Frequently asked questions

How will improving my garden add value to my property?

A well landscaped garden will increase the value of your property by at least 6% according to a survey conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents.... however a badly constructed garden could take money off your property. For a first class garden which gives your property kerb appeal call in a qualified professional.

Choose a Landscape Professional

To help you and other consumers, professional landscapers have a moral duty to prove they are competent and squeeze out rogue traders and diversifiers who use bad practices.

The BALI - British Association of Landscapes Industries Registration Scheme provides proof of competency based on standards set in national qualifications. Registered professionals will possess a BALI identification card similar to a credit card, with their photo.

Protect yourself

If something goes wrong, would your household insurance cover you for damage caused by engaging incompetent contractors. If someone is hurt both the client and the contractor may be prosecuted. It could be left up to you to prove that you engaged a competent and insured contractor. It could be you who has to pay the bill to have things re-done or put right!

Established professionals will often spray weedkillers to clear sites. For safety, these contractors are required by law to possess spraying certificates including PA1. So if by coincidence someone's pet dies or someone gets ill after spraying a herbicide in your garden or treating your lawn, a professional will be able to prove they have done things correctly.

5 Point Advert Check List

1/ Find the more established firms who are properly trained in best practices. A guarantee could be worthless when new start ups don’t exist any more.

2/ Check they are qualified or have proof of competence. Why should you take a big chance risking your money, if they haven't invested in their own competence? RHS qualifications and show awards are a good competence indicator due to strict assessment.

3/ Remember anybody can buy a good advert and some Trade Bodies seldom monitor standards fully, or assess competency properly.

4/ Never use mobile only firms. Mobile numbers easily vanish, whereas problems seldom do!

5/ Don’t be frightened to ask, good firms will be delighted to show you their work off/on-site.

Good things are worth waiting for, so if your chosen contractor is booked up for a few months there is a good reason - they are a good contractor who will add value to your property for many years to come!

Further Advice:

BALI: www.bali.org.uk

Timber Decking Association: www.tda.org.uk

Email Us: lee@country-landcapes.com

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	How do I pay for works undertaken.. ?
	Where can I find some to do hard landscaping ... ?
	Why don't the gardening staff do a certain task ... ?
	Who is responsible for health and safety ... ?
	What is recommended frequency for lawn mowing ... ?
	When is the work going to be done ... ?
	What are your Terms and Conditions of Business

How do I pay for garden maintenance works undertaken ?

The preferred method of payment for most customers is by Standing Order. Click here for the Standing Order Form . For one off contracts or additional works simply send a cheque upon completion of works or each stage of completion, or pay via your internet or phone banking. Ask for our details.

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Where can I find someone to do landscaping and garden construction ... ?

For local contractors ask our Operation Supervisor who will know someone. Also check out the landscaping industry BALI web site. Ensure that you obtain a couple of references, assess their qualifications and previous work. If you require a garden design, don't cutt corners and ask the contractor for a free design! If you are spending money on your garden, it is wise to put a lot of time into the design and planning. A "free" design will be reflected in the end product. Obtain a quote from a qualified garden designer, landscape architect or qualified contractor to undertake the initial design and specification. This will help ensure that you have the best design and make it easier to price and construct.

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Why do the gardening staff not do a certain task ... ?

When a contract is specified the exact tasks will be set out. Eg. Mow lawns, clip edges, remove weeds from beds. Anything else is extra and subject to an agreed charge. For example, we would recommend that weeds in patios should be weedkilled in April/May and August if required and will be happy to give a competitive quote for this to be undertaken.

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Who is responsible for health and safety ... ?

Everyone is responsible for health and safety. Clients must also ensure that their sites are safe to enter and notify us in writing if there is a safety problem.

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What is the recommended frequency for lawn mowing... ?

The minimum frequency of cut is fortnightly for a reasonable finish. During peak growth weekly mowing is recommended. Often clients give their lawn a quick mow between our schedules to ensure that their lawns remain well trimmed.

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When is the work going to be done... ?

We have structured our operations to ensure that we provide a reliable service - even when staff are off. All works are undertaken on a best endeavour basis and subject to resources, weather conditions (you need to have perfect weather conditions to spray). We are unable to guarantee set days for regular work schedules. In order to ensure reliability we work in wet weather conditions and have invested in machinery that can leave a reasonable finish despite wet weather. It has been know to rain for days in this region, so it would cause unacceptable delay for schedules to be rearranged every time it rained.

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If you have any question regarding our services or our customer web at w w w . c o u n t r y - l a n d s c a p e s . c o m please contact the L e e @ c o u n t r y - l a n d s c a p e s . c o m