Choosing a gardener in Dublin: what to ask before you book

Searching for a gardener in Dublin turns up hundreds of names, from one-person outfits to big contract firms. Most are fine. A few aren't. The difference usually shows up in the answers to a handful of simple questions, so it's worth asking them before anyone sets foot in your garden.

1. What exactly is included in a visit?

"Garden maintenance" means different things to different people. For some it's a quick mow. For others it's mowing, edging, weeding beds, trimming shrubs and sweeping up. Ask for a plain list of what happens on each visit, and what counts as an extra (hedge cutting, leaf clearing, green waste removal).

Our own garden maintenance visits are agreed in writing up front, so you know what you're paying for each time.

2. Where does the green waste go?

Hedge cuttings and lawn clippings add up quickly, and a Dublin brown bin fills after one decent trim. Ask whether waste is taken away, bagged for you, or left on site. In Ireland, anyone who collects waste for a fee needs a waste collection permit, so it's fair to ask how they dispose of it.

3. Are you insured?

Any gardener working with mowers, strimmers and hedge cutters around your house, car and windows should carry public liability insurance. It's a normal question and a professional won't mind being asked.

4. How do you price the work?

Some gardeners charge by the hour, others by the job. Neither is wrong, but you should know which before work starts. A clear price per visit, or a written quote for a one-off job, avoids awkward conversations later. Our guide to what garden work costs in Dublin explains what pushes prices up or down.

5. How will you get into the garden?

Plenty of Dublin terraces and semi-ds have no side passage. If the only way into the back garden is through the house, ask how equipment and cuttings will be moved and how floors will be protected. It's a small thing that tells you a lot about how careful someone is.

One-off tidy or regular visits?

If the garden only needs attention a few times a year, a seasonal tidy in spring and autumn may be enough. If you want the lawn cut through the growing season and hedges kept in shape, regular visits every two to four weeks are usually better value than repeated big clean-ups. Landlords and letting agents often book visits between tenancies too.

We look after gardens right across County Dublin, alongside Kildare and Meath. If you'd like a price, send us a message or WhatsApp a few photos.