Consumer Advice

Why use a member of The Gardeners Guild?

The Gardeners Guild is not a consumer organisation but is committed to quality through careful membership selection and ongoing refining of its members. The member register is actively managed and membership is  renewed annually.

Gardeners must prove that they have at least one nationally recognised horticultural qualification before being accepted as a member. To achieve a qualification the gardener receives training, an assessment and has their identification checked.

Members also benefit from free legal advice, a free 24/7 health and safety advice line and regular industry updates as well as many other practical services.

A good gardener should be easy to contact. You can find our members contact details in the Member Register.

Check the logo

There are many excellent trade groups and vetting schemes that small business owners can join. Make sure that you understand why the trader has been issued with a logo and what it represents. Always check that the trader is entitled to use that logo by visiting the schemes website to check their list of members. 

Some traders are claiming membership of social networking sites who have no acceptance criteria and no way of knowing whether or not a trader has given their real contact details. 

Support Local Gardeners

Some private residences have bigger gardens than the shared gardens around flats and residential estates - so it is not unusual for even an individual gardener to work on communal gardens, commercial grounds and public spaces. 

Local gardeners are regularly hired by:
Large private gardens and grounds
Small domestic gardens
Pensioners
Professionals
Busy families
Anyone with temporary or permanent physical limitations
Landlords/tenants
Estate and Letting Agents
Holiday lets
Housing and residents associations
Solicitors and estate executors
Flats with shared gardens
Property Management Companies
Care Homes
Commercial grounds
Private roads
Schools
Local councils for public spaces

Talk to your local qualified gardener to see what they can offer.

What services will a gardener offer?

A gardener can usually help with all aspects of regular garden and grounds maintenance and soft landscaping such as, mowing, strimming, weeding, pruning, hedge trimming, applying feeds and pesticides, planting, applying preservatives to wooden structures, laying ornamental gravel paths and decorative bark on borders. They can also help with waste removal, general garden tidy-ups and complete garden renovation and clearance.

Individual members may also have the necessary skills, qualifications, insurance and equipment for hard landscaping, tree surgery or design - although membership with The Gardeners Guild is primarily concerned with regular garden maintenance.

How much should a gardener charge?

Most tradesmen aim to earn a minimum of £100 - £150 a day - that's £12.5 - £19 per hour. However, this rate will be higher when using petrol tools, vary with regional variations and increase as the level of danger does. Hourly rates will usually exclude the cost of waste removal, chemicals and sundries.  A gardener may have a minimum call out charge to help reduce unpaid travel time i.e. 2 hours work.

Alternatively, a gardener will be able to quote a fixed price for a specific task i.e. lawn mowing.

The running costs of a professional gardening business are just as high as any other professional trade - accountant, training, insurance, transport and vehicle maintenance, tools and tool maintenance. For example, it can cost as much to service a mower as it does to service a car. A gardener may have more than one mower plus many other petrol tools that all need servicing, oil, fuel, lubricants and replacement parts.

Why not judge the quality of a gardeners work by asking them to do a small task and invite them back only if you are happy.

Public liability insurance

Public Liability Insurance ensures that there are sufficient funds available to pay compensation in the event of personal injury or damage to property - it does not protect against bad workmanship.

The insurance policy is owned by the trader. Just like any other insurance policy, the trader is able to set an insurance 'excess'. The bigger the 'excess', the lower the premiums paid by the trader will be. The amount you receive in compensation will be less the traders insurance 'excess' which you will need to claim direct from the trader.

Insurance is normally specific to a particular trade as different trades have different levels of risk. For example, tree surgery carries a higher risk than lawn mowing. Someone who specialises in one trade is more likely to have appropriate insurance.

Accidents will happen. Reduce risk of injury by keeping your distance when your gardener is working. If you are concerned, ask to see the traders insurance certificate.

Waste removal

Any tradesman who removes any kind of waste from your property must be a licensed waste carrier. Anyone found transporting other peoples waste without a license can be prosecuted. Only licensed waste carriers are allowed to deposit other peoples waste at recycling centres. If they don't have a license they cannot dispose of it legally. If that waste is traced back to you - you may be prosecuted for encouraging fly-tipping! 

Waste disposal fees can be expensive. Try to home compost and recycle when you can.

Health and safety

A professional gardener will normally have their own tools. If a gardener hurts themselves using their own tools that is their problem.

If a gardener uses your tools - you will need to prove that you have given them appropriate training to use those tools and will be responsible for the maintenance of those tools - ensuring that they are safe to use.

Our members have access to a free 24/7 health and safety advice line and receive regular H&S updates.

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)

If you need a gardener (or any trader) to work in the vicinity of children or vulnerable adults you should check that the trader has undergone a CRB check.

Be specific

To some people it's a wildflower - to others it's a weed. Every customer is different. Let your gardener know exactly what you want. Talk to your gardener - if there is something they have not done it may be because it is the wrong time of year to do so.

Saving money with a professional gardener

Garden maintenance is required all year around. Spread the cost by doing the right job at the right time. You can also talk to your gardener for ideas on how to simplify your garden.

Complaints

If you have a complaint against one of our members please, where possible, contact the member direct and give them a chance to resolve matters themselves. If this is not possible, please contact us.

Although we cannot accept any liability for the quality of work carried out by our members, if necessary we will cancel membership in instances of deliberate illegal trading, unfair trading or, at our discretion, conduct likely to damage the reputation of The Gardeners Guild or its members.

You may also contact Consumer Direct for free and independent advice and complaints resolution.

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/