Hiring a gardener should make life easier, not create a string of awkward follow-up calls, patchy results, or a lawn that looks worse by Friday than it did on Monday.

When a storm rolls through Finsbury and leaves your garden bent, waterlogged, or blocked with broken branches, the mess can feel bigger than the space itself.

If you live in a terrace, a flat with a balcony, or a compact courtyard near Finsbury Park, you already know the challenge: every square metre has to earn its keep.

Office courtyards in Finsbury Square have a funny little job to do.