While creating and maintaining outdoor planters is a joy for many, there are some of us who want the beauty but not the work. Keep reading to find out the tips you need to find and hire a gardener to create outdoor planters. My Bestie, Ellann lives in Chicago. A busy executive, she wants her outdoor spaces to be beautiful but doesn’t have the time or desire to commit to planters. So she hires it out. She sent me photos of her fall beauties and it inspired me to write about this option for container gardening. Many people probably don’t realise this service exists. 

Even if You Love Gardening

Hiring this job out can do a few things. First, you increase your home’s curb appeal which can add value to your property. Second, you free up time for yourself and in today’s busy world it may be more impactful to your life to delegate this job to a pro and spend more time at the gym or with your family. Finally, a gardener can create and help you maintain your outdoor space to your specifications: eliminating the guess-work and allowing you to just enjoy.

How to Find the Right Professional

When you start the search to hire a gardener to create your outdoor planters, you’ll want to do some investigating to find just the right fit. First, you’ll want to see if the candidate has a business license, liability insurance, and good references. 

Next, you’ll want to explore the services they offer. For instance, will they simply choose plants and install them or do they offer maintenance such as watering and fertilising? Do you want someone to change the design seasonally, or only for special occasions? Also, will the gardener provide pest control or even the containers themselves?

Hiring a Gardener

You wanted to hire a gardener to create outdoor planters and you think you’ve made a selection.  You feel that your candidate is a pro: trustworthy, creative and experienced. What’s next? 

1. Discuss your budget and their fees. Agree to pricing prior to work being completed and find out how they bill and expect to be paid.
2. Ask questions about timelines. While some gardeners offer monthly rates, some require that you contract their services for a particular length of time. Be clear on what you’re hiring.
3. Get it in writing. Once you’ve settled the details, it works best for both parties to put expectations, specifics of service, length of time, guarantees and pricing in contract form.