The Citizen, 1991-05-15, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 15,1991.
WE 1991
Business booming for landscaping hobbyist
Don Blake of RR1, Auburn loads a truck for delivery outside his Treebelt Landscaping
when making selections, he adds.
When not doing the work for oth
ers, maintaining and preserving his
stock takes up what is left of Mr.
Blake's time. A firm believer in
doing all you can for Mother Earth,
Mr. Blake has planted many wind
breaks around his property to fend
off the damage a chilly breeze can
do to nursery plants. "The wind is
my worst enemy," he said. The
plants are sheltered effectively by a
fence and bam, but Mr. Blake sees
that more trees serving as a wind
break are only beneficial to them
and to the rest of his property. "I
want to plant a young supply of
nursery stock. I really believe in the
practicalities of windbreaks. They
not only benefit the earth but us as
well. The shade they provide keeps
the house cool in the summer and
helps stop the cold in the winter."
As a further conservation practice,
Mr. Blake collects rainwater from
his bam roof into the back of a
truck to water the plants.
Due to his increasing business
demands, Mr. Blake has installed a
computerized sprinkling system for
use, should he ever manage time
for a vacation.
Mr. Blake said that during the
busy time, he does hire a student to
help him with the tough jobs, like
digging and carrying, but basically
he says, "it's a one-man show. For
the big jobs it's great to have stu
dents helping but when it comes
down to handling trees and deci
sion making it is necessary to have
a degree of knowledge."
Mr. Blake said his knowledge
has come primarily from experi
ence, but his wholesaler, Jim
continued on page 17
MAITLAND MANOR
NURSERY
BLUEVALE 335-3240
WEEPING MULBERRY
BEAUTIFUL
BIG AND CHEAP!!
business.
by Bonnie Gropp
When Don Blake of RR 1,
Auburn started his landscaping
business, aptly named "Treebelt",
in June of last year, it was simply a
hobby. Now, however, he is view
ing things in a somewhat different
light.
Mr. Blake, who works full-time
as a machinist at Champion in
Goderich, has been spending
another eight hours daily, on what
has become almost another full-
time job during the on-season.
"I had always wanted something
like this," he said, smiling.
"Besides, I need all this stuff for
myself. In my line of work, it's my
only chance at a change of career
or my only chance for any kind of
career independence."
Mr. Blake says the landscaping
business is an easy entry-level busi
ness, where you can start small and
work up. "You don't have to go for
broke," he says. "All my profits are
rolled back in. I'm not getting rich
but I'm growing."
The major obstacle posed
presently by his dual career posi
tion is that it is difficult to find him
home. A large Open sign on the
barn doors brings a substantial
number of walk-in buyers to Tree
belt, which is located just one mile
west of Blyth on county road 25,
but trying to reach him by phone is
another story He doesn't get home
from his regular job until about
four p.m. and as the price of his
merchandise includes delivery, he
is often on the road. To address the
problem he is looking at the pur
chase of a cellular phone, which he
says would eliminate a lot of confu
sion and take about two hours out
of his work day.
Beyond delivery,Treebell has a
complete inventory of supplies,
including peal loam, crushed brick
and screened top soil, windbreak
trees, ornamental trees and any rel
ative product. Mr. Blake also,
offers set up and display services.
"I will suggest different choices for
customers and let them see how it
would look. If they don't like it,
fine, we'll keep looking."
Mr. Blake says he advises people
on whether or not the trees, shrub
or plants they've selected will work
in the designated area. "A tree's
adaptability is important. The
biggest mistake I see people mak
ing is planting a Colorado Blue
Spruce near the house or driveway,
because they grow so big, it's just
not the right spot for them." Colour
scheming is another important key
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Until May 31 1991
259"
Keep the Livestock out of the
a Garden