gardeners have been turning their green fingers to. We’ll share more snaps with you as in the coming months.

Ed’s gardeners are happy to work with all different types of gardens. If you think we can help you with yours, please do get in touch.