Costs & hiring
Most "How to Find a Good Gardener" Advice Skips the One Question That Actually Protects You
Decide what you need, get three written quotes, ask for proof of public liability insurance, settle who takes the green waste, and start with a small job. Here is the checklist, and the warning signs.
By the Aspen Rose team7 min read
A qualification or a directory listing helps but does not guarantee good work. Your own checks are the real protection, not someone else's badge, and this checklist follows the order you will actually need them in.
What should you decide before you ask anyone?
Decide what you want done and how often, because "a gardener" covers several different jobs. Gardens Illustrated separates basic work such as mowing, raking and digging from skilled work such as weeding, pruning, planting, mulching, feeding and lawn care, and says structural jobs such as patios and walls belong to landscapers. If the job is a build, read the difference between a gardener and a landscaper first.
Write down the tasks, whether it is a one-off or regular visits, and how often. Every quote you collect will then be for the same thing.
Where do you look for a gardener?
Start with people you trust. Gardens Illustrated calls personal recommendations often the best source, and also mentions local noticeboards, a gardeners' guild directory and, for tree work, the Arboricultural Association's list of approved contractors. Which? Trusted Traders suggests reading business descriptions, photos and customer reviews on its own site.
Be careful of leaflets and cold callers. Gardens Illustrated warns that cut-price leaflet operators can leave a mess that costs more to fix than the original job. A quote that arrives before anyone has asked a single question about your garden is a guess wearing a price tag, and guesses get expensive once the real work starts. Warwickshire County Council's trading standards team advises against agreeing to work offered at your door, and warns that rogue gardeners may use false names and addresses, cut down plants and trees indiscriminately, and dump the waste.
What should you check before they start?
Check insurance, relevant certificates, and what happens to the waste. These are the three where a gap costs you money.
- Public liability insurance. Which?, Gardens Illustrated and Warwickshire trading standards all say to check for it. It covers damage the gardener causes to your property or a neighbour's. Warwickshire stresses it for tree trimming or removal. Ask to see the certificate, not just hear that it exists.
- Certificates for the equipment they will use. Gardens Illustrated says to confirm certificates if they will use a chainsaw or pesticides. The Health and Safety Executive says everyone who uses a plant protection product authorised for professional use must hold a specified certificate, or be directly supervised, for training, by someone who does. HSE says products sold for home gardens do not need a trained user in a householder's own garden, but anyone using one as part of their work should be trained and assess the risks, so ask what they intend to spray and why.
- Qualifications and references. Which? and Warwickshire both name NVQ, HND, NPTC and RHS qualifications as signs of a professional approach. Which? adds that qualifications are not everything and suggests asking for references, such as a past client's phone number.
- Where the green waste goes, and whether they're legally allowed to take it. This is the question most hiring checklists leave out, and it's the one that can come back on you rather than them. Which? warns not to assume a gardener will take green waste away, and says to ask when you get quotes, because a council green waste collection can be cheaper. If someone takes waste from your property, GOV.UK says you could face a fixed penalty or prosecution if it is fly-tipped and traced back to you, so check they are on the Environment Agency's waste carrier register before you agree anything, not after.
What should a written quote include?
A written, itemised quote that names the work, the visits and the extras. Which? says to get three quotes in writing with the work broken down, and notes that small jobs such as hedge trimming or mowing may be priced by phone, while larger ones usually need a visit.
A useful quote states:
- each task and how often it is done;
- how long a visit lasts or what an hour covers, and how the price is calculated;
- who supplies plants, compost and other materials, and how they are charged;
- whether green waste is taken away, and whether that is extra;
- how and when you will be asked to pay, and how long the quote is valid.
Routine maintenance is usually charged by the hour, according to Which?. For what published guides say that costs, see how much garden maintenance costs in London.
What are the warning signs?
- Work offered at the door, or only a mobile number and no address you can trace.
- A very low hourly rate. Which? links unusually cheap rates with gardeners who are new or not to be trusted.
- A vague quote with no breakdown, or a refusal to put anything in writing.
- No insurance, or reluctance to show it.
Any one of these on its own is worth a second question before you book. Two or more together is worth walking away from.
How do you trial a gardener?
Give a new gardener one small, well-defined job and judge the result. Gardens Illustrated suggests exactly that, along with asking for references and expecting them to bring their own tools. Look at the edges, the waste left behind, whether they arrived when they said, and whether the work matched the quote.
We offer a free, no-obligation visit before any price, followed by a written quote, and we are fully insured. Green waste from our jobs is taken away and disposed of properly at recycling centres. You can read about our garden maintenance service or ask for a free visit.
Sources
- Which? Trusted Traders: Finding the right gardener
- Gardens Illustrated: How to employ a gardener
- Warwickshire County Council: Trading standards warning around cowboy gardeners (16 July 2018)
- Health and Safety Executive: Agricultural, horticultural and amenity use of pesticides FAQ
- GOV.UK: Dispose of household waste
- Environment Agency: Register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers
- Citizens Advice: Cancelling a service you've arranged
This article is Aspen Rose's own reading of the published advice above on hiring a gardener, useful background, not a quote, and not legal advice on waste carrier law or your consumer rights. The checks worth making, and what work should cost, vary by job and by gardener, so use your own judgement and get everything in writing. Request a free, no-obligation quote and we'll show you what we'd include.
Hiring a gardener questions
Is a qualified gardener always better?
Not necessarily. Which? lists NVQ, HND, NPTC and RHS qualifications as a sign of a professional approach, but also says they are not everything. Gardens Illustrated says a qualification does not make a good gardener, and points to trustworthiness, careful tool use, fitness and reliability. Ask for references as well.
Should a gardener use my tools?
They should bring their own. Which? says that if a gardener uses your tools on a regular, set schedule, you could become liable for injuries they suffer. Gardens Illustrated adds that a fixed regular arrangement can start to resemble employment, with extra responsibilities. If you are unsure, take advice before agreeing it.
Can I cancel if I agree to the work at home?
Often, yes. Citizens Advice says you have 14 days to cancel a service arranged away from the trader's premises if it costs £42 or more, or arranged online or by phone. If you asked for work to start in that period, you may have to pay for what was done. Check the contract, which may allow longer.
Related services
More from the blog
All articles →
Want a hand with your garden?
Tell us what you have in mind and we'll arrange a free, no-obligation visit and quote.
Free, no-obligation visit · Mon – Fri: 9:00 – 18:30