Your garden is an extension — and a highly visible reflection — of your home. Whether it’s your first time to really deck out your yard with plants and trees or simply doing a renovation, seeking professional gardening services will save you time and money. As they are backed by their knowledge and experience in the field (literally speaking), it is less likely that they will make mistakes — and that means less stress and costly repairs for you.

But when hiring gardening services, you have to take different things into account. Read on to find six tried-and-tested tips.

1. Have a clear vision of what you want for your garden. Do you want it to look like a rustic garden filled with evergreens? Are you aiming for open-plan vegetable plantings to support your goal of sustainable living? The gardening services you will need highly depends on what your vision is.

2. Create a gardening checklist and have a concrete plan. You should identify what are the specific services you need — do you need a horticulture expert or just someone who can trim down your trees or helm an elaborate landscape construction project? Your plan should also include the timeline of your project as well as your budget allocation for it.

3. Ask for references from people you trust. If you have someone within your circle who has an impeccable garden, you should ask him or her for tips and references. Inquire which gardening company he or she has tapped and how was his or her experience working with them.

4. Get quotes and ask for any additional costs. Don’t just settle for one option; it’s still better to gather quotes from at least three of your prospective gardening companies. Compare their offerings and be meticulous about extra charges or hidden costs. Do your homework so you can find the most qualified gardening expert for your work.

5. Choose someone with great customer service. It isn’t enough for a gardening maintenance company to just be knowledgeable about the field, they should also know how to maintain good relationships with their clients. Choose a company that’s attentive to your needs and is approachable when you’re asking for clarifications and gardening requirements.

6. Always go back to the purpose of your garden. While things can get quite hectic, don’t forget about the basics: Why are you investing your time and resources to create and tend to your garden? At the end of the day, all your decision-making and planning should be contributed to hitting your goal.

If you have no time to maintain or improve your garden, get a gardening service instead. Visit http://theotherside.com.au/.