Terms and Conditions
Access
Please let us know in advance of any information required to access the garden. This could include information on pathways, gates (locks/codes) or parking.
In the event of not being able to gain access to the garden upon arrival at a scheduled visit a 100% charge will apply.
Arrival time
We leave generous gaps between gardening visits to ensure the team has enough time for breaks and safe travel to site, however, traffic and parking can be unpredictable. Please allow plus or minus 10 minutes for our start and finish times. We will update you by text or email if we will be later than this. If you are aware of any road closures on your street or in close proximity to the site we'd be grateful if you let us know in advance of our visit.
Cancellation
We require 48 hours notice if you wish to cancel your scheduled garden visit. If the visit is cancelled with less than 48 hours notice, a 50% charge will apply. If the visit is cancelled on the day a 100% charge will apply.
In the unlikely event we have to cancel an appointment we will text or email you in advance of the visit with as much notice as possible to let you know and explain why. Where possible we will work with you to re-schedule appointments.
Code of Conduct
If staff are threatened or mistreated in any way this will terminate the working relationship with immediate effect.
Contracts
Contracts can be cancelled for any reason by giving notice within 14 days of accepting your quote.
Copyright
Copyright in all documents and drawings prepared by the design consultant shall, unless otherwise agreed, remain the property of the consultant.
Copyright entitlement: The Client will be entitled to use documents and drawings in executing the works for which they were prepared by the design consultant.
provided that:
a) all fees due to the design consultant have been submitted or paid
b) the entitlement relates only to that site or part of the site for which the design was prepared. This entitlement applies to the design, maintenance and management of the works.
Dangerous plants
We reserved the right not to handle the following plants unless by prior agreement: giant hogweed, water hemlock, hemlock, aconite, wild parsnip.
Whilst we take care to identify and avoid any plants that may cause harm to adults, children or pets, many plants have a level of toxicity if consumed and we cannot be held responsible for any plants found in your garden.
Whilst serious poisoning from plants is very uncommon in the UK, we recommend supervising small children and pets (if they are known to consume plants) whilst in the garden.
You can find more information here.
Delivery Dates
We will use reasonable endeavours to comply with any specified delivery dates but no such dates are guaranteed and we exclude liability for any loss (whether direct, consequential or otherwise) resulting from any delay in the delivery of the services.
Garden Waste
Unless you have a hot compost system we will discard all perennial weed roots in a brown bin, bonfire pile or garden waste bags for your safe disposal.
Brown bins can be ordered from your local council.
There is a small fee for garden waste bags.
If you are unable to dispose of the garden waste please let us know. We can, on occasion, arrange for disposal. There is an additional charge quoted upon application for this service.
Health and Safety
Please advise us in advance of any issues which may present a hazard to our gardeners. This could include obstructions, loose paving slabs, chemicals, dangerous pets, animal faeces (wild and domestic). We will work carefully and mindfully, but appreciate your cooperation in resolving any potential hazards as soon as possible.
Please clear all dog poo before we arrive. It is not only a clear health hazard to the team it is also bad for morale. If we find dog poo on site we will inform you in person and will wait for it to be removed before resuming gardening, this pause will not result in a reduction in our billable hours.
Images
I agree to Rachel Rutty / Rutty Sark Ltd using images of the garden for promotional purposes including portfolio of work; social media pages; website and advertisements / editorials.
I agree to acknowledge Rutty Sark Gardens if I (the client) use images of the garden in any of my own media and marketing opportunities i.e. on websites promoting client products, or in any published articles about the garden in the future.
Insurance
Rutty Sark Ltd. is covered by Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.
Meadows / Strimming
Through trial and error we have come to the conclusion that cutting meadows with a strimmer (even a very powerful strimmer) is not a service we will offer. We have been through too many expensive strimmers that have burnt out, broken, or jammed up in the process. We do not operate brush-cutters.
We have two alternative solutions for cutting meadows that we are working on providing in the near future - scything by hand or scything with a push along power scythe. We will be booking training in for our team as soon as possible. Do get in touch if you would like to discuss these options.
New Plants
Once plants are planted in your garden you are responsible for their care. There are many factors that contribute to the successful growth of a plant. All plants are bought in good faith.
To encourage the best chance of success, please water your plants well when newly planted or in particularly dry weather. We recommend installing a waterbutt for rainwater collection where possible.
Overtime
Additional garden design client meetings or consultant services not covered by the quote will be charged at £40 per hour.
Additional gardening services in excess of the scheduled visit will be charged at £30 per hour.
Parking
We will always try to park with care and consideration for others, where directed to do so we will park off-road or in residence bays with permits. Please inform us if parking is temporarily unavailable and we will allow more time to access the site accordingly.
Payment
We use a secure card payment system to take payment on site at the end of a visit. We will provide an email confirmation and receipt of payment.
Where you are not available for payment on site, we can provide written invoices.
Please note, we require payment of the previous invoice before our next scheduled visit.
We are VAT registered.
Only the work specified in a quotation is included in the fees, any additional work will be charged on an hourly basis.
No allowance is made in the price for any extra work required due to unknown, hidden or underground features.
The fee quoted is based on the conditions at time of viewing.
The fee proposal is valid for 30 days from date of issue.
Team members
All of our gardeners are hardworking and fully trained. We reserve the right to send any member of the team to a scheduled garden appointment.
Rate changes
From time to time we will review our rates and services. We will give you written notice one month in advance should we implement any changes.
Scheduling
Each season we review our schedule to accommodate the changing season and shifting staff commitments such as on-going training, care responsibilities or holidays. We aim to keep changes as minimal as possible. Any changes will be made in conversation with you.
Social Media
Rutty Sark from time to time uses images of the gardens we work on for promotional purposes including portfolio of work, social media pages, website and advertisements / editorials. Please let us know in writing to gardens@ruttysark.com if you do not want us to photograph in your garden.
If images of your garden appear in any media or marketing opportunities, i.e. on websites promoting client products, or in any published articles about the garden please acknowledge Rutty Sark ltd. as a contributor.
Welfare facilities
Please let us know in advance if our gardeners will have access to toilet facilities or fresh drinking water on site. If no toilet facilities are not available, we will endeavour to find alternative local facilities. If this requires leaving the site for a short comfort break this time is chargeable.
Payment of our services implies acceptance of the terms and conditions.