In the ideal world, we’d all have wonderfully green outdoor spaces with manicured lawns, healthy flowers and tidy patios. But in reality, we often struggle to find the time and energy to achieve this. And many of us feel a bit disappointed when plants die, or weeds take over. However, all is not lost as we can take steps to turn our gardens around.
Perhaps the most sensible way to do this is to hire a professional gardener. But this costs money and can be a bit daunting. So, you may be asking whether it’s really worth hiring a gardener. Let’s take a wander through the pros and cons to help you decide.
Why you should hire a gardener
Although lots of people do hire gardeners, many of us struggle without any help at all. And that’s not always good for our mental or physical health. So, it’s important to recognize when you could do with an extra pair of hands to keep on top of the gardening.
So, when might we want to hire a gardener? Well, when we have a lack of time to do it ourselves is the obvious answer. But there are other reasons too. You may have enough free time to do the gardening but then no time to actually enjoy it. So, giving yourself time to do other things is certainly a valid reason.
If you’ve got a garden that requires a bit of extra TLC or a rethink over the planting, then getting a pair of expert eyes to look over it, advise you on it and tend to it is a good idea. This will give you something to be proud of and take more pleasure in.
If you’ve just moved to a new house or are planning to sell your current one, then hiring a gardener can be useful here too. This can be the easiest way to give your garden a refresh or a new lease of life.
Pros and cons of hiring a professional
Now we should take a look at both the pros and cons of hiring a professional gardener.
Let’s take a look at the pros first. We know it will save us time and could improve the look and health of our plants, which is a good start. But there are other positives too. For starters, they will know how to tackle tricky jobs such as the proper maintenance of trees as well as controlling weeds and unwanted pests. Plus, they’ll have the right tools to do it.
OK, now it’s time to look at the cons. The biggest of these is the financial cost. And this can be quite a lot if you want a knowledgeable or expert gardener who’s willing to work hard for you. The other negative to hiring a gardener is the time and effort needed to find the right one. It has to be someone who you can build a trusting relationship with, and this does take a bit of time.
How to hire the right gardener
How do we hire the right gardener? Well, although it’s not always straight forward, there are ways to make it easier.
Chat to your friends and neighbors and see if they use a gardener. Or perhaps they can recommend someone they know. A local gardener with a good reputation is ideal, but they often have plenty of work and don’t necessarily need to advertise. So, ask around.
You can back this tactic up by checking online for reviews. Again, stick to gardeners or companies that work in your area. Not only will they be familiar with the local landscape and climate, but you won’t be relying on someone to travel a long distance. And they’re more likely to be able to fit you into their schedule. Also, a local gardener may be easier to call out when a problem arises.
Once you’ve found a few promising candidates, it’s important to invite them round to see your garden. This will give you the opportunity to get to know them and ask questions but also to see what they’d recommend for your garden. You’ll soon have an idea of whether they’re someone with the right knowledge, skills, and personality.
