Choosing and deciding to use a service to help you with your garden can be a daunting prospect. How much will I be charged? Will they do a good job? Can I trust them and are they reliable? These are some of the questions you want to know before making first contact. Testimonials and word of mouth will guide you to some of these answers but what about cost.

The following is intended to provide a guide on what you may expect to be charged depending on  the needs of your project.

Consultancy and mentoring is based on £45.00 per hour. This is normally a short initial consultation , see Consultancy or a minimum fee of £180.00 for a half day to £315.00 for a full day. Depending on distance, fuel and travel time a surcharge may be added to this.

Hands on garden work is based on £35.00 per hour excluding travel time and fuel costs. Unless quite local, allowing time to go to another job, day rates are  normally calculated. A minimum half day fee based of 4 hours is charged.

Project undertaking can be tailored to your own specific  budget. The important factors are assessing your site conditions (climatic & soil) and what you aim to achieve. A project can be done in stages to suit available budgets such as ground preparation and structural planting to be followed by infill planting at another time when more funds become available. It is better to do a project correctly in  stages and get the desired end result than buying what’s affordable and cutting corners to save money and suffering from buyers remorse afterwards.

A typical example of the process in deciding on hiring my services

1: After studying my website get in touch. I can be contacted on my mobile 07988010418 or fill in the contact me page. I will be asking you if you are looking for consultancy only, hands on or a mix of both. I will also be asking for a brief idea of what you want so I can be sure my service is right for your needs. I may also ask for some rough measurements of the garden areas in questions together with as many photos as you are able to provide. This will provide me with enough information to give you a rough estimated quote of what you can expect to pay.

2 : If you wish an initial consultation or the estimated quote is acceptable and you would like a visit we can arrange a mutually convenient time to meet at your home to discuss your project in greater depth. I will take more accurate measurements to provide a more precise quote. You are also welcome to visit my show garden to see the type of planting I do.

3 : I will provide you with a more precise quote and an estimated date to start works. Please note:

1. On  planting projects over £2500.00  I will require the cost of plants to be met up front because my suppliers require payment in full before plants are taken off their premises. I will provide a signed  receipt for upfront costs. I normally ask for up front costs on the day I start project but large or rarer plants may have to be ordered to secure from supplier availability lists and so earlier payment will be requested.
2. Any changes to planned works may be liable to additional costs or extras requested will incur extra costs.

4: I will start and complete agreed project or stage of project. If your happy with the above steps and want to get the ball rolling to transform your garden please call me on 07988010418 or contact me.

More information

What happens if you don’t like some of the plants I select? Everyone’s tastes are different and although I will try my best for you I do not get it right all the time and I am happy to exchange any plants you do not like with more favourable ones. Although I do ask to be told preferably whilst I am still onsite or within a week of planting so I can organise substitutes from my suppliers.

Although I grow and stock a small number of trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials (generally my favourite signature plants that I am familiar with) I do not have the ability, space or time to look after large selections. I source these from a number of local and further afield nursery growers and garden centres.  Although I often get a discount, the average is 20% and I pass them onto you at their retail price. It is rare to get all plants from one source meaning I have to go round numerous places to get all the plants I need. For this reason I charge the time required for sourcing, selecting and delivering the best plants for your project.

Rather than ordering them unseen  over the internet or by phone I prefer to see them for myself and pick the best specimens for your garden. I am happy for you to join me on my plant sourcing days, some customers have specific likes and dislikes and this can be the best option. I must warn you though such a day is often intense and gruelling moving from one nursery to the next and making quick decisions. If your lucky you may get a coffee stop but most of my travel companions wish they had left it to me.

If you prefer a  more gentle pace I am can provide you with an agreed plant list and you can source them yourself as well as add your own inspirational purchases. My most frequently used nurseries and garden centres include. Ashbrook and Silverwellls nurseries Arbroath. Glendoick Garden Centre, Woodbury Estate Glen Isla. Binny Plants,  R&B Nursery and Macplants located Edinburgh direction. Depending on the plants needed I try to group nurseries together to reduce travel time. Some customers prefer to source plants themselves online and this is fine by me.

On a large planting project some plants do not make it and I will replace any plants within the first year of planting supplied by myself. This does not extend to plants lost through theft, vandalism or neglect. I do provide care instructions  for establishment.

I hope the above, lengthy, prose gives you and indication of what you can expect to pay. At the end of the day just like any other product or service it depends on what you are willing to pay, the level of quality of product and what you want to achieve. Cars, furniture, clothes, perfumes, TV’s etc all come in a range of prices. If you can trust me in telling me what your willing to spend I can work out how to maximise your investment and achieve your vision.

To discuss your intended project please in touch with me (John) on 07988010418 or contact me.