It was while working at Mamhead that he founded his nursery, the first commercial plant nursery in South West England, marketing many of the plants collected by Ball during the latter's commercial travels abroad, most famously the Holm Oak.
During his time at Mamhead, he started his own nursery, which became the first commercial plant nursery in South West England. He sold many of the plants collected by Ball during his business trips overseas, particularly the famous Holm Oak.