Advice on Employing Gardener

Posted on April 19, 2018 in Gardening

In this article we look at how to employ a gardener, as a skilled gardener offers far more than mere watering and weeding but what, exactly, should you look for?

1. What work needs doing?

Gardeners, and the services they offer, are many and varied, and if you’re thinking of employing one your first step should be to decide what kind of work you need doing.

A hard-working and reliable gardener can do the jobs you can’t/don’t want to do/don’t have time to do, freeing you up to enjoy your garden more. An unskilled or novice gardener, who will be the cheapest to employ, should be able to do jobs such as mowing the lawn, raking up leaves or digging over beds under your supervision.

Gardeners with experience should cope with all the tasks needed to keep a garden under control – including weeding, grass cutting, strimming, pruning, planting, mulching, feeding, spraying and lawn care – and know when to do them.

A top- notch gardener will be able to help you plan your garden, suggest and source plants and even mentor you, if you want to learn more. You shouldn’t expect a gardener to do the jobs that a landscaper would do, such as lay a patio, build a wall or put up a garden building.

2. Where do I find a gardener?

Personal recommendation seems to be one of the best ways of finding a good gardener. If you don’t know anyone living near you who employs one, look for noticeboards in local shops or garden centres.

You could also get up to three quotes from local gardeners by putting your requirements on ratedpeople.com (a website of recommended tradesmen). Qualified gardeners are listed on thegardenersguild.co.uk.

If you need a tree surgeon choose an Arboricultural Association-approved arborist (listed at trees.org.uk) who will be fully trained and insured. Be wary of leaflets offering cut-price gardening services – the operators may have no experience and you could end up paying much more to remedy the mess they’ve left you with.

3. Individual or company?

Using an established company should give you peace of mind as they will have a track record that you can easily check online. On the downside they may charge more per hour. With a self-employed gardener, the most important thing is to find someone you can trust who will do the job well.

Various websites stress the importance of qualifications, such as the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, but as one gardener observed to me, having a qualification doesn’t make you a good gardener. Other qualities to look for are fitness, taking care with the tools and being reliable.

4. Be aware of legal requirements

Whichever route you choose, ask for references. Even a novice gardener should be able to provide you with the phone number of someone they have worked for. If you decide to take on someone who hasn’t been in business long, try them out on a small job first, so that you can see the quality of their work. Expect the gardener to bring their own tools – if they use yours, and work regularly for you at a pre-arranged time and day it may become an employer/employee relationship rather than the gardener providing you with a service, and you may have to take on responsibilities of an employer.

You could also be liable for any injuries they receive while using your tools. It’s sensible to check if they have Public Liability Insurance, which covers against damage by them to you or your property.

Also, if you’re expecting them to use a chainsaw or pesticides, or to take away your green waste (many gardeners prefer not to), you should definitely check if they hold the relevant certificates and licences.

5. How often do you need them and when to pay?

Many garden owners have relaxed arrangements with their gardeners, and are happy to be flexible about which days they come, especially if the weather is bad. But when starting out with a new gardener, either on a regular basis or as a one-off job, it’s sensible to establish exactly what you expect them to do.

If you need them regularly then agree with them how often they will come. Depending on the size of garden, you might need them once a week, fortnightly or even once a month during the growing season. Also important is agreeing with them how and when they will be paid. You also need to agree payments for goods they might buy for the garden, such as plants, seeds, feeds. Some gardeners ask to be paid for their work in cash, others accept cheques or electronic payments and it’s usual to pay either at the end of a week or monthly.

Although most gardeners expect and like to work on their own, it can be helpful for both the owner and the gardener if they meet up at least once in the day to talk through the jobs in hand and what needs to be done. With an experienced gardener, an owner can learn a lot by working alongside them.

6. How much will it cost?

Rates vary according to the experience of the gardener, what you’re asking them to do, and whether they are solo operators or belong to a maintenance company.

If you’re paying by the hour, expect to pay £15-£35 for gardeners with horticultural qualifications and/or experience, and £25-£35 for garden maintenance companies. Gardeners who charge as little as £10 per hour are usually either cowboys or new to the industry. London rates will be highest.

For most jobs, a good gardener will visit your property. No garden is exactly like another and a quick survey will help the gardener arrive at an accurate quote. Ask for the quote in writing and make sure it lists all components of the work in sufficient detail.

Gardeners who are undertaking a larger job will issue a fixed price quote. Sometimes, quotes will only be valid for a limited period. Check this with your prospective gardener when the quote is issued. You may reasonably be expected to sign a contract for larger jobs. Ask to see terms and conditions before signing.

Ask for a quote for specialist jobs such as tree work (make sure the surgeon is qualified and insured). Hourly rates are usual for general work but you will be charged extra for waste removal and use of pesticides. Jobs involving power tools might be more expensive too.

For information on our garden services please visit Protech Garden Solutions or call one of our friendly team 0845 604 1288. At Protech we offer FREE no obligation quotations with detailed specifications.