As we start to approach spring and the ice starts to melt from our gardens to uncover a whole load of unruly foliage and non existent flowers, we can often find ourselves completely overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of transforming our forgotten winter garden in to a beautifully blooming spring garden, and so we look to hire gardeners.
But before we do we should always consider these 5 things…
1.What exactly is it you want doing?
It is important that you know what you want to achieve in the long run before hiring a gardener and whether you are able (and willing) to do any of it yourself before you pay someone else. It may be that you want someone to do the whole job for you or just get you started and then you plan to maintain your garden yourself. It is also important to know whether you just want a gardener to tidy up your garden and make it look pretty and healthy or whether you actually want someone from a landscape gardening company to redesign the whole area completely.
Have a look at the gardens in your area and take inspiration from them and from pictures online to get a real clear idea of what you want before you book.
2. What is your budget?
This will have an impact on whether you can realistically achieve your dream garden or not. It may be that you can afford a full overhall in one go or perhaps you need a gardener to do a general tidy up for a smaller budget. It is also important to find out whether the gardener is quoting for their time alone or if it includes any products such as bulbs or grass seeds as these may need to added into your budget separately.
3. How quickly do you want the work completed?
Some of the best gardeners in your area may have a waiting list so you need to decide on a time scale and whether you can wait for a particular company to do the work or if it is more important that the work is done by a certain time, for example if you have a party planned or family coming to stay. You also need to consider whether you want the job done in one go with one payment, or whether you want them to do bits weekly which may enable you to pay as and when. Once the main job is completed you should also consider maintenance and things like regular grass cutting services.
4. Who should you hire?
When looking for a gardener, just like any other professional that we allow in to our home, it is important to shop around. Read reviews and listen to recommendations, compare prices and use reputable websites that can tell you if the gardeners have been vetted, how much experience they have, and whether they are qualified or not. Sometimes we think this stuff isn’t important but it is, the last thing you want is for someone to dig through a pipe or manage to kill your favourite rose bush because they didn’t now what they were doing.
5. When do you want the work carried out?
This one seems obvious but in actual fact some people only want work done on their house or garden when they are at home and that is absolutely fine but it does mean you need to consider this when booking a gardener. Does it mean you only want the work done on a certain day, at the weekend or during certain hours? These requests might mean they can’t fit you in as quickly or as easily or it might mean they charge you a premium for certain hours so make sure you mention this when you get a quote and try and be as flexible as possible.
If you are considering getting a gardener any time soon I hope these 5 points will help you be clear on what you are asking for and ensure you get the best possible gardener for the best possible price.
Do you have any other tips that you would include?
If you are interested in having a garden make over or improving your own skills then make sure to check out our VonHaus pressure washer review as it might be just what you need.
(This is a collaborative post)