Employing a gardener - any tips?

[Deleted User]

I have mobility problems which means that I am now struggling with our large garden which is on three sides of our house.

I am really going to have to get someone in to help, however, I don't really want to. I have worked very hard over the last nine years to create a wildlife garden (we have 32 species of bird in the garden as well as hedgehogs, newts and frogs).

I know this sounds silly, but it is MY garden created by my hard work and i am very proud of it and I just feel as though some else will come in and do something I don't want them to do. Bonkers I know, but it will just be odd to have someone else in the garden.

Anyway, does anyone have help in the garden and what tips do you have for making things work? Ideally I would like to work alongside them as opposed to them doing eveything.

Thanks for any suggestions.
Spider

A._Badger

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

I have mobility problems which means that I am now struggling with our large garden which is on three sides of our house.

I will probably get criticised for saying this but, based on my own expeerience, try to hire an older female gardener. There seems to be a large number of young men around who think gardening is an extension of handyman's work and who don't really have the knowledge of plants that a real gardener should have. They can cut grass, lay paths, possibly even lop a branch off a tree, but may not know a lavender from a rosemary.

There are, of course, huge exceptions to this sweeping statement but as rules of thumb go... it's a rule of thumb.

wellused

I think that you may be correct in your views but as the op wants someone who will take instructions rather than working to their own initiative then a willing younger person might just fit the bill, however beware the person who wants to get paid by the hour and so wants to be in and out in a flash.

duchy

We needed a gardener this week as after the winter weather literally blew a wall down the majority of the garden was decimated.
Now the new wall is up we were left with a blank canvas - neither of us have the time at the moment to do all the "recovery" work -some high hedge pruning , preping and laying gravel -and general clearing up winter detritus, stones from the wall building and preparing and laying turf on the lawn area. We found a bloke who has worked as a gardener for years on a local facebook gardening site-came recommended and did a great job for less than we expected . Sounds more like what you are looking for so maybe check out local gardening groups and ask for recommendations.

malmesbury_2

I agree, always employ trades people on recommendations, I'm a gardener and do not need to advertise as I'm fully booked up simply by word of mouth.

TheMole

recommendation is probably the best way to go, I have stopped using a gardener now after failure to find a satisfactory one

Gardener 1 was very good, but just vanished

Gardener 2 was very good hard working, but would just pull up anything she didnt like (even when I pointed it out, said I had planted it and labelled it)

Gardener 3 was incredibly knowledeable, but didnt get much done, as a deisgner instead of an "do-er" I think he would have been great.

YORKSHIRELASS

malmesbury wrote: »

I agree, always employ trades people on recommendations, I'm a gardener and do not need to advertise as I'm fully booked up simply by word of mouth.

Same with my husband. In fact I would be very wary of anyone who can turn up and start work tomorrow.

My hubby was trained at a proper nursery from when he left school at 16 and learned every aspect of working with plants. He always says that putting your own ideas to one side is hard sometimes but he always respects the fact that its someone elses garden.

He gets recommendations from a couple of local garden centres who know him so that might be a place to ask.

Remember too that someone working in your garden needs to be trusted and you need to get on with them so trust your instincts when you are employing someone.

[Deleted User]

Sorry, I had not realised that this thread had had a few more replies. I was not being rude by not thanking people, just short on time.

OK, TheMole you have scared me with gardener number 2 and her plant ripping out!

Suggestions for asking around are a good idea. I don't have the sort of garden that is just a mow and trim job. For a large garden I have no lawn just rambling paths and trees and lots of flowering plants and shrubs. All slightly overgrown and there is not a straight line in the garden either. So I need someone with knowledge, but who is happy to go along with my plans.

Yorkshirelass you are spot on. I am worried about not getting on with the person. I am more than happy to listen to the advice of an expert gardener, but in the end I want the garden my way.

I am going to ask around a local garden centres and nurseries and then get a few jobs done by different people. Hopefully I will like one of them and they will be happy to work with me.

Thanks again.
Spider.

lardlikesdogs

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

I am more than happy to listen to the advice of an expert gardener, but in the end I want the garden my way.



Thanks again.
Spider.

I had to ditch a customer because she would not listen to my advice.
Its a two way process and give and take both ways or it will not work sadly, good luck and ask around by word of mouth you may fall lucky but if like me many are fully booked up.