Gardeners come in all shapes and sizes

Some people may wonder why The Gardeners Guild only accepts gardeners with a horticultural qualification.

Being qualified used to be the minimum standard for any trade. Lately, more and more organisations seem to focus on insurance rather than competence.

A qualification shows dedication to the trade. Its a life long investment. A qualification also shows that the gardener has been assessed for a certain horticultural skill and passed.

Gardeners come in all shapes and sizes. Some have a fully sign-written van and have spent thousands of pounds on tools working quickly to service many customers at an affordable price. Others operate a gardening 'practice' and have a few clients with large gardens. A friend of mine has just 5 customers with gardens so large that he spends one day a week at each home. Because the gardens are so large it makes economical sense for the customer to supply the tools. As a result, he drives to each customer in his car and has no need for a van or a uniform or any kind of advertising.

You cant judge a book by its cover. All gardeners are different and operate a varied business plan depending on their client base and the kind of work they specialise in. Finding a qualified gardener will help you find a professional gardener.