I WOULD like you to warn readers, through your column 'Reader's Views' about getting garden 'make-overs' (digging etc) by casual callers.

We had two men call at our address, they just dug round the borders, cut down some privets, and offered to bring one dozen rooted conifers in their place. They brought back some 'conifers' which were Leylands, and planted them.

This was last autumn. The Leylands died off in about four weeks, and I found that they did not have roots, but were merely several fronds placed together to look like rooted plants. We had a phone number to ring them, but found the number unavailable, meaning they hadn't paid the phone bill and had been disconnected.

I would not like other people to be treated in this way. It is better to get a reputable gardener than let casual people (probably claiming benefits) arrive and do a bad job.

Mrs B J Beddow

Stapleton Avenue, Heaton I WOULD like you to warn readers, through your column 'Reader's Views' about getting garden 'make-overs', ie digging etc, by casual callers.

We had two men call at our address, they just dug round the borders, cut down some privets, and offered to bring one dozen rooted conifers in their place. They brought back some 'conifers' which were Leylands, and planted them.

This was last autumn. The Leylands died off in about four weeks, and I found that they did not have roots, but were merely several fronds placed together to look like rooted plants. We had a phone number to ring them, but found the number unavailable, meaning they hadn't paid the phone bill and had been disconnected.

I would not like other people to be treated in this way. It is better to get a reputable gardener than let casual people (probably claiming benefits) to do a bad job.

Mrs B J Beddow

Stapleton Avenue, Heaton

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