The problem is that if someone doesn’t know much about gardening, they probably have no idea how much there is that they don’t know … 🙄
Exactly!
I will never forget my gardener horror story, when I’d hired my neighbour’s (excellent gardener) brother in law to start sorting out my garden. I looked out the front window a while later to see him running a lawn mower back and forth over my roses. 😭
Upside is that so decided to learn about gardening, and it’s been an admittedly long but enjoyable journey.
As a self employed gardener I find that every garden owner gardens in a different fashion and you need to know how They garden before you can tend their garden to their satisfaction... communication is key!
I would say that, in the OP's case, the butchery was not their fault.
As I've said above, for people who don't know about plants, they would expect the gardener to be the expert. I think you would have to know the plants well to communicate exactly how they should be pruned - a hebe, cistus, beech. You would assume a real gardener would know not to cut into old wood of a rosemary or lavender, but a regular home owner might not know that. If a gardener doesn't know then they should say they are only good for mowing.
I would say that, in the OP's case, the butchery was not their fault.
As I've said above, for people who don't know about plants, they would expect the gardener to be the expert. I think you would have to know the plants well to communicate exactly how they should be pruned - a hebe, cistus, beech. You would assume a real gardener would know not to cut into old wood of a rosemary or lavender, but a regular home owner might not know that. If a gardener doesn't know then they should say they are only good for mowing.
I agree but seems I got a dismissive emoji for this thought
There's a lot of discussion on here about 'professional gardeners' but I am not sure that the term is helpful. I speak as someone who spent 37 years teaching in Further Education. I am afraid you do not have to be a competent experienced horticulturalist to teach horticulture. Horticulture training has changed hugely and negatively since the 1980's mostly because funding has been cut to the bone. Be wary who you employ.
As previously stated, if that's an example of the rest of the work, then l think all you can do is contact Citizens Advice. They do have some online advice, but l haven't gone into it in any depth. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
It is due to these cowboys with no knowledge but have power tools that decent gardener's have trouble commanding a worthy wage as we are all lumped into one category.
I wouldn't pay anymore than minimum wage for mowing a lawn but if I wanted somebody that knows which times of year to prune something and where and what with to prune it? That is specialised knowledge that requires paying accordingly.
But then a lot of garden owners know a lot less than they think they do also! I have a 90 year old customer that has been giving away Spanish bluebells to anyone she can find saying they are a very rare plant passed on by her father....I swear she's responsible for the native bluebells decline!!!! But you can't tell her...... Even if you show exactly which episode of gardener's world that explains this!!!
This thread has been giving me nightmares. I’m in need of serious help in the garden, over an acre to deal with, and I’m not as strong as I was. The first people I approached turned out to be slash and burn types, plenty of muscle and machinery on offer, but no garden knowledge. I’m still looking, but it has spurred me on to pull up another few patches of brambles! What we have found helpful in the past for other jobs, like building type works, was to get at least three quotes and ask a lot of questions. First person said one method was essential, the next said the opposite, and the third had a completely different solution. We ended up having to do so much research ourselves to confirm what we wanted done. I’m guessing nowadays, one would struggle to find three lots of people to turn up, let alone quote?
You won't find anyone round here to cut the grass for minimum wage!!! I think you need to talk to a prospective gardener. He should be able to mention other customers, perhaps talk about what he likes to grow at home and discuss the care of your plants. Show him round. If he admires a cosmos and asks you what it is, as ours did, don't hire him for more than grass and hedges. He should ask what you want - will he be starting seeds, potting up, pruning? Is weeding a problem? How does he feel about building a working compost heap. After all, you will be paying him. It's no good having someone who can't do the job.
Posts
I will never forget my gardener horror story, when I’d hired my neighbour’s (excellent gardener) brother in law to start sorting out my garden. I looked out the front window a while later to see him running a lawn mower back and forth over my roses. 😭
Upside is that so decided to learn about gardening, and it’s been an admittedly long but enjoyable journey.
I speak as someone who spent 37 years teaching in Further Education. I am afraid you do not have to be a competent experienced horticulturalist to teach horticulture. Horticulture training has changed hugely and negatively since the 1980's mostly because funding has been cut to the bone. Be wary who you employ.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
I wouldn't pay anymore than minimum wage for mowing a lawn but if I wanted somebody that knows which times of year to prune something and where and what with to prune it? That is specialised knowledge that requires paying accordingly.
But then a lot of garden owners know a lot less than they think they do also!
I have a 90 year old customer that has been giving away Spanish bluebells to anyone she can find saying they are a very rare plant passed on by her father....I swear she's responsible for the native bluebells decline!!!! But you can't tell her...... Even if you show exactly which episode of gardener's world that explains this!!!
What we have found helpful in the past for other jobs, like building type works, was to get at least three quotes and ask a lot of questions. First person said one method was essential, the next said the opposite, and the third had a completely different solution. We ended up having to do so much research ourselves to confirm what we wanted done. I’m guessing nowadays, one would struggle to find three lots of people to turn up, let alone quote?
I think you need to talk to a prospective gardener. He should be able to mention other customers, perhaps talk about what he likes to grow at home and discuss the care of your plants. Show him round. If he admires a cosmos and asks you what it is, as ours did, don't hire him for more than grass and hedges.
He should ask what you want - will he be starting seeds, potting up, pruning? Is weeding a problem? How does he feel about building a working compost heap.
After all, you will be paying him. It's no good having someone who can't do the job.