Gardener question

[Happycat1212]

Don’t judge but my garden is really over grown! I’ve let it get very over grown and I just haven’t had the time or money to sort it. Anyway I now can so I looked for a gardener and he said it would take 2 days 6 hours each day so 12 hours total, that sounds like a lot! Does this sound ok? It’s about 30ft so not huge and the over grown bit is only half of it as the rest is patio so about 15ft, I know it would be hard to say without a pic. But just wanted to check on the 12 hours?

I would recommend just getting another quote to compare.

I agree get another quote but TBH 12 hours in an overgrown garden sounds reasonable. There are a variety of jobs - identifying, pruning, removing (which can be digging stuff out which is hard work!), weeding - you don't just throw a flame-thrower at the lot, it's all skilled work.
Have you any experience in gardening yourself?

...and find out whether or not it includes disposal of waste. Which can be expensive and time consuming.

No no garden experience at all which is why I asked, it’s the first time I’ve had a garden but I’m not even sure I can commit to someone here for 6 hours over 2 days as I have the school run etc, and I wouldn’t want to leave someone here alone as I wouldn’t know the person, he will be a stranger not someone recommended. I think I will get a few extra quotes then, think that will be best.

Does he have to access the grden through your house? If he can get into the garden without going through your house and is a reputable gardener you can leave him, it's perfectly standard. I get where you're coming from though. But most gardeners will carry on regardless if you're there or not.
Obvs if he has to be in your house you don't want that without knowing him better.

Yeh he would have to come through the house.

Could you book him to come and do the work during the school holidays if that's an issue, or get another school parent to pick the kids up for a couple of days?

Depends on what it’s over green with. Brambles and nettles take a lot of digging.
If it was an established garden before then each plant will need to be sorted out, and lots of weeding done.

What’s the hourly rate? Might give us a feel for whether he’s taking the piss.

Get more quotes, ask each person what's worth saving - that will give you an indication of whetehr they are a gardener or a bloke with machinery. You may get a lower quote because someone is going to strim everything to the ground, which will take less effort than identifying what's there, pruning any worthwhile shrubs into shape, etc.

Of course you may want it all strimmed into oblivion, in which case you don't need a qualified gardener.

I really want rid of all of it, the only thing I want to stay is a rose bush. Hourly he said £17 which I thought sounded good.