A decent gardener for my step-dad.
Siberian Khatru
Posts: 19
My 86-year old step-dad lost his wife (my mum) last year. He lives in a bungalow with a really lovely garden, which was my mother's pride and joy.
There has been some discussion recently about him 'downsizing' and moving into a retirement flat. My feeling is that his heart isn't in it. He would love to stay put for another couple of years. The bungalow is fine for him in the sense that everything is downstairs and all the domestic stuff 'works' for him. The problem, ironically, is the garden! He can't look after it. Since my mum died he has employed a gardener to mow the lawn and weed the flowerbeds. He's not very happy with him, though. He could really do with someone who really knows and cares about gardens, who can make suggestions and who is 'good with people'...
Does anyone know of anybody in the south Liverpool area who might fit this description? I would hate my step-dad to feel that the garden is a 'problem' and ultimately the reason he can no longer stay in his home. If the house didn't work for him, fair enough, he would have to move; but not the garden!
I hope you guys can suggest somebody...
Posts
I think the hard bit with finding a good gardener is that there is so many people who to earn a bit of easy money get a mower and go out cutting grass and doing a bit of weeding but they no nothing about plants or gardens.
I think I would put an advert in the Echo and possibly in local shops, explaining that you want gardening knowledge. Many years ago, I knew someone who did that. They got an ancient gentleman who moved very slowly and worked very quietly but grew the best veg they had ever tasted. He wasn't a professional, just a retired man who loved gardening.
I find this so sad, I love my garden, and I can't stand it when I go to friend's houses and they have a gardener yet the beds look a mess.
Locally down here in the South, we have local Facebook groups, where people ask for help. maybe you could see if you have one of those or a local gardening club or gardening FB page, where you might be able to ask for recommendations from people in similar situations.
There is a Facebook page called Keep Gardeners World Growing, which has thousands of passionate gardeners on there https://www.facebook.com/groups/1592404157744118/, maybe you could do a post on there?
People do that type of gardening for love of gardening not for money.
I recently helped a friend tidy her garden and her mother said she was struggling to bend to weed. When the weather improves I'll be going round to help her with her garden, and hope she can share some of her gardening knowledge too. Win win.
I really hope you find someone who can help you.