Thanks for replies everyone. Yes I am a begginer to gardening and hiring gardeners, so maybe I didn't give enough detailed instructions to the gardener, but I assumed a proffesional gardener would have his own initiative to do what's best for the garden? I did give a more detailed brief that "Shorten the trees a little", I just didn't have time to type out our entire conversation on the forum. But basically we spoke over email where I briefed him and then walked through the garden for 15 minutes talking it over - he was briefed to tidy the shrubs up, cut some branches from the trees to let some more light into the garden and to de weed, etc.
I initially heard the power tools, check on it and saw they were using them to cut back a particular large bush, so power tools were needed. I then went inside to work for 45 minutes (We have builders renovating inside and due to the nature of my work, I couldn't hear anything happening outside). When I went to check on them they have done all the damage and were tidying up.
All trees, shrubs etc have been cut to the same size, I didn't think it would be my job to tell the gardener that different trees/shrubs need to be cut and treated differently? The garden now looks very dead and bare.
If you post the photos and maybe some of "before" as well if you have any, it may help with identifying any shrubs that have been cut back . If you know what they are it could also help with advice as regards recovery. (Could l just mention that before you post any photos, can you reduce the size slightly. There is a forum glitch that means they come out sideways if this isn't done).
With regard to your question about payment, l would suggest contacting your local Citizens Advice and see what they say,.
@george-cauty Sorry but if this was your gardener's first visit you really should have been out there with him. You will never form a proper relationship with a gardener if you just walk away. You are new to gardening and wanting to learn? This should be your opportunity.
I have never worked for anyone who showed no interest in what I was doing, it's hard work at times and becomes a thankless task when no one cares. There is plenty of work out there for gardener's they need to be treated with the respect and understanding of their profession.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
I have run into the same problem with builders. I don't know much and expect them to know their stuff, and when things go wrong and they have screwed things up I get angry with myself for not sitting on their shoulder or not knowing more. But I don't know about electrics or plastering so can't really "manage" or judge those works. I can say (after the fact) that it's stupid to put an electric socket right under a sink. It's a hard call to know how to manage works with zero knowledge yourself.
I would say that sometimes shrub and tree pruning and shaping can look horrific and over-radical but often it looks worse than it is and plants will have enjoyed the hard prune. For trees you really need someone who knows what they are doing. They are not at all obvious.
Sorry you had a bad experience but I agree you should have stayed out a lot longer to see what he was doing. I volunteer at a gardens and the senior gardener I work with calls them the "mow & blow" brigade. Not really qualified gardeners just people with machines to hack and slash.
Many years ago one of my mates son's was keen to earn some money doing gardening so I asked him and his mate - both very nice lads in their late teens - to do a bit of gardening for me. They came round early in the morning and I explained that a lot of shrubs were overhanging the lawn so I'd like it all cut back so they don't over hang the lawn anymore. I had a slightly anxious day at work. When I returned that evening they'd cut back the LAWN so the shrubs were no longer overhanging it bless!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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I initially heard the power tools, check on it and saw they were using them to cut back a particular large bush, so power tools were needed. I then went inside to work for 45 minutes (We have builders renovating inside and due to the nature of my work, I couldn't hear anything happening outside). When I went to check on them they have done all the damage and were tidying up.
All trees, shrubs etc have been cut to the same size, I didn't think it would be my job to tell the gardener that different trees/shrubs need to be cut and treated differently? The garden now looks very dead and bare.
(Could l just mention that before you post any photos, can you reduce the size slightly. There is a forum glitch that means they come out sideways if this isn't done).
With regard to your question about payment, l would suggest contacting your local Citizens Advice and see what they say,.
When I use my ordinary camera the photos are OK without reducing the size. I think the problem is with phone and tablet photos.
I have never worked for anyone who showed no interest in what I was doing, it's hard work at times and becomes a thankless task when no one cares. There is plenty of work out there for gardener's they need to be treated with the respect and understanding of their profession.
They came round early in the morning and I explained that a lot of shrubs were overhanging the lawn so I'd like it all cut back so they don't over hang the lawn anymore.
I had a slightly anxious day at work.
When I returned that evening they'd cut back the LAWN so the shrubs were no longer overhanging it
bless!
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.