Garden-contractor
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Choosing a garden contractor

Factors to bear in mind when appointing a garden contractor.

Choosing a garden contractor is a very important decision if you want a garden that will be created in a professional manner, by knowledgeable and skilled craftsmen – the right choice will ultimately provide many years of pleasure and enjoyment.

Yet with such a wide range of people claiming expertise when it comes to gardening, it is worth bearing in mind a few things to look out for.

Quality and Workmanship
Have you been given the opportunity to see examples of the Contractors workmanship and does the contractor come recommended? The contractor should be able to supply genuine testimonials from both clients and suppliers. Seek out testimonials on the contractors website and from satisfied customers – a reputable contractor should be able to put you in touch with one of their customers. Ask to go and see some gardens that the contractor has designed or created – this should never be an issue. Ensure both designer and contractor are insured.

Design and build expertise
Is the Contractor able to sympathetically and accurately interpret designers drawings?  Does the contractor have any design skills? What expertise does the Contractor have in dealing with large scale multi disciplinary projects?. Look to see if they have completed projects similar to yours and the standard to which they are finished.

Plant knowledge
Does the contractor have sufficient horticulture expertise to assess pests, diseases, weed issues and other issues/ challenges. It may be worth asking a contractor to outline what (if any) challenges they foresee and how they intend to solve them. Indeed are they equally able to deal with both soft and hard landscaping.

Communication
Does the contractor have a clear line of communication with you the designer and those working onsite? It would be worth clarifying how the communication process works and what process the contractor has in place. Do they have a plan for communicating with your neighbours and any other parties that may be affected by the work taking place?

Local Knowledge
Does the contractor have local knowledge of the soil, topography and suppliers within the local area? Do they have an understanding of key local issues such as the presence of rare and protected flora and fauna? If the contractor is not local how will this impact upon the fees to be charged and willingness to return and address problems or monitor the gardens development after it has been completed?

Team work
Has the contractor had experience of working as part of a large team and managing projects of a similar scale to yours? It is advisable to explore the working relationship between a designer and contractor.

Longevity and support
How long has the contractor been trading for? Will he/she be there for the long term. Will they be able to advise and assist with on going maintenance and respond quickly and efficiently to issues and challenges as they arise? It is important to establish what guarantees are offered. For instance what happens if a plant dies or something goes wrong once work is complete? A long term and well established contractor, with a good reputation, locally will have a process in place to deal with such events.

Comfort
Do you feel comfortable and ‘get on with the contractor?’ The chances are they are going to be around a lot during the course of your project. You need to be able to establish a relationship that makes you comfortable to ask questions, seek reassurance and have faith in their responses.

Money
Is the quote a realistic one; if it seems too low will there be extras? How are these calculated? If it is on the high side find out what the extra expense covers and make sure you are always comparing like for like in terms of the service and expertise you are getting. If the bottom line is unrealistically small the result will be that corners maybe cut and extras may mount. The worse case scenario; you have to bring in a new contactor to do the job properly.

Is the quote broken down into segments with alternatives so that you can pick and choose.

When quoting has the contractor suggested alternatives that could be better and / or save money or reduce maintenance in the future?

Obtain satisfactory answers to all these questions and you should end up with a committed and experienced garden contractor who you can trust. It may seem like a lot to think about but research and planning is key here. It will save you much time and stress in the long run.

This being the case, you will go a long way to avoiding jobs being finished like these (real examples of work we have had to correct over the last 18 months);

garden-contractor-a-terrace-'finished' garden-contractor-beautifully-finished-terrace

garden-contractor-dangerous-wiringgarden-contractor-safe-wiring

garden-contractor-'finished'-bedgarden-contractor-nicely-finished-raised-bed

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bali accredited

We are thrilled to announce that The Garden Design Co Ltd is now one of a select group of companies accredited by the British Association of Landscape Industries.