Frequently asked questions

Do you travel outside of Bristol?

Yes, in general I work within a 20-mile radius of Bristol, including Chepstow and Bath. For garden design/creation I may be able to travel a bit further.

What services do you offer?

We offer standard garden maintenance services such as planting, mulching, weeding and pruning. In addition to this we can work with you to design and create a new garden, involving simple plans if required. We also offer tree care services for woody shrubs, climbers and small trees, such as pruning and pest and disease diagnosis and treatment. I can also create or install features such as arches, pergolas, trellises and wire frames on masonry or wood for climbing plants. We do not currently offer services that involve ropes access or aerial tree surgery work, or hard landscaping services. Have a look at the Services page for more information.

How much do you charge?

Our hourly rate is £25 per hour; we offer our garden maintenance service in half days (minimum 3 hours) or full days (7 hours). Garden design and creation work involving simple plans modelled on your space, planting and the fabrication or assembly of specific features such as pergolas, arches and trellises are quoted as a block fee on a case by case basis, depending on your requirements! For design and creation services get in touch for a quote - our fees are very competitive!

Do you offer landscaping services?

Soft landscaping is our speciality. This means working with plants and wooden structures such as pergolas and trellises to create a naturalistic feel in the garden. Hard landscaping such as patios and water features is not our area of expertise and we would recommend choosing somebody more qualified for that type of work.

Do you do topiary?

I offer basic hedge trimming and shaping but the more skillfully produced shapes and forms found in topiary are not my area of interest. In general I try to create naturalistic, cottage garden type gardens and shy away from formal design.

Do you do lawns?

At Trefoil we don't have our own lawnmowers, mainly for logistical reasons, however if you have your own lawnmower we can use that to mow your lawn. Generally my focus with gardening is on improving biodiversity, which typically means working with flowers, shrubs, climbers and trees to create a diverse plant community that in turn attracts a diverse mix of insects and birds to the garden. Lawns get a bad reputation for forming monocultures, but that is more so if there is only grass in your lawn and its mowed regularly. Lawns can be more ecologically beneficial if they include low growing flowering plants such as white clover, birds foot trefoil, daisies and dandelions, so if asked to incoporate a lawn into a garden design I would employ this method!