Gardeners | Local Services | Classifieds.co.uk :

Most gardens, regardless of size and shape, can easily be made into an outdoor extension of the home. However, if like most of the population you are anything but green fingered then you may need the help of a gardener. But how do you choose the right gardener for you from the multitudes that offer their services and what should you look for when considering the possible candidates?

Free Quotes
This may sound like an obvious suggestion however some professional gardeners will charge you for an initial consultation even though they don't actually do anything with your garden. This may be fine if you are looking to have your garden completely remodelled. If however you simply want it tidied up and kept in that state then paying for a quote is something you shouldn't need to do.

Prices
Gardeners who have a legitimate company will probably have some kind of price list that you can use to calculate what it is going to cost for their services each month. By using a set price list you can decide what you can afford and what you can't which may mean mowing the lawn yourself on occasion! Other gardeners however will simply give you a quote for the work you want done each time you use their services. Either way you should get a number of prices from different companies and individuals before choosing a gardener. This will ensure that the one you choose is not charging you above the going rate for the work they do.

References
When your short-listed gardeners visit for the first time ask them if they have any references from previous or current clients. Many will have and if they are good they will be only too pleased to show them to you when asked. Alternatively, some gardeners may keep a portfolio of pictures showing before and after images of the gardens they've worked on. These gardeners are often the ones who do their job because of a passion for the work and not necessarily for the monetary rewards. Therefore, if you want a garden to make the neighbours green with envy then finding a gardener with a love for his or her job should definitely be a priority. If however you are happy to have a simple tidy garden then any gardener with good references will suffice.

Services
You will find that some gardeners offer services that others don't and so it is important that you specifically state what services you are looking for during the initial meeting. For example, some gardeners state that the disposal of grass clippings, branches, dead plants and any other material that they clear from your garden is your responsibility. Others however will pile it all into the back of their lorry or van and take it to the recycling site themselves as part of the gardening service. Similarly some gardeners will use their own equipment, such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and the like while others will expect you to provide the basic gardening equipment for them to use.

Qualifications
Professional gardeners will often try to impress clients by reeling off a list of qualifications from horticultural colleges and universities. These gardeners are generally highly competent and they may have the skills and knowledge to turn your garden into an area to be treasured -- but many will also know how to charge you handsomely for that service! While qualifications are always a good thing, it is often the case that a semi-retired gardener with 30 years experience can offer more than a youngster with a string of letters after his or her name. Gardening is something that you either love to do or you hate to do and so don't automatically choose the candidate with the best qualifications.

Reliability
Garden plants and especially grass continue to grow regardless of whether your gardener can come to cut them or not! Mention to the gardeners from whom you get initial quotes as to how often you will want them to visit. If they can't commit to your schedule or something similar then it may be worth trying someone else. It won't take long for you to find out how reliable your chosen gardener is and more importantly how well you get along with them and how well they work. If after a few months you find that things aren't working out to your liking then don't be afraid to change to a new service.

Conclusion
The type of gardener you hire will depend to a large extent on the initial state of your garden and what you want to achieve in the end. If you have a large garden that requires a lot of attention then you will probably do well to consider hiring a company or an individual that works full time as a gardener. If however your garden is a manageable size and is already in decent shape then you can always think about hiring a semi-retired gardener or a newly trained youngster who is looking for some experience and a bit of extra money. Either way, hiring a gardener means that you get to enjoy the fruits of their labour throughout the year without having to lift a non-green finger yourself!