Just when you’re done with shoveling snow, you can set your sights toward spring (and summer) and mowing the lawn. But, for many the grass would be a lot greener if they could just get someone else to do it (the mowing that is). But, weeding out a reputable landscaper, one who not only knows what he is doing, but also one you can trust and can afford can be quite challenging and tricky, especially if your not sure of what to ask about or look for. With that said, professionals offer the following advice for homeowners who are a bit “green” in the gardening arena.
1. Put Your Money Where Your Word Of Mouth Is: If you’re going to invest in any professional, your best bet is to chose among those that come highly referred by those you know and trust. After all there’s no better advertising, than a content client. And, by all means don’t be afraid to ask strangers and neighbors (with lovely lawns) for their recommendation.
2. Dig A Little Deeper: Go beneath the surface and unearth some solid references. Not only should you ask for client approval but ask to take a look at their yards. You’ll also want to ask your potential service provider to see a sample of his work, including photo albums and any work featured in magazines.
3. Refrain From Planting A Financial Seed: Sometimes service professionals will charge you based on what they think you can afford, or a “comfortable” number you’ve revealed to them. Instead experts suggest giving the prospective landscaper a detailed wish list and allowing him to generate an estimate.
4. Sign On The Dotted Line: Although many (service) professionals may insist that their word and their handshake is as good as a written contract, experts suggest “getting it in writing” It’s likely your chosen landscaper will request a 50 percent down payment (up front) with the balance due upon completion of the job/services. However professionals point out that a landscaper worth his weight in soil will honor the contract even if you hold back 10 percent of the payment until 30 days after completion (or sooner if you’re happy with the work). And, they suggest asking for a specific guarantee for the services agreed upon.
5. Get An Education: Get informed by brushing up via the latest gardening books and magazines, you that you learn the lingo and can properly ask for what you want, and maybe even have some pictures to show making your expectations more concrete and clear.
6. Insta-Garden Alternatives: If you’ve got the time, energy, and ambition about doing much of the the work yourself, experts suggest hiring a landscaper or landscape architect to draw up the plans and a planning schedule (preferably starting in the spring). And they note that some nurseries offer this service either for free or for a nominal fee.
About the Author:
Long Island community resource
Arm Blasting Q @
AI wanted to answer a very important question about the 1 inch in 1 week arm routine
I wrote about (the link to part I is at the end of the article. This question is not only
very important to the arm routine but it’s very important to all
of your training, if you want to be successful with your muscle
building efforts.
QUESTION: “I was wondering if your ‘add one inch in a week’ routine
actually works. I have tried those articles before and have found
hardly any results. I’d be happy if I gained a 1/4 of an inch. I just
want to know if I’ll see results if I participate on this program.
Thanks.”
Thanks for the question. There are some very important things in
this question that need to be addressed. First off, I can’t make
any guarantee as to the results you will see. There are way too
many variables that I can’t control – how hard you work, the
weights you use, your genetics, how many calories you take in,
protein intake, and on and on.
And that’s true of anything you do in life whether it’s lifting
weights, playing a sport, getting good grades in school, etc.
There are no guarantees.
Second, I appreciate your frustration. Most routines in the
mainstream bodybuilding magazines do not produce results for
99% of the trainees out there.
This happens for two reasons. One, the routines are just a bunch
of exercises, reps and set numbers thrown together without a plan.
Very few of these routines work for you and me, and most cause us
to overtrain.
The other very important point is that you have to understand
that specialization routines like the arm training routine are
not done in a vacuum. What do I mean by this? I mean that you
can’t just do this routine and expect great results. Many other
factors come into play; some you can control, others you can’t.
Let’s look at two hypothetical bodybuilders. For this example,
we’ll say they have the exact same genetic potential for building
muscle mass.
Trainee number one loves training arms. He’s not a big fan of
heavy back or leg work though. So he goes all out on the arm
training routine but he gives a half-hearted effort on the back
work and skips leg training altogether. He also enjoys staying
up late watching TV so he only gets 5 hours of sleep each night.
He barely manages three meals a day, and they aren’t the most
nutritious meals, either.
Trainee number two follows the routine exactly and goes all out,
even on squats. He doesn’t like squats, they are brutally hard
but he loves the results he gets from them so he gives them
everything he’s got. He makes sure to get 9 hours of sleep a
night. He adds weight to all his exercises every chance he
gets. He eats six times per day, with nutritious high-protein
meals.
Which trainee do you think will see better results from this
routine? Obviously, trainee number two will get more out of
the routine.
When applying any routine you put together, you must realize
that there are many other important factors above and beyond
the exercises, sets and reps you choose. And the more factors
you apply properly, the better your results are going to be.
Sure, you can’t control genetics but you can control most of
the other factors.
Important muscle building factors include:
Your Weight Training Program (exercises, sets, reps, intensity)
Nutrition (# of meals, quality of meals, calories, protein, etc.)
Sleep (get enough of it!)
The more you do right in your overall muscle building plan, the
better your results are going to be. And you will get results.
How good your results will be, no one will ever know until you
put the plan into action and give it everything you’ve got.
My results for the arm blasting program were 3/4 of an inch
on each arm. I measured on a Sunday night, did the routine
Monday, Wednesday and Friday and then measured again on Sunday
night.
Have you already put the routine into action? What were your
results like? I’d love to hear your results once you’ve tried
this routine. Send me an email at muscle building q&a
Muscle Building Arm Article Part I
Gregg Gillies is the founder of http://www.buildleanmuscle.com
His muscle building articles have appeared in Ironman Magazine. He has written two books
and is a regular contributor to Body Talk Magazine. Grab a copy of his free ebook Mass Building Tips! at http://www.massbuildingtips.com
