LAWN VERSION 1.0 A look into one mans search for a better garden

1. LAWN VERSION 1.0A look into one mans search for a better garden Mark Gibbs, Head of Primary Care

2. LAWN VERSION 1.0A look into one mans search for a better garden Mark Gibbs, Head of Primary Care & Amateur Garden Developer

3. The Requirement • I recently moved house into a house that was previously owned by a recluse, the whole house needed updating, it was like something from the past, if you compared it to a computer system it was like using a text based system that doesn’t use Windows functionality

4. The Requirement I recently moved house into a house that was previously owned by a recluse, the whole house needed updating, it was like something from the past, if you compared it to a computer system it was like using a text based system that doesn’t use Windows functionality, builders sorted out the outside

5. Work Needed • But the exterior was my domain, the front garden was easy, if expensive

6. Step 1 – Establish Requirements However for the back Garden I needed to work out what was required to fit my needs There were a few options

7. Choice of Product • Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass

8. Choice of Product Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass This is my Garden and as there was a position of choice I decided not to go with this standard offering, I preferred a living Grass Lawn

9. Choice of Product Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass This is my Garden and as there was a position of choice I decided not to go with this standard offering, I preferred a living Grass Lawn The next choice was the type of grass I wanted, this came down to 3 basic choices;

10. Choice of Product Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass This is my Garden and as there was a position of choice I decided not to go with this standard offering, I preferred a living Grass Lawn The next choice was the type of grass I wanted, this came down to 3 basic choices; Artificial Grass (Astroturf) was put forward as a Vision of the future, this was sold as resilient and maintenance free, but it did not have the look and feel of real grass "It's like a toupee for your lawn," says Bruce Butterfield, research director of the National Gardening Association

11. Choice of Product Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass This is my Garden and as there was a position of choice I decided not to go with this standard offering, I preferred a living Grass Lawn The next choice was the type of grass I wanted, this came down to 3 basic choices; Artificial Grass (Astroturf) was put forward as a Vision of the future, this was sold as resilient and maintenance free, but it did not have the look and feel of real grass "It's like a toupee for your lawn," says Bruce Butterfield, research director of the National Gardening Association The common Rye Grass (supplied by Economic Managed Installation Services) that a majority of gardens have installed, this was easy to maintain and as long as you didn’t look too closely was green and at least a consistency of grass. This was recommended as an alternative to Total Pavement Protection by the builders as it was easy to install and they offered to install it for me, however I felt this was an inferior product and not consistent with the fine offering I wanted.

12. Choice of Product Our builders offered their standard finish, Total Pavement Protection, they guaranteed no mowing ever and if painted green it could look like grass This is my Garden and as there was a position of choice I decided not to go with this standard offering, I preferred a living Grass Lawn The next choice was the type of grass I wanted, this came down to 3 basic choices; Artificial Grass (Astroturf) was put forward as a Vision of the future, this was sold as resilient and maintenance free, but it did not have the look and feel of real grass "It's like a toupee for your lawn," says Bruce Butterfield, research director of the National Gardening Association The common Rye Grass (supplied by Economic Managed Installation Services) that a majority of gardens have installed, this was easy to maintain and as long as you didn’t look too closely was green and at least a consistency of grass. This was recommended as an alternative to Total Pavement Protection by the builders as it was easy to install and they offered to install it for me, however I felt this was an inferior product and not consistent with the fine offering I wanted. Fine Grass – harder to maintain, but a superior product that offered fine stalks with optimum functionality, it also offered Synergy with the environment and a Premiere result

13. Product fits the size of the opportunity • I needed to match the requirement with the size of the opportunity, to seed or to buy turf was the next choice • I started off with a brownfield site and needed some serious innovators to comply with the national programme for gardens • I asked advice of the User Group they said go with whatever Phil Brown decides! and decided to go with the more expensive option of turfing, for a better finish as this had been developed by experts. • Garden dev has no QoF points, although soon I might meet MH & Depression criteria

14. Preparation • My first job is to prepare the soil. The best tool for this is your neighbour's motorized rotorvator. If your neighbour does not own a rotorvator, suggest that he buy one.

15. Correct Implementation • It was important that I installed it correctly 1st time to achieve what was required

16. Correct Implementation • It was important that I installed it correctly 1st time to achieve what was required • However I had to continue to maintain customer communications

17. Correct Implementation • It was important that I installed it correctly 1st time to achieve what was required • However I had to continue to maintain customer communications (notice the BlackBerry is still attached)

18. Ensure The Correct Level Of Supervision is in place • Management is a hard job but someone has to do it • Mistress 1.1 might be used if Wife 5.0 continues like this

19. Keep the implementation going to a conclusion For anyone confused it is a dog, not a sheep, pig or cloud on legs! You know who you are!

20. Accept that it will not be perfect from Day 1 • The initial implementation will have rough edges and will need care and attention • Bugs from the shrubs have to be defended about, this will have to come out of my hedgefund

21. Improvements will be quickly seen with care and attention User group input helped although the IDC original input into the design said this should be round

22. Identify Areas of Imperfection and apply ‘patches’ to rectify, also make sure scheduled maintenance is carried out

23. Identify Areas of Imperfection and apply ‘patches’ to rectify, also make sure scheduled maintenance is carried out It is worth putting your gbak into it!

24. Continual maintenance will soon start to reap benefits

25. Final result is a perfectly implemented Greenfield site

26. With a little love and attention the results are a growing rich lawn

27. That hopefully will be enjoyed for years to come,making all of the effort worthwhile

28. Resulting in a Favourable Outlook for the future