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  Roy Robbins July 20, 2010 at 9:11pm

  I answer all calls to my mobile. That said our website, van and all documentation includes our landline number- to avoid our being perceived as pikies- but with a request that contact is only made on my mobile as the home number is unmanned all day. So I would suggest the opposite applies; it would be unprofessional not to answer calls on a mobile
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  Kirsty Blair July 20, 2010 at 9:15pm

  I answer it most of the time, if its not interupting something critical and if its a local number but ignore the sales calls if possible. I try not to do it in front of customers but they all understand I have to run a business too.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening July 20, 2010 at 9:57pm

  I keep my phone on me and I answer if it rings. Any customer I am working for always leaves me to speak, they understand I must answer and they allow me to no problem. I do a good and quick job so they know they are getting good value anyway.
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  Matt July 20, 2010 at 10:03pm

  I live on Dartmoor, what's a phone signal?
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  Claire Brown July 20, 2010 at 10:50pm

  I have all my clients programmed into my phone, if it rings, I check who it is, - if it's a number I don't know, it is likely to be a sales call, - or a new client, in which case I want to take time to call back, - so I don't answer when in gardens unless it's someone I already know. - Heart always sinks if it is the school calling, - but as son is usually pretty healthy, it's usually about gardening club - lol
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  Paul @ Ashgate Garden Care July 20, 2010 at 10:59pm

  I take my phone with me and answer it unless I'm speaking to the client I'm working for. I've never had a problem with this.
  
  Saying that I don't hear it a lot of the time because I've my ear defenders on.
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  Dave Sewell July 21, 2010 at 8:43am

  ...nobodies gonna sack you for it...
  
  Actually, you might be surprised. We picked up a maintenance contract with an elderly lady last year because her previous gardener 'was on the phone all the time'. As it happens I know the previous guy and he's a dedicated grafter. I talked to him about the client and he was baffled - he wasn't taking excessive calls. I think sometimes you need to imagine you're the one in the house looking out at the gardener who's time you're paying for and he's marching around the lawn with a phone clamped to his ear. It's a bit irksome, and the next time you see him doing it, it's more irksome. It certainly made me think long and hard about what impression being on the phone was likely to make. These days If I'm on site for a day it's inevitable that I'm going to get a lot of calls but I try to wander off out of site and be discreet about taking them.