if i wanted to hire a gardener to make my garden gorgeous, what time of year should they start?

[xksismybestletter]

that is my question. We have lived in our house for 7 years and still have no idea what makes a garden. We are moving soon, and i want to spend some money on someone who will make our garden lovely, and then maintain it. Likely to be moving this winter. When should we get someone from. Can we just give them basically free reign and tell them to make it lovely?

Any suggestions?

Where do you live ? I may have a suggestion - PM if you were like to keep private

Do you mean to make your new garden lovely? - if so then start asap, there's always stuff that can be done even if it's prep for larger projects/planting.

If it's to spruce up ready for sale just buy a job lot of winter bedding plants and put them everywhere (or in pots if you have a gravel wasteland)

A professional gardener will be able to put together a planting plan to plant up any time of year, but spring and summer are best if you want to get immediate enjoyment from it. Autumn is good from a planning point of view as that's when you do the bulbs etc for next spring, and not much happens over winter but you can get the 'bones' in order and plant some things for the following year.

yes it is for the new house, I would like someone to make it nice and then to keep it nice by coming every month or something. We can mow the lawn and weed etc, but we dont know how to plant a garden to make it look lovely, and although I want this I am not sufficiently motivated to learn.

Solihull @BasiliskStare

there is quite a bit of sorting out to do so we can get on with that, but we need someone to make/ improve the flowerbeds

I'd get them started straight away to be honest. Theres a lot they can be doing now such as prepping the soil ready for planting and you are much more likely to get and keep a gardener if you keep them going throughout the winter too, as many people just ditch gardeners in winter which is a bit harsh I think.

I'll probably wait until we own the property tbh! But I'll get on it straight away after

I'd start by researching designers/landscapers.

I hired someone at a garden show maybe 6 years ago. Our house is split level & it makes the outside wonky. He did a site visit & gave some good ideas then & did a design with scale drawing for £300-£400 I think. The full design would have been circa £35k to complete but we've done bits of it & used cheaper materials. It means you get the space to work best for you. After that you just a gardener & may want to learn some maintenance as it's fun. Good luck!

Thanks - too far away from you @xksismybestletter

But agree with others - you could get someone to tidy up & make a plan. I think shrubs can be planted over winter & bulbs & then perhaps flowers in between those come the Spring ?

Gardens are made in Autumn/ Winter. You can get away with planting in spring but its not ideal as you spend all summer watering like mad.

Generally I prefer gardens with free reign. If I am going to do anything dramatic then I do obviously discuss and ask clients.

Its all well and good saying 'make it look lovely', but I would also put a proposed budget in for that. You cant cook an omelette with no ingredients.