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Gardening can become millstone

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    You took the words right out of my mouth @debs64 👍 

    @KT53 s description is nothing like the many hardworking youngsters we know. After all, they’re mostly busy holding down jobs as well as doing their Uni courses … no grants for them. 😢 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    There are alot of pensioners that could pay a gardener a proper wage but prefer not to  that is why they finish up with a hacker who doesn't know a weed from a plant. You get what you pay for. 

    Gardening is profession that since Victorian times has been seen as lowly. When I started out  I could have earned more money as a cleaner. As any gardener knows you are driven by what you do and you also have a special skill.

    Over time I worked for people who in return shared their expertise, a group of them were well known locally for their gardens and one at a national level.  I am proud of what I achieved in my working life and I know I am very lucky to be able to say that.
    Virtually identical to my own experiences as a gardener. 
    In the end I had a waiting list of folk " if you ever decide to leave one of your gardens......."
    Devon.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Hostafan1 Just to add 'if you ever decide to come out of retirement'....... has been another request. I really want to pass on some of the things I have learnt over the years from some real expert gardeners. This forum is just one opportunity.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Just out of curiosity, what is the average hourly rate for a gardener these days?  I might need one soon!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,541
    I've just raised my rate to £17 per hour. Two customers have raised it for me to £20 an hour... I've kept a couple of pensioners that really can't afford more on £15. I'm a plants person not a mow and blow type.
    I'm in Ipswich, hope that helps.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    My mate charges  £20 per hour if he supplies all tools etc.
    If stuff needs to be cleared from site , that's extra as he has to pay £120 a ton to dispose of stuff LEGALLY.
    Devon.
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Hostafan1 said:
    part of the problem is that many of us oldies don't want to pay a gardener a " professional " wage.
    Gardeners are still considered " domestic staff " by many people.

    For many oldies it isn't a case of "don't want to", it's a case of "can't afford to".  I certainly couldn't afford to pay the wage of a professional gardener.
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