Whether it's because people are going away on holiday, or because they're staying home and entertaining family and friends, it's a busy time for businesses specialising in fixing or beautifying the home's outdoor areas.

Homeowners going away want things like automated irrigation and extra security elements put in place, while those staying at home want their gardens looking beautiful, their pool sparkling and their paving fixed.

End-of-year bonuses are also being used to fix up the little things which get neglected during the hustle and bustle of the rest of the year.

Owner of Jimmy's Pool Maintenance, Deon Stassen, said his business has been booked for work every day since November and it looked like the trend would continue until March next year as homeowners wanted to ensure their pools were sparkling during the summer holiday season.

Stassen said he was of the opinion many people could not afford to go on holiday this year and were thus making the best of what they have at home.

However, Home Maintenance Services owner Paul van Dijk said December was his busiest period as of the year as clients planned to go away and wanted to either install or repair automated irrigation systems to ensure their gardens did not die while they were on holiday.

Van Dijk said the recession this year meant his business had not done as well as it had in 2008, December was always busy as homeowners used their bonuses to get the odd jobs around the house done that had been neglected throughout the year.

Landscaped Gardens owner Matthew Gregan said business had most definitely picked up since the end of October and he would be busy until year-end.

Gregan said clients were all in a rush to have their gardens looking beautiful in time for the festive season.

The sunny summer weather also played a role, he said, as people were keen to spend more time outdoors.

Mark Kretzmann, of Livingscapes Landscaping, agreed. "It's always hectic this time of year. It's difficult to get everything done before the builders' holiday when my labourers go on leave."

Kretzmann said he also had a number of jobs lined up for the New Year, and people in the upper income brackets seemed unaffected by the recession and did not blink at commissioning large jobs. – Yugendree Naidoo, West Cape News

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