THE recent fine weather has seen many of us in the garden, potting up, watering and cutting the lawn.

However, if you need someone to sort out your garden jungle, think twice before engaging "door-to-door" gardeners to sort it out or you might get your green fingers burned.

These people often don't have any horticultural skills, wouldn't know a wisteria from a clematis, and use hard sell techniques to bump up their prices.

City of York Council Trading Standards does receive complaints from residents duped by doorstep odd-jobbers who are "just in the area" with promises to transform gardens. Often the prices quoted are exceptionally high (one person was quoted £120 to trim a small hedge) with charges rising as 'other problems' are found. Alternatively work is paid for but never completed, or the householder is left to dispose of a mountain of branches and cuttings. Garden 'cowboys' rarely have the right equipment for the job and they are almost impossible to pursue if things go wrong because even if they supply any details at all, they often use false names and addresses.

If you are thinking of using a gardener:

don't be pressured into making a quick decision on the doorstep - just say no;

ask friends, neighbours or consult relevant trade associations about someone who is experienced in the type of work you want done;

obtain at least three quotes from established local traders;

check with the council to see if consent is needed to prune or fell trees;

fix a price and be specific about what you want done and when;

make sure you get everything written down - don't rely on verbal agreements;

avoid deposits and advance payments.

Following this advice is one way to ensure that you aren't caught out by the garden "cowboys". Remember older and vulnerable residents wanting work done in their gardens can use traders in the Home Services Directory. Information is available from Age Concern in York or City of York Trading Standards. You can also find the directory on our website.

For further advice on this or any other consumer matter, phone City of York Trading Standards on 01904 551562, or call in at 9, St Leonard's Place, York - you can telephone first if you want an appointment or visit our website at www.york.gov.uk/business/tradingstandards

Updated: 08:27 Thursday, July 15, 2004