Anyone work as a gardener?

[mistressploppy]

I have a medium/large garden and neither me nor DH have any idea how to to look after it, so we've just found a brilliant local gardening dude to come and sort it out. He's going to come fortnightly after an initial tidy up.

What sort of things do gardeners do apart from weeding/hedge trimming etc? Will he plant new things if I buy them or should I do this? Or should I ask him to find appropriate things to plant? (I really am clueless) What about things like cleaning the patio? Actually dh could manage that....

I don't want to ask him to do things that aren't his job but I don't want to plant stuff that's going to die because I am crap....

How do you gardeners out there like to work? I feel a bit useless but I do make him lots of tea while he's here

[hf128219]

I have a gardener. He will do what I ask really! Sucks up leaves, cleans the patio etc etc.

[taffetacat]

One of my closest freinds is a gardener. Gardeners vary enormously in terms of their range. Some specialise in clearance, cutting grass and tidying only. This sort of gardener may do patio cleaning. My friend offers a wider service, and they have a few clients for whom they design borders, advise on plants, then buy them, plant them up and maintain them ( weeding,dividing, pruning etc ).

I would ask what his range is, he may be delighted to help advise and source plants for you - this is certainly my friend's favourite part of her job.

[mistressploppy]

Thanks Taffeta - I think he's more of a tidier-upper but will have a chat with him tomorrow

[Takver]

Plenty of gardeners round here do everything, quite literally (lots of holiday rental cottages).

I would imagine that many (most?) would be very happy to plant things/advise on planting etc - much more interesting than just weeding & trimming! Of course, you would need to pay them for more hours to allow for this.

[101damnations]

I prefer to do my own thing,but obviously do anything requested of me.Normally my customers don't have a clue and want me to decide what needs to be done when.I've cleaned gutters and decking if need be.The only thing I drew the line at,was hand picking up nails out of a field after a bonfire,so the owner could mow it.

Tea is good.My fav customer brings me 5 sorts of biscuits too.