| DIY or Call the Gardener? I am often asked by potential new clients whether their garden needs a makeover, or even whether they need a gardener in the first place. My approach is never to push services unnecessarily. If someone is concerned about hiring a gardener — perhaps because of cost — I’m often the first to suggest cheaper alternatives they could try first. The real question I pose is: is hiring a gardener right for you? For some people, the answer is a clear yes. A gardener can turn a garden from a source of stress into a place of calm and enjoyment. For others, doing the work themselves can be just as rewarding. It depends on your time, energy, budget, and what you want to achieve with your outdoor space. |
| Why People Seek Professional Help Hiring a gardener isn’t only about what you can’t do. More often, it’s about what makes life easier and gardens more enjoyable. Common reasons include: Limited Time – Busy schedules leave little space for regular upkeep. Physical Limitations – Gardening can be physically demanding, especially when it involves tasks such as lifting, digging, or hedge cutting. Expertise – Gardeners know the right techniques, timing, and plants for your specific soil type. Efficiency – What might take you a weekend could take a professional a couple of hours. Consistency – Gardens don’t stop growing, so regular care is key. Restoring Order – An overgrown garden can feel overwhelming, but a gardener can bring it back under control quickly. Preference – Many people enjoy planting or watering, but would rather not tackle weeding or lawn treatments. Adding Value – A well-kept garden improves kerb appeal and can even add value to your home. If I had to break down my typical week into percentages, it would look like this: 70% of my day-to-day gardening job involves weeding. This is fast becoming one of the most disliked tasks that homeowners face. I’ve discovered that, in many respects, weeding is a niche market here in Sandwich — one that I am apparently filling. Interestingly, many other professional gardeners refuse to perform weeding in any form. It is a demanding task: relentless, repetitive, and often brutal. General maintenance accounts for around 15% of my work, and the remaining 15% is allocated to the creative aspects of gardening. |
| What a Gardener Can Offer Professional gardeners bring more than just extra hands — they bring skill, knowledge, and equipment. Here are some areas where hiring a gardener really makes sense: Hedges and Trees – Anything involving ladders, heavy cutting, or large plants is safer and better left to a pro. Lawn Care Beyond Mowing – Scarifying, turfing, reseeding, and repairs benefit from specialist care. Heavy or Overgrown Work – Clearing brambles, digging roots, or reshaping borders can be tackled quickly with the right tools and experience. Specialist jobs, such as pest and disease diagnosis, soil improvement, or patio pressure washing, all benefit from professional expertise. In short: a gardener can take on the heavy, technical, or risky jobs, leaving you with a space that’s healthier, safer, and easier to enjoy. |
| What You Can Do Yourself Of course, there are plenty of tasks that are safe, manageable, and enjoyable to handle on your own: Weeding and Deadheading – Simple, low-risk jobs that keep borders neat. Watering and Feeding – A daily or weekly routine that makes a big difference to plant health. Light Pruning – Tidying herbs, trimming soft shoots, or deadheading flowers. Potting and Planting – Adding seasonal colour to containers or planting small beds is satisfying and creative. These tasks connect you with your garden and allow you to enjoy the hands-on side of caring for your space, without feeling overwhelmed. |
| Finding the Balance The healthiest gardens often come from a mix of both approaches. Do the smaller, enjoyable tasks yourself, and hire a gardener for the heavy lifting, technical work, or regular maintenance. Think of it like car maintenance: topping up the screen wash is simple enough, but when it comes to the engine, most people rely on a mechanic. A garden is no different. |
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