gardener
I obviously like to do most jobs in our garden myself, but I need a bit more stone laying to make a slightly bigger paved area, and I'd like someone to put up an arch securely and get our awful lawn back into shape, when we first moved here 2 years ago the garden was all paved, so I had a few gardeners come to give me a quote, 1 was astronomical, 2 never bothered gettin back, 1 gave a good quote and di the job well, I phoned him, he came and looked...4 weeks ago, I called him after 2 weeks, he said he'd work on the quote that evening and get back to me...2 weeks and 2 left messages later I am being ignored, am upset and annoyed, we want the garden to look nice for our little girl's 4th birthday party, is there anyone who has any idea how to get a good reasonable reliable gardener? wish I could just do it all myself, I'm lucky to get 20 minutes to do anything at the moment
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ask friends / family if they can recommended a gardener. word of mouth is usually the best for getting the best people to do the job.
have tried perki, people are always asking me! may have to knock on neighbours doors at this rate!
Contact your local college that has horticultural-type courses and ask for recommendations of past students who have set up their own businesses
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
dove that's a great idea thanks
If people don't get back to you it usually means they can't do it, but don't like to say so. Ditto people who give sky-high quotes.
Look in the newsagent's, there are usually cards there. Put up your own card, requesting someone.
Dove's idea of local horticultural college is a good one, you might like to suggest to them to use it as a practical lesson for current students and offer maybe to make a contribution to college funds??
What is a reasonable hourly rate, for say 4 hours a week,
if you're in Devon, you can get a gardener for £7 an hour, if you're in Surrey, you're unlikely to get one under £20 an hour.
Mummy you're in / near Sheffield aren't you? If so try calling Taylor Made Gardens. We used them for some near industrial garden clearing at the museum (National Emergenc Services) last year after getting many many quotes and they were genuinely polite chaps: came out and quoted, took the time to explain all our options, and the lads he had with him really worked their guts off! I'd be more than happy to use him in my garden if I needed help and could afford it.
http://m.taylor-made-gardens.co.uk/
Hope that helps!
thanks HF, in North Essex £11 an hour , just wanted to know if that was a fair going rate.