There are many Taskers who exclusively task in Garden Work, while others probably wouldn’t know where to begin. Whether you’re a seasoned Garden Work Tasker or are just getting started, this blog will help you get prepared so you find success with this popular skill.
A category filled with opportunity
Although clients are requesting more and more Garden Work tasks lately, a lot of Taskers are not yet opted into this category. This means there is plenty of opportunity to be successful as a Garden Work Tasker! But Garden Work—like all skills—has nuances of its own that top Taskers recommend you understand before getting started.
In this post we’ll provide an overview of Garden Work, break down the different tasks in this skill, and give you an idea of what a client might expect from their Tasker.
What is Garden Work?
You may have heard terms like “lawn care,” “lawn maintenance,” and “landscaping.” All of these fall under Garden Work. Broadly, these tasks aim to maintain an outdoor space to keep it healthy, clean, safe and attractive. On Taskrabbit, Garden Work can be broken down into the following subcategories:
- Mowing
- Weeding
- Tree trimming
- Gutter cleaning
- Raking
- Moving and shifting rubbish
Now’s the time to get started! Garden Work tasks are popular year-round, but demand for these tasks is usually the highest during summer. Tasks start to pick up in April, peak from May to July when people spend the most time outdoors and trail off in the winter months.
What do clients look for?
Clients will rely on you not only for your skills, but also to bring the right tools and equipment to get their tasks done. Having your own equipment enables you to begin working as soon as you arrive on-site and prevents any mixups that arise when you realise your client doesn’t own the tools you’re hoping to use. Here are some basic Garden Work tools that always come in handy:
- Lawn care tools: Lawnmower, grass trimmer, leaf blower
- Protective gear: gardening gloves, knee pads, garden seat and portable safety barrier
- Shifting and transport tools: wheelbarrows and bags for leaves/waste
- Gardening tools: rakes, weeders, trowels, aerators and cultivators
- Cutting tools: shears, loppers, hand pruners and pruning saws
- Digging tools: shovels and augers
The first thing top Taskers recommend you do once hired is to communicate clearly with your client. This will help you scope out the task and understand what they need. Here are some questions you might want to ask:
- What type of task is it? (i.e. mowing, trimming, etc.)
- What are the highest priorities for this task? When it comes to Garden Work, there’s always something extra that can be done. Knowing precisely what you as a Tasker need to get done will ensure that your task has a clear beginning, middle and end.
- Does your client own tools or equipment required for this task? Some tasks benefit from larger tools like a lawnmower, leaf blower or tree trimmer. Clients often consider it the Tasker’s responsibility to bring such items to the task. If neither you nor your client owns a tool that’s needed to successfully complete the task, you can rent and expense it. (Learn more in this blog post.)
Successfully tasking in Garden Work
While Garden Work is unique in many ways, the keys to doing well remain the same as for any other category. Here is advice sourced from 5-star rated Garden Work Taskers on how to be successful:
- Thorough descriptions along with prompt and tactful communication with clients. – Neil H., Denver
- Being polite, working hard and going above and beyond expectations. – Thomas F., Washington
- I would say success is built on effort level and a willingness to always get the job done. – Trent S., Phoenix
- What makes anyone successful is doing what you say you’re going to do. Also having the knowledge and skills of the task being performed. – Saul R., Dallas/Fort Worth
This advice from the Tasker community describes what it takes to be successful in any category. At the end of the day, it all comes down to: effort, communication, reliability and skills. Is there anything you’d like to know about Garden Work? Tell us in the comments below!
Information provided by the Taskrabbit blog is for general and informational purposes only and we make no warranty regarding the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any content.
