We often get asked to help customers with garden design, maintenance and gardening services. As a small team we are unable to provide these services, but we’ve pulled together a guide which can help you find the right person for your gardening job. Good gardeners make the life of the homeowner infinitely more pleasant and can save them time, effort and money while maintaining their garden in a way that most people have neither the time, energy or expertise to do. These people are gold dust, and their skills should never be underestimated. Hiring someone who is neither trained or equipped to do the job can cause disappointment, stress, sadness, spiralling costs and bad feelings that can have a hugely detrimental effect to how the home owner feels about their personal space.

It is because of this disparity that many people feel anxious when trying to find a gardener they can trust to do the job well.

Start by defining what exactly you want from your provider. A seemingly simple question but one that if not stated clearly could lead to problems right at the start.

Is it a one-off, garden clearance?

If so you can hire a garden maintenance team to clear the garden and remove any unwanted or problem plants. ALWAYS ensure that you get a written agreement stating exactly what needs to be done and who will take ownership for the legal removal and disposal of the waste. You must always also get a written receipt for any payments. Companies like check-a-trade, The APL (Association of Private Landscapers) and The Gardeners Guild can provide details of accredited companies with testimonials. Hiring a man with a van and a chainsaw may well be ok if he comes recommended by someone you know and trust, but always make sure that the quote and/or agreement are delivered in writing and he/she has public liability insurance and a waste disposal licence at the very minimum. If they are caught illegally dumping waste and that is traced back to you, there could be legal costs involved and potentially prosecution, so having that written contract will provide you with some protection.

Is it a regular gardening service?

This may include repairing hard landscaping, mowing, hedge-cutting, weeding, planting, soil improvement, pest and disease control and the removal of green and hard waste. Be specific and draw up a list of the works you need them to undertake, regularly, occasionally or as one-off jobs. Clear communication is your responsibility and lack of clarity and planning is the prime cause of most avoidable disputes.

This is when doing your homework is imperative. ALL gardeners should have public liability insurance as a minimum. They should have at least one professional horticultural qualification to Level 2 or above and/or have proven horticultural experience and references. They should supply their own tools as they may not be insured if they use yours. (Check their insurance to see if they are covered if using your tools). Again, the professional bodies and colleges are a great way of advertising your job to the right people. (A list of links to these is printed at the end of the article) Remember, they will have regular access to your home and should be trustworthy and reliable. Make sure they can provide references and check them. Find out what experience and training they have and make sure that their training is relevant to the jobs you wish them to undertake. There are few things more heart breaking than coming home to find that your “gardener” has hacked back your prized specimens, disturbed nesting birds, dug out your new plant acquisitions and generally destroyed your garden because you didn’t ask the right questions or provide clear instructions before hiring them.

Are you looking to hire a trained horticulturist, a garden designer or landscaper or a combination of these to plan and a new border or entire garden?

These people will be fully trained with professional qualifications and can provide references and proof of their previous projects. They may be able to give your details to their previous clients who may be willing to let you visit to see gardens they have previously completed, or they can provide plans and photographic evidence of their work. They will want to talk to you at length to ascertain what you wish to achieve and will be able to conduct a site survey to ascertain the dimensions, water sources and access points into your garden. This is important as lifting heavy materials and tools over a fence or dragging them through your house could lead to many issues and extra costs. They will test your soil pH and may well undertake further tests to confirm the depth, structure and texture of your soil. They will map where both over-head and underground utilities are placed to avoid damaging and potentially dangerous accidents. Improving soil, removing pernicious weeds and ensuring that any hard surfaces and planting are safe and do not create trip or eye hazards are just some of he many jobs these professionals undertake. All works will need to be agreed in writing and relevant insurances in place. They will be able to inform you of your legal responsibilities with regards to waterways and tree preservation orders etc and may have to research your boundaries and all this can take extra investment. This may sound daunting but failure to undertake proper planning at this stage could lead to significant costs down the line.

Are you looking for a person to advise and or teach you how to look after your own garden?

You may want a horticulturist to help you interpret your ideas and provide lists of plants that will thrive in your conditions, giving you the look and feel in the garden that you have dreamed of. They can also advise on plant care, feeding, pests and diseases and how to undertake basic maintenance tasks if you need it. They may even source the plants for you which can take a lot of research as well as travelling time.

The investment of time and money by these people into gaining their qualifications and experience is significant, but using the right people can save you a huge amount of money and heartache.

Communication is key when deciding to take someone on to care for your garden, so to make sure you hire the right person the first time, you need to be sure exactly what you need this person to do and communicate that clearly.

How much should you expect to pay? The Gardeners Guild have helpfully put together a guide that should help. https://thegardenersguild.co.uk/2024_gardener_hourly_rates_garden_maintenance.html

Useful Contacts

Sparsholt Horticultural jobs board is a great local resource where you can post your job for horticultural students. https://www.sparsholtjobs.co.uk/jobs

The Association of Professional Landscapers https://www.landscaper.org.uk/

British Association of Landscape Industries https://www.bali.org.uk/home/

Trading standards https://www.gov.uk/find-local-trading-standards-office

Society of Garden Designers https://www.sgd.org.uk/

Check-a-trade https://www.checkatrade.com/

Information on tree preservation orders near you. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas

Advice re the use of pesticides in your garden https://www.hse.gov.uk/pesticides/user-areas/garden-home.htm

Horticultural Code of Practice https://www.nonnativespecies.org/legislation/codes-of-practice/horticultural-code-of-practice/

Professional Gardeners Guild https://www.pgg.org.uk/