Thank you for your comments as soon as I can find some where else I'm off but I don't want to cut my nose to spite my face I still need to eat and I'm still learning every day god bless
Bulkerb I had a similar problem last year. My main client went to see a show garden in France. She came back and wondered why hers wasn't as good. I asked her to tell me about the garden. She then described a full time gardener and the money spent on the garden by the owners. I politely pointed out the difference in a few days a week and the budget and how it being my first year in the garden I had to learn how the garden worked, what went with what, what was out of place what needed pruning, when, how, and if she wanted what she wanted then it took my time my skill and above all HER patience and trust in me. Previously she had let the garden go after the death of her husband and the previous gardener just followed her instructions resulting in semi organised chaos. Tell them what you're doing, why and when and what for and what the result will be. If necessary point out they know a lot less than you do and that's why they employ you. Take them on a tour and get them to point out what they're not happy with. If what they come up with is either not possible or just blatant ignorance then be frank with them and don't pull your punches. You need to be brutally honest with the clients. Tell them of they're not happy then get another gardener. If they can find one who keeps that as well you obviously do then be prepared to walk away. Either that or increase your days or increase your rate of pay. Much as though it hurts not to be appreciated (I know the feeling only too well), good gardeners are hard to find. Let them get a cowboy in. There are a lot more cowboys about than good gardeners.
By the way, she's now perfectly happy and I can't keep up with the recommendations. I have over 300 plants in a greenhouse that was empty last year, plus more arriving. Don't forget you're in charge of the garden, that's what they employ you for. Rose beds look rubbish at this time of year anyway.
I think we are all agreed you've done a good job Bulkerb and deserve better treatment than you've received.
I would, however, echo Mr J's sentiments and be aware that your employers or their friends may see this thread. It doesn't matter too much if they don't like what you've said (unless they owe you money!) but they may object to having pictures of their garden put on the internet and possibly compromising their security / privacy.
I think it's highly unlikely they will see it but you never know.
Good luck finding another position - good gardeners are in short supply - you should be able to find a job where you are appreciated without too many problems
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
They sound like spoilt rich idiots to me. I think you need to ask them exactly what it is that they expect and to outline in detail what they feel isn't right.
I worked for a client like that when I did private nursing, they made my life an utter misery and ran me ragged doing non nursing jobs and being a general skivvy.
That's such a beautiful garden you have obviously worked very hard, too bad the owners are too ignorant to see that you can't make the sun come out and the roses bloom more profusely, you're not a magician and don't push yourself over the edge trying to please those A-holes as you'll make yourself ill !
Just to finish I have not mentioned where I work my photos show nothing to compromise there security and I have not mentioned the clients name I just wanted to sound off about how I feel at this time after all my hard work
You're absolutely right bulkerb don't sweat it It must be awfully disheartening not to get the recognition you deserve for all your hard work, you've done nowt wrong.
Gardens like that are a world away from mine. Wow. Truly amazing work.
The fact that they expect rose beds to look nice now shows that everything they say has no basis because there's no experience or knowledge behind it. If I criticised the work of a top chef it would be ludicrous, because I'm a rubbish cook.
I once had a client who constantly said , this needs done, that needs done etc etc.
I said to her:
" If you had a limitless sum of money you were prepared to spend on the garden, and I had limitless time to spend on it, all these things would be done. However, neither is the case, so we have to prioiritise and some of it will be undone"
Posts
Thank you for your comments as soon as I can find some where else I'm off but I don't want to cut my nose to spite my face I still need to eat and I'm still learning every day god bless
Bulkerb I had a similar problem last year. My main client went to see a show garden in France. She came back and wondered why hers wasn't as good. I asked her to tell me about the garden. She then described a full time gardener and the money spent on the garden by the owners. I politely pointed out the difference in a few days a week and the budget and how it being my first year in the garden I had to learn how the garden worked, what went with what, what was out of place what needed pruning, when, how, and if she wanted what she wanted then it took my time my skill and above all HER patience and trust in me. Previously she had let the garden go after the death of her husband and the previous gardener just followed her instructions resulting in semi organised chaos. Tell them what you're doing, why and when and what for and what the result will be. If necessary point out they know a lot less than you do and that's why they employ you. Take them on a tour and get them to point out what they're not happy with. If what they come up with is either not possible or just blatant ignorance then be frank with them and don't pull your punches. You need to be brutally honest with the clients. Tell them of they're not happy then get another gardener. If they can find one who keeps that as well you obviously do then be prepared to walk away. Either that or increase your days or increase your rate of pay. Much as though it hurts not to be appreciated (I know the feeling only too well), good gardeners are hard to find. Let them get a cowboy in. There are a lot more cowboys about than good gardeners.
By the way, she's now perfectly happy and I can't keep up with the recommendations. I have over 300 plants in a greenhouse that was empty last year, plus more arriving. Don't forget you're in charge of the garden, that's what they employ you for. Rose beds look rubbish at this time of year anyway.
I think we are all agreed you've done a good job Bulkerb and deserve better treatment than you've received.
I would, however, echo Mr J's sentiments and be aware that your employers or their friends may see this thread. It doesn't matter too much if they don't like what you've said (unless they owe you money!) but they may object to having pictures of their garden put on the internet and possibly compromising their security / privacy.
I think it's highly unlikely they will see it but you never know.
Good luck finding another position - good gardeners are in short supply - you should be able to find a job where you are appreciated without too many problems
They sound like spoilt rich idiots to me. I think you need to ask them exactly what it is that they expect and to outline in detail what they feel isn't right.
I worked for a client like that when I did private nursing, they made my life an utter misery and ran me ragged doing non nursing jobs and being a general skivvy.
Never again.
That's such a beautiful garden you have obviously worked very hard, too bad the owners are too ignorant to see that you can't make the sun come out and the roses bloom more profusely, you're not a magician and don't push yourself over the edge trying to please those A-holes as you'll make yourself ill !
You're absolutely right bulkerb don't sweat it
It must be awfully disheartening not to get the recognition you deserve for all your hard work, you've done nowt wrong.
The fact that they expect rose beds to look nice now shows that everything they say has no basis because there's no experience or knowledge behind it. If I criticised the work of a top chef it would be ludicrous, because I'm a rubbish cook.
Same applies here
I once had a client who constantly said , this needs done, that needs done etc etc.
I said to her:
" If you had a limitless sum of money you were prepared to spend on the garden, and I had limitless time to spend on it, all these things would be done. However, neither is the case, so we have to prioiritise and some of it will be undone"
She got the hint.
Take your obvious talents and move on.