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Gardener ruined my garden

george-cautygeorge-cauty Posts: 10
in Problem solving
Hi,

I hired a gardener who had lots of really good reviews, good photos of previous work etc. He came over today and I walked him through the garden and explained what I want doing ( Shorten the trees a little, trim back the hedges, de weed, etc ). I then had to go inside to do some work.. I came back outside an hour later and he had cut back everything so much that it looks awful!!! By "shortening the trees a little" I meant maybe cut a couple feet off, he has cut down pretty much all the branches on all my trees so its just a big stump, there are no leaves now (These were originally 30ft+ trees). All the shrubs have been cut so much and very poorly too. I was expecting him to use secateurs to tidy them up a little, but he has chainsawed every plant in the garden. He has cut everything off the rosemary bush so it's basically just a branch which Im pretty sure kills a mature rosemary plant? The garden just looks awful now. My question is.. What do i do? I have cancelled future jobs with him. I haven't paid him for this one yet and really don't think I should pay the agreed amount - what should i do?

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Posts

  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Can you post some photos of the damage ?
    It sounds as though there has been a major breakdown in communication to put it mildly. 
    Did he show you the photos of the work he's previously done, does he have a website or Instagram page? 
    Also, where did you read the reviews of his work ?
    He sounds more like one of the "slash and burn" types, as opposed to a qualified gardener.
    If you can provide a little more information it may help with advice  :)
    I'm sure there are members of the forum who have had similar experiences. 
  • george-cautygeorge-cauty Posts: 10
    I can post some photos tomorrow! I did talk him through it beforehand and we emailed aswell where i said what i wanted done. He has good reviews on Google and Facebook. I'm not sure if he has an instagram, he does have a webite, shall i share it here?

    Definitely seems like the "slash and burn" type. Wasn't expecting him to take a chainsaw to everything. Everything has been cut back with no care. Everything cut to the same size etc regardless of plant.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    No, l wouldn't post his website details (although others may disagree, wait and see what's said in the morning when more members are around ). 
    The photos will help with advice l'm sure :) .
  • WonkyWombleWonkyWomble Posts: 4,541
    There are gardener's that believe everything can be done with a power tool... I'm afraid I don't call those gardener's.... There are plants people and it sounds like maybe in the future you need to specify the type of tool you expect them to use and ask their knowledge on pruning seasons of different species then you may be able to get a better idea of their capabilities. Sorry you've had this experience.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I'm  amazed you didn't hear the machinery and rush out, if all you were expecting was a light trim with secateurs. It's clear that you need to give very detailed instructions and keep a close eye on things until you know you are on the same page. I'm really sympathetic,  but  it sounds like this chap did the work he believed he was engaged for. Many of your things will grow back, thankfully, but a painful lesson for all, here.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    "Shorten the trees a little" - I'm sorry George, but you were asking for trouble, giving such ambiguous instructions and then leaving him to it. But if you're unhappy, try and get him to knock some money off (unless he was already charging a rock-bottom price).
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    I had a large Red Oak that split from a weak "narrow crotch".  A tree surgeon came to quote.  He said he couldn't come immediately but would tie up the split for safety.  I accepted his verbal quote.  After the work, the bill came with an extra £100 added for the tying-up job.  

    I will now always confirm instructions in writing, even if only a quick email.  It shouldn't be necessary, but I have found in business that it often is.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    A neighbour had a similar experience with some wonderful, very old Bramley apple trees. She hired a chap to trim them. He took everything off, including large branches. Leaving a large denuded stump. Heartbreaking. They never really recovered while I lived next door. The trees tried desperately to make new growth, throwing up forests of thin, wispy stems which needed thinning out severely for a good few years before they reached fruiting size again.

    A lot of your plants will recover, maybe even better than before but that is not the point. It sounds as if the workman was not listening to you, just had his idea of what he thought needed doing regardless. 
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    It's a really dodgy area. When I was very ill, recently,  we employed a chap for a couple of hours a week just to support my husband, who was busy looking after me.
    A stroll round the garden with him quickly revealed that he didn't recognise the names of even the most common plants and knew nothing of pruning or weeding. He said his back was too bad to turn the compost. But he did a good job cutting the grass.
    They all call themselves gardeners, but many are nothing of the sort.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Loxley said:
    "Shorten the trees a little" - I'm sorry George, but you were asking for trouble, giving such ambiguous instructions and then leaving him to it. But if you're unhappy, try and get him to knock some money off (unless he was already charging a rock-bottom price).
    If he's a professional, knowledgeable gardener, he should know exactly what he's doing, and be able to work on his own initiative without exact instructions! Customers may be complete beginners, it's part of a professionals job to know exactly how to cut trees and shrubs.
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