Question
JUST RECENTLY RETIRED AND NEED HELP LEARNING HOW TO PRICE WORK, FROM MOWING TO PLANTING AND ALSO INTERESTED IN SETTING UP YEAR ROUND MAINTAINCE WITH CUSTOMERS. ANY GUIDE LINES IN THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.  

Answer
Stanley,
When I first started out I charged by the job.But as I gained experience I realized a more appropriate way to be paid is by the hour.
Here's why: If you estimate a job and while right in the middle of it working away,you run into a snag or say it was a bigger job than you thought it was going to be.Explaining this to a customer on the 3rd day of a 2 day(the estiimated time you gave your customer) job is quite unpleasant,so if you work by the hour you will get a much fairer rate.Yard work is labor intensive and you should be paid accordingly.
I am a perfectionist and I state this to each new customer right up front before any work is commenced.They will then say either "It doesn't have to be perfect",or "Great I like perfection". Some people have the money to pay for perfection,some don't. It's always the best policy to openly communicate with your customer.Customer satisfaction is what gets you more jobs.If someone is not satisfied you keep at it until they are.
Soon you will build a customer base just by word of mouth.
Good landscapers and professional gardeners don't come cheap and for a very good reason.They wouldn't hire you if they could do it theirself.Most people want to keep up their yards to compete with the neighbors,therefore you will have no problem getting jobs.I live in a small town where most lawn care and landscapers are men.Don't take this personally but the way I started getting jobs was because most landscaping crews hire workers that have strength,but their not always neat and tidy.That is a very important thing too.You have to clean up after yourself and don't ruin anything in the yard or like run over a hose or trim a bush to almost nothing.You see my point.
Charge by the hour.You will be less stressed and good luck to you.I hope you enjoy your retirement but don't work too hard,you deserve a break.
PS:Although,I don't mow yards so you may want to ask someone else about lawn care.