Finding it difficult to find people

You have to network.
We found our hedge cutter at the village sausage sizzle.

Ask at any groups you belong too, neighbours, church maybe for recommendations.

I thought that I had found 2 good tradespeople via Next Door then googled them and found both had dodgy backgrounds. Always double check exactly who they are.
I'm thinking of trying Age Concern Handypersons scheme.

You could ask on Nextdoor if anyone has his contact details as you know his name.. I always find that people are helpful on there..

Thanks for all the tips on finding a gardener.

I was actually commenting on how easy it used to be to get in touch with someone when we all had land lines.
And I did try Google and Facebook, but this chap has the same name as a TV personality so I came up with pages and pages of info on him!

I got my lovely gardener from FaceBook I messaged him and he replied within minutes fixing a date.

We have another community site called Next Door, see if you have one in your local area as they will have all sorts of recommendations about local workmen and services

My local online forum has been brilliant for finding recommended tradesmen from roof repairs to washing machine repairs and if they do a bad job there is always the possibility it will be posted on the forum. Couldn't go back to yellow pages.

A proper gardener prunes, plants and weeds fancythat not just grass cutting, so they’re busy longer that six months.

Gardeners are in short supply around here as well.
Someone said a few years ago "there is always demand for a gardner".

I do wonder what they do for the other 6 months of the year though.

parish magazines or local advertising magazines are also a good source of local tradesmen.

There’s Yellow Pages online. I’ve used it for other trades.

I got my gardener from the local NextDoor. My cleaner also.

Not seen a yellow pages for years , remember how big they used to be . Couldn't believe it when my Mum had one the other day . It was tiny , my inlaws got their gardener from a advert in their local post office

do trust a trader have gardeners?
I've just googled 'gardeners in X' X being where I live and it came up with a load
otherwise facebook seems popular

I ve not seen a telephone directory for many many years
Google him as you obviously know his name as you say you can’t find him in your directory you might find him that way or word of mouth or a FB local page 📃

Next Door is another site that has contacts.

If you don't use Facebook, ask a neighbour to do it for you.

Our local Facebook page is very strictly monitored, there is no unpleasantness. Just people wanting window cleaners, plumbers etc, and lots of lost cats.

Could you go to the house where you've seen him working then knock and ask for his number.

When you see one of your neighbour’s lawns being mowed, just walk up to them and ask them if they had time to do yours and what they charge

Where I live we have a local Facebook page. People post a message, eg. wanting a gardener and interested people will reply and you can go from there. As a fellow older person I see where you are coming from but for good or bad, technology is here to stay. You obviously have a computer of some sort so try Facebook.

Have you tried looking him up on Facebook? or just google his name and see what comes up.