Stories

I like helping people reclaim their time. Life can be incredibly busy. Between working full-time, running a side business and raising three wonderful children, it’s no surprise that some jobs around the home get pushed to the bottom of the list.

That was exactly the case for Mr and Mrs D. Their garden had become one of those jobs they simply hadn’t found the time to tackle. The hedge had become overgrown the lawn needed attention, and a brand-new lawnmower had been sitting unopened in its box for three months waiting for “one day” to arrive.

Sometimes all that’s needed is an extra pair of hands to help get things back under control and that’s where I was able to help.

My first task was tackling the hedge. Using the family’s own hedge trimmer I carefully cut it back, removing a substantial amount of growth that had built up over time. I also made sure the hedge was trimmed on the neighbour’s side too leaving everything looking neat and well cared for.

Before mowing the lawn I carefully raked through the grass to remove toys, sticks and stones helping to protect the mower and ensure a clean finish. I also removed sections of old weed membrane that had broken down over the years.

As part of POPIN Home Support’s Unbox & Build Service I assembled the family’s brand-new lawnmower which had been sitting in its box for months. It certainly didn’t stay unused for long I put it straight to work.

Garden maintenance often creates far more waste than people expect. The hedge cuttings and grass clippings quickly filled the family’s green garden waste bin. To keep the project moving I used two of the garden grab bags I carry as part of my support kit. This meant I could complete the work in one visit rather than waiting for the next garden waste collection and Mr D could simply take the filled bags to the local recycling centre when it suited him.

To finish the visit I swept the driveway and front step leaving the whole property looking clean, tidy and ready for the family to enjoy.

I believe it’s important for clients to know exactly what they’re paying for so here’s a breakdown of the services completed during this visit:

• Garden Tidy & Maintenance Service £75

• Unbox & Build Service (assembly of the new lawnmower) £25

• Garden Grab Bags (2 × £15) £30

Total Cost: £130

I’m delighted that they’ve already booked a monthly Garden Tidy & Maintenance visit allowing me to keep on top of the garden throughout the year.

Regular maintenance means the garden will stay neat, healthy and enjoyable without becoming an overwhelming task.

I’m really looking forward to watching the garden develop over the coming months and seeing how it changes through each season. 

More importantly I’m happy I was able to help Mr and Mrs D spend less time worrying about the garden and more time focusing on more important matters. 

Natasha