Gardening in Winston-Salem: Hiring and Cleanup

Define the work before requesting quotes

Choose the result you want: weeded beds, trimmed shrubs, new planting or ongoing care. Send photographs and approximate bed dimensions. Mark plants you want to keep, describe access through gates and identify a place for material deliveries. Ask the gardener to inspect any plants you cannot identify before removing them.

For a cleanup, specify which beds and shrubs the gardener should tackle and how you want the property left. For recurring care, agree on the tasks at each visit, how you approve extra work and who buys replacement plants. Ask for examples of comparable garden work and proof of liability insurance.

Compare complete quotes

Ask each gardener to separate labor, plants, mulch, delivery and disposal. For hourly work, clarify whether the rate applies to each worker or the crew, and set an approval limit before additional hours. For a fixed quote, list the included tasks and exclusions. Compare the total for the same scope rather than choosing by the headline rate.

Agree on plant names, sizes and quantities before purchase. Request permission to review substitutions. Include a watering handover, responsibility for care between visits and any written replacement terms. For shrub work, ask which plants need selective pruning and which the gardener proposes to shear.

Include hauling in the cleanup plan

Winston-Salem excludes brush cut by contractors or commercial services from city collection. Ask the gardener to include loading, transport and disposal in the quote rather than leaving contractor-cut branches at the curb. The city also excludes stumps and brush mixed with leaves, trash or other materials. [1]

For your own eligible garden waste, the city collects approved 96-gallon yard carts each week. The lid must close. Residents can put garden waste, leaves, shrub clippings, sticks and small branches in the cart; dirt, rocks, stumps and large branches require another arrangement. Confirm the disposal route before a bed excavation or shrub removal. [2]

Schedule soil testing and planting

Ask the gardener to arrange soil sampling before you approve lime, fertilizer or a bed renovation. NCDA&CS says North Carolina residents can receive free soil testing outside peak season. For fall 2026, samples must arrive at the physical Raleigh laboratory by November 30 at 5 p.m.; samples arriving on or after December 1 incur a $5 fee per sample. [3]

For an edible garden, ask for a crop list, spacing and proposed planting dates using NC State Extension's Central North Carolina guidance. Extension identifies spring, summer and fall growing seasons and advises adjusting its suggested dates to the year's weather. Its calendar covers annual vegetables, fruits and herbs; use separate plant-specific advice for ornamental shrubs and flowers. [4]

Use the harvest ranges below to discuss how long you want the gardener to support an edible bed. Extension lists radishes at 20–25 days from seed and carrots at 75–80 days. Ask whether the proposed service includes thinning, watering checks and follow-up care through that period. [4]

Check credentials before chemical treatment

North Carolina requires a pesticide license for commercial applicators applying any type of pesticide for compensation. NCDA&CS identifies Commercial Ground Applicator license 026 for paid non-aerial applications on someone else's property. Pesticide licenses require annual renewal. [5]

For ornamental plants and turf, ask about category L, Ornamental & Turf. It covers pesticide work involving ornamental plants, shade trees and lawns. Ask who will apply the product, request their current credential and confirm that their category fits the work. Request the product name and label instructions for access, pets and any edible plants before approving treatment. [5]

Published seed-to-harvest ranges for selected edible garden crops

Choose the gardening scope that fits your job

Your hiring checklist

1. Photograph each work area and record approximate bed dimensions.
2. Mark plants to retain and agree on removals before work begins.
3. Request matching written scopes with separate material and hauling charges.
4. Clarify hourly crew billing or the exclusions in a fixed quote.
5. Confirm a disposal destination for contractor-cut brush and excavated material.
6. Arrange soil sampling and agree who receives and reviews the results.
7. Check applicator credentials before approving pesticide treatment.
8. Agree on watering, follow-up visits and approval for extra work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my gardener leave cut branches for city pickup?

Include hauling in the job. Winston-Salem excludes brush cut by contractors or commercial services from collection. Eligible homeowner-cut brush follows separate city size, placement and seasonal rules. [1]

Does a gardener need a license to spray my plants?

North Carolina requires commercial applicators to hold a pesticide license when applying any pesticide for compensation. Ask for the current license and the category appropriate to the treatment; category L covers ornamental plants and turf. [5]

Can I still get a free soil test this fall?

For North Carolina residents, NCDA&CS requires fall 2026 samples to reach its physical Raleigh laboratory by November 30 at 5 p.m. Samples arriving on or after December 1 cost $5 each. Allow time for shipping or Extension transport. [3]

What should I include in a gardening quote request?

Include photographs, bed dimensions, desired tasks, plants to keep, access details and your preferred schedule. Ask for labor, materials and hauling as separate items, then clarify watering responsibilities and how you approve additional work.