Professional Landscape Gardeners Can Save You Money

‘How much will it cost?’ That is the first question most people ask when considering whether or not to hire a landscape gardener. If you want to create a new garden or re-design an existing one, wouldn’t it be much cheaper to do the job yourself?

The answer is: not always. When you add it all up, using an expert can actually save you money. Here are some reasons why:

No hidden extras
A good landscape gardener will give you a free, detailed written quotation so you know exactly what the final bill will be. It’s not so easy to estimate the total cost of a DIY project. When buying materials (fencing, paving slabs, turf etc.) be sure to read the price lists carefully. Some suppliers add VAT on as a separate item, which can come as a nasty surprise if you’ve forgotten to include it in your calculations. If you are not able to collect heavy or bulky materials you will also have to pay delivery charges. And what about tools? Unless you already have all the tools you need, you will have to buy or hire them.

No costly mistakes
A professional gardener has years of experience and knows what works – and what doesn’t. After spending time with you to understand your needs, and doing a survey of your garden, he will formulate a plan to create the garden you want in the quickest and most efficient way. He will do his best to incorporate your ideas, but will also point out potential problems you might not have noticed, and suggest solutions you hadn’t thought of.

Lasting value
A reputable landscape gardener takes pride in his work. He knows that a satisfied client is likely to recommend him to other people, and the quickest way to lose business is by charging exorbitant prices for shoddy work. Skimping on materials or labour is always false economy. For example, a fence made from good-quality timber and properly fixed to firm posts will retain its strength and good looks for many years. A cheaper alternative will soon be damaged by wind and rain and need to be replaced.

An asset for the future
A well-designed, easy to manage garden will provide you, your family and guests with an attractive place where you can relax, play and enjoy all the benefits of outdoor living for years to come. It will also add value to your home, and make it easier to sell, should you ever decide to move elsewhere.

Landscaping your garden: the benefits

There are countless benefits to landscaping a garden, not least your own enjoyment of the outdoor life.

A well-designed garden will add extra space to your home, acting like an extension to your living space and adding value to your life, as well as to your property. The benefits are practical, environmental, financial and social.

The practical benefits of garden landscaping

When landscaping your garden you can factor in features that will bring benefits on a practical level. For example, you could plant trees in strategic positions so as to minimise traffic noise; you could plant bushes or shrubs to enhance privacy and by erecting a fence you can define boundaries, prevent stray animals wandering in and reduce the amount of rubbish that blows into your garden. You could also divide your garden to allow for children’s areas, pets’ areas and of course adults’ areas!

The environmental benefits of garden landscaping

A healthy lawn and a good variety of plants and trees make invaluable environmental resources. Apart from purifying the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, plants also attract wildlife, birds and insects into the garden which all work together to enhance the local biosphere. Everything has a purpose and each link in the chain benefits the environment in its own way.

The financial benefits of garden landscaping

A professionally landscaped and well maintained garden will add value to your home and undertaking a garden landscaping project could bring double the expenditure in terms of added value as well as making a property much easier to sell, especially nowadays where buyers are looking for additional features such as readymade outdoor living. Landscaping your front garden brings particular benefits as this will be the very first thing a prospective buyer will see when viewing your property, and if it looks good, it will leave a lasting impression.

The social benefits of garden landscaping

An outside space in which to entertain; to take lunch with friends, spend quality time with loved ones or watch over the children. A landscaped garden is all of these, and can be designed around your precise needs. It just takes a bit of planning!

There is much to gain from landscaping your garden; getting it done professionally will help too but otherwise strategic planning will count for much. Think about what you want to get out of it, and build your wishes into your garden!

How to choose a Landscape Gardener

Faced with hiring a landscape gardener, many people don’t know where to turn. There are many to choose from, and lots of them claim to be ‘garden experts’. But how can you be sure you are choosing the right company?

I’ve put together some advice on choosing a good quality landscape gardener that won’t let you down or charge you too much and will go the extra mile to help make your new garden the only place you’ll want to be.

Ask them:

What services to do you offer?
Some landscape gardeners cover a variety of services including turf laying, fencing, decking, patio laying and planting. Others however only specialise in one area. If you are looking for an all-round garden landscaper then you must quiz your prospective provider as to what they can actually do – properly and professionally.

Can I see and check testimonials from past customers?
If you have not been recommended to this garden landscaper by someone you know has been satisfied with their service, then ask them for testimonials that you can verify. There is no substitute for hearing from other satisfied customers that this garden landscaping company can be trusted to do a good job, on time and for a reasonable price.

Can I see photographs of previous work?
Ask for photographs or even video coverage of recent garden landscaping jobs so that you can check the quality of the work.

Do you provide written, no-obligation quotations?
Make sure the garden landscaper puts their quote in writing on official headed paper showing a postal address and full contact details. Verify these details and look the company up by searching for them on the internet. Listings in directories and a strong presence stand for a lot.

Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, any garden landscaper worth their salt will answer them without hesitation. Whatever you do, take your time and ask around for recommendations. All of this will ensure your garden project runs to schedule, is not overpriced and the resulting garden is something to cherish.