Will you use the area to have garden parties? Will it be a place of solitude for you and your family? Will your children play in the area? Knowing exactly what purpose your garden will serve helps gardeners work toward a specific end result. Here are some other things to consider before starting a gardening project:
Identify any special considerations. Do you want to use Xeriscaping (a landscaping practice that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation)? Would you like an organic environment that’s free of pesticides? Your gardener needs to understand these specifications before he or she begins work.
Know what part you’ll play in the gardening process. Do you want your garden to be the complete responsibility of your gardener, or do you want it to be a collaboration of ideas? Either way, good communication is important to ensure your garden turns out exactly how you envision.
Your gardener should have extensive general knowledge. Look for expertise on horticulture, pesticides, weed control, fertilizing, sprinkler systems and timer repair. A little questioning beforehand can save big disappointments down the road.
Make sure the gardener carries liability and workers’ compensation insurance. If they don’t, anything that happens on your property is your responsibility. An insured gardener will likely charge a bit more, but it’s worth it in the long run.
“There are certain things every gardener or horticulturist needs to know how to do correctly,” says Sally Jo Dinwoodie, owner of Dinwoodie Landscape Services in Richmond. “There are just so many things that can go wrong.” Ms. Dinwoodie cautions to check the credentials of any landscaper, gardener or horticulturist you hire. “Just because someone calls themselves a gardener doesn’t guarantee they know what they’re doing. And if they don’t, you’re the one who has to pay.”
