Practical gardening, backed by horticultural expertise
Alongside his talks, workshops and educational work, Dan Ori MHort (RHS), MCIHort makes a limited number of local appointments available for practical gardening work.
With more than 30 years of horticultural experience and the RHS Master of Horticulture qualification, Dan brings considerably more than simply an extra pair of hands to a garden.
Whether a border needs bringing back under control, a plant needs diagnosing, shrubs need pruning correctly or an overgrown area simply needs tackling, the aim is to combine practical work with informed horticultural judgement.
Based in Sussex. Local appointments subject to availability.
One-off gardening jobs
Sometimes a garden just needs the right person for the job
Gardening with Dan Ori is not intended to operate as a conventional weekly garden-maintenance round.
Instead, Dan takes on selected one-off jobs where experience, plant knowledge and practical horticultural skills can make a real difference.
Work may include:
Lawn mowing and strimming
Pruning and cutting back
Planting
Border improvements
Seasonal garden tidy-ups
Plant care and problem-solving
Tackling neglected or overgrown areas
Other practical gardening jobs can also be discussed.
More than garden maintenance
Understand what your garden actually needs
One of the advantages of working with an experienced horticulturist is knowing what to cut, what to keep, what to move and when to leave something alone.
Dan’s approach combines current horticultural knowledge with decades of practical experience.
That can be particularly useful when:
- You are unsure how or when something should be pruned
- Plants are struggling and you do not know why
- A border has become overcrowded or difficult to manage
- An area has become overgrown
- You want to introduce new planting
- You need help deciding what should stay and what should go
- You simply need knowledgeable practical help getting the garden back under control
The objective is not only to leave the garden looking better, but to make sensible decisions for the plants and garden in the process.
Garden with Dan Ori
Enjoy gardening, but sometimes wish you had a little help alongside you?
Book a Garden with Dan Ori session and work together in your own garden. Dan can provide practical help, an extra pair of hands, encouragement and one-to-one horticultural guidance while you tackle the jobs that matter most to you.
It could be ideal if you:
- Enjoy gardening but need some help with the physical work
- Want a confidence or motivation boost
- Would like to learn while working in your own garden
- Have a larger job that feels easier with someone alongside you
- Are preparing your garden for an open garden, party or special event
- Simply want the reassurance of an experienced horticulturist working beside you
Whether you need moral support, a strong back or more than 30 years of practical horticultural experience, the aim is simple: to work together, improve your garden and leave you feeling more confident about what to do next.
RHS Master of Horticulture
Dan holds the prestigious Master of Horticulture qualification from the Royal Horticultural Society and has more than 30 years of experience across practical gardening, landscaping, plant nurseries, horticultural retail, arboriculture, estate gardening, community projects and horticultural education.
His guiding approach is the same whether delivering a gardening talk or working practically in somebody's garden:
Scientifically supported, practically proven and clearly explained.
And gardening is rarely about pretending there is only one possible answer. If something is already working successfully in your garden, Dan believes there should be a good reason before changing it.
Is this service right for you?
This service is particularly suited to people who:
- Have a specific gardening job they want completed
- Want knowledgeable help rather than simply routine maintenance
- Have inherited or taken on a garden and do not know where to begin
- Need help bringing an overgrown area back under control
- Would value professional horticultural input while practical work is being carried out
For customers looking purely for a regular weekly mowing or maintenance service, Gardening with Dan Ori may not be the most appropriate option.
For a one-off grass cut or garden job where plant knowledge and experience matter, it could be exactly what you need.
How it works
1. Tell Dan about the job
Send a short description of what you would like help with, ideally with a few photographs if appropriate.
2. Arrange a garden visit
Where the job looks suitable, Dan will arrange a convenient time to visit and assess what is required.
3. Receive a quotation
Because gardens and jobs vary enormously, prices are not advertised as a standard hourly gardening rate.
Dan will assess the work and provide a quotation based on the particular job.
4. Get the job done
Once agreed, a date can be arranged for the work to be completed.
Professional assurance
Dan holds:
Public Liability Insurance to £10 million
Employer’s Liability Insurance to £10 million
An Enhanced DBS certificate covering adults and children
Customers are encouraged to maintain suitable insurance for their own property also.
Gardening visits during weekdays, evenings and weekends, subject to availability.
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