Just to clarify, we took him around the garden for around 20 minutes explaining what we wanted doing.. We asked him to start in the back garden but all he did was the one side of the front garden. It is unfortunate we could not be at home but naively trusted him as he only lives around the corner and earns his living as a gardener!
We really didn't expect him to weed with a chainsaw!
The side of the garden he "weeded" is about 20 foot long and has been there for 30 odd years and is well established with bushes and shrubs. He has left the rest of it untouched apart from some minor trimming which we are happy with.
What we find most frustrating is that when we got him to come and explain why he had chooped everthing down in front of the greenhouse he just kept saying "it will grow back" .If he had said that he thought that was what we wanted or that the trees etc were diseased it would have been acceptable (maybe).
We threatened him with legal action and he looked visibly shaken and asked us what we wanted him to do to avoid legal action. We have told him we want the area reinstating with a mature tree etc. He is due to come back tomorrow with his proposal.
Unfortunately our neighbours have been away all weekend so we haven't been able to talk to them yet.
I have done gardening for people and I realised that everyone has different ideas about tidying a garden. (rather like personal hygene, everyone has their own views on this and everyone thinks that they are correct!) I like to do fairly harsh cutting back about once a year, cutting to 6" below where I want it to be on most things. I have been told by customers not to cut a giant overgrown privet hedge that was annoying the neighbours as it was in flower. Hey Ho.
I have done gardening for people and I realised that everyone has different ideas about tidying a garden. (rather like personal hygene, everyone has their own views on this and everyone thinks that they are correct!) I like to do fairly harsh cutting back about once a year, cutting to 6" below where I want it to be on most things. I have been told by customers not to cut a giant overgrown privet hedge that was annoying the neighbours as it was in flower. Hey Ho.
Yes but, I imagine you don't adopt a "scorched earth" policy
You can just see the remains of the lilac tree to the left of the shed, the holly bush was in the middle and the hedge was all along the wall! This angle doesn't show it as bad as it really is. Next doors greenhouse is obscured in this shot by the conifer.
Even more weird is, the gardener gives no explanation for his action and my neighbours say they didn't ask him to do it. Strangely I believe them, mind I believed the gardener was only going to weed!
Having read Chyperie's responses on this and viewing the picture it would appear that the greenhouse now gets a lot more sun than it did before-the conspiracy theory with the neighbour would now appear to hold some water
As for the whether he returns with an idea how to put things right is another question and you will struggle to get any replacement to get established in that area now.
How did you hear of the guy and have you seen his work before?
We live in a small village and most people we asked about gardeners mentioned him. In hindsight, they mentioned him not necessarily recommended him and again in hindsight all of them are maintaining their own gardens.
Lesson learnt, the hard way.
Still nobody has died or been injured
Just watching "Death on the wards" on Channel 4, puts everything into perspective
For what it is worth, I disagree with those who say that there is nothing you can do. It seems to me that his concentration on that area had to do with the greenhouse; may have thought he was doing his friends a favour. Even if it is only a bluff, I think you should stick to your guns and get him to put up some fencing, if possible at his own expense. It isn't so much about the the money as about establishing that you will not accept being treated in that way. If he won't do it, you haven't lost anything. You don't have to be nasty - just firm.
I wonder if you already have a gut feeling about what to do and just need to follow it.
Anyway, as Bunny says, life is too short to let yourself be too upset. I really hope you get a satisfactory outcome and lots of enjoyment from your garden for a long time to come.
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Many thanks for the useful replies.
Just to clarify, we took him around the garden for around 20 minutes explaining what we wanted doing.. We asked him to start in the back garden but all he did was the one side of the front garden. It is unfortunate we could not be at home but naively trusted him as he only lives around the corner and earns his living as a gardener!
We really didn't expect him to weed with a chainsaw!
The side of the garden he "weeded" is about 20 foot long and has been there for 30 odd years and is well established with bushes and shrubs. He has left the rest of it untouched apart from some minor trimming which we are happy with.
What we find most frustrating is that when we got him to come and explain why he had chooped everthing down in front of the greenhouse he just kept saying "it will grow back" .If he had said that he thought that was what we wanted or that the trees etc were diseased it would have been acceptable (maybe).
We threatened him with legal action and he looked visibly shaken and asked us what we wanted him to do to avoid legal action. We have told him we want the area reinstating with a mature tree etc. He is due to come back tomorrow with his proposal.
Unfortunately our neighbours have been away all weekend so we haven't been able to talk to them yet.
I have done gardening for people and I realised that everyone has different ideas about tidying a garden. (rather like personal hygene, everyone has their own views on this and everyone thinks that they are correct!) I like to do fairly harsh cutting back about once a year, cutting to 6" below where I want it to be on most things. I have been told by customers not to cut a giant overgrown privet hedge that was annoying the neighbours as it was in flower. Hey Ho.
Yes but, I imagine you don't adopt a "scorched earth" policy
You can just see the remains of the lilac tree to the left of the shed, the holly bush was in the middle and the hedge was all along the wall! This angle doesn't show it as bad as it really is. Next doors greenhouse is obscured in this shot by the conifer.
Even more weird is, the gardener gives no explanation for his action and my neighbours say they didn't ask him to do it. Strangely I believe them, mind I believed the gardener was only going to weed!
Having read Chyperie's responses on this and viewing the picture it would appear that the greenhouse now gets a lot more sun than it did before-the conspiracy theory with the neighbour would now appear to hold some water
As for the whether he returns with an idea how to put things right is another question and you will struggle to get any replacement to get established in that area now.
We live in a small village and most people we asked about gardeners mentioned him. In hindsight, they mentioned him not necessarily recommended him and again in hindsight all of them are maintaining their own gardens.
Lesson learnt, the hard way.
Still nobody has died or been injured
Just watching "Death on the wards" on Channel 4, puts everything into perspective
Keep your chin up, like you say no one was hurt. I'm sure with a selection of fresh new plants it will look fab this year.
For what it is worth, I disagree with those who say that there is nothing you can do.
It seems to me that his concentration on that area had to do with the greenhouse; may have thought he was doing his friends a favour. Even if it is only a bluff, I think you should stick to your guns and get him to put up some fencing, if possible at his own expense. It isn't so much about the the money as about establishing that you will not accept being treated in that way. If he won't do it, you haven't lost anything. You don't have to be nasty - just firm.
I wonder if you already have a gut feeling about what to do and just need to follow it.
Anyway, as Bunny says, life is too short to let yourself be too upset. I really hope you get a satisfactory outcome and lots of enjoyment from your garden for a long time to come.