Weeds come back!
When I weed someone’s garden I always expect some weeds to come back because I know the seeds are already in the soil. Now, when one of my clients called me some months ago, I did a great job on her front yard. But, before she got a chance to install new plants, construction workers covered up her space with materials.
Which is why she called months later to come help her again. Sure. I knew I could do the work after hours as a cool-down. And I did.
Weed like a pro
Now, if you hope to make some side-hustle money, give your client a quote and then complete the work quickly. That’s what I did: $140 to weed the front bed and get it ready for planting. So how did I weed it out quickly and well? Obviously by using my trusted hand tool from Home Depot which retails for roughly $20.
Remember the lesson we learned from the late (and famous) English gardener Christopher Lloyd. He writes that he always weeds on his knees with a hand tool. People who weed by standing and bending forward, and only using their fingers are dismissed by Lloyd as “having low standards”. Since this is a family blog, I will leave it at that.
Feeling overwhelmed?
I find it amusing when I see people with weedy garden areas sitting down and hand-picking hundreds of small weeds. Most of those weeds just lose their top growth and their roots stay in the soil, which means that the “weeded” bed greens up again quickly.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, buy a hand tool or call Red Seal Vas for help.
Easy does it
Back to my client’s front garden. I used my hand tool to uproot the weeds and disposed of them easily in paper garden bags. The tool saves my fingers from strain and it allows me to progress quickly. Remember, I’m not getting paid by the hour: I’m getting $140. So speed is important and my hand tool is just what I need.
It took me maybe an hour to clean up the front, including soil cultivation and clean up blow. Then I went home, finally free to relax after a long day.
Once I got out of the shower, my cell phone notifications were showing a $140 e-transfer for the work; and a $30 tip for getting the work done quickly and well. All thanks to my hand tool and some sweat. $170 for one hour, and my happy client can start planting!
Be like Red Seal Vas and weed with hand tools.
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