Pensioner, 93, gets surprise of life after being quoted £350 for garden tidy up

When a kind heard an elderly woman had been quoted hundreds of a basic job, he decided to take action.

Mike was horrified that the 93-year-old had been asked to fork out £350 for the simple tidy-up. All she really needed was the mowed and some leaves cleared away.

So instead of charging her the extortionate amount, he planned a sweet surprise. He told the pensioner he'd be doing the work for free. The only thing he asked for in return was to film the whole transformation for his Garden Yardz Mowing page.

On the platform, more than 28,000 of Mike's followers tune in to watch his garden transformations. And this one was no exception - as 515,000 people have watched the clip in recent days.

Mike got to work trimming and clearing the lawn, before going over the entire area with a mower. He mowed the lawn into satisfying lines before clearing the fallen debris with a leaf blower - and the results look fabulous.

The gardener captioned the clip: "Thoughts? 93 year old lady quoted £350 for her lawn cut."

More than 6,000 people have liked the clip - and many took to the comments section to leave their comments of support. One said: "We need more people like you."

Another applauded: "Well done fella." A third wrote: "Looks better now." And a fourth added: "Good on you! They were definitely taking advantage of her."

Others were horrified that there are people out there charging elderly customers such steep prices. One said: "93? That little bit of grass? I'd have to do it for free."

Another agreed: "I'd do it for a brew and a chat. People are ruthless!" A third said: "30 minimum - call out charge and that's it."

And a fourth added: "Some heartless people about. I used to do my elderly neighbour's garden every two weeks. Back, front and hedges. Never charged him."

How to avoid getting ripped off by gardeners

Research local gardeners or gardening companies to get a sense of their reputation and services. Look at online reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, or social media platforms, and seek recommendations from neighbours or friends.

Request quotes from at least three different gardeners or landscaping companies to compare prices and services. Be wary of quotes that are too low, as they might cut corners or deliver poor-quality work. On the other hand, overly high quotes might mean an attempt to take advantage of you.

Request references from previous clients. A reputable gardener should be happy to provide this. You can then contact them for further information if needed.

Before starting any work, ensure there is a written agreement detailing what services will be completed, the timeline for completion, and the costs involved.

Avoid paying everything upfront - and then you can fully settle up when satisfied with the work.