Devastated - can't believe my builder did this

I'd also be talking to them because I'd want to know exactly how that conversation went between them and your DH. I reckon it's possible he's said more to them than he's let on.

I'm going to cut to the chase a bit. Please take it as read that you have my sympathy for this destruction of your property. Many of the writers referred to taking action - you must, being upset wont change the situation unfortunately.

The first step is to talk to the builder, their personal situation is unfortunate but irrelevant to the loss that you have suffered. You should explain politely but firmly that the actions taken were not with your permission and that the garden has been damaged by the actions and you have suffered loss as a consequence. You should further state that you are looking for redress in respect of this loss. Have to hand 3 quotes for restoration to a reasonable level and standard commensurate with the original state of the garden before they put their rubbish there. I would recommend that the first course is to suggest to the builder that there is a deduction from the final payment to the amount of the middle quote. This would constitute taking reasonable steps to address the matter away from the small claims court. If the builder is unwilling to accept this, you should make the final payment to him and note that this is under protest, referencing your claim. You do not want a counter claim for non payment and interest charges. You will then need to recover the money in the small claims court, you can do this with or without legal support. Most cases in the small claims court are uncontested so hopefully you will avoid the he said - she said in front of everyone.

By taking action - you can regain some control over this nasty situation.

Don't all tradesmen have relatives in poor health who can be brought up in conversation if there is any hint of a disagreement about the work?

I'm so sorry - & as a Landscape Architect & garden designer I can completely understand your devastation. Hopefully, if your builder is shocked at what his father has done, he will compensate you for at least £1,000 (include labour costs as well as turf, & price for trees/shrubs of the same size. They're expensive!!!). Perhaps you can guilt-trip them into helping you replant/lay turf/etc ... if you instruct them very carefully!!! There will be nurseries where you can buy larger specimen trees & shrubs - not sure where you're located but happy to advise? Better to wait until autumn through to early spring to plant though, but will give you time to have a think about the design & layout? Maybe post some photos (if you can bear to ...) & get some advice? Happy to give some suggestions!

That sounds awful @INFJismyvibe I would be so upset.

Do you have legal cover on home insurance? Might be worth getting them involved.

I expect it’s a miscommunication between builders dad and his labourers. He has said “clear the garden” meaning “take away the rubbish”. But they are used to clearing ground to make way for extensions so interpreted it in that way.

It really is because some builders ( husband included) can’t tell a weed from a plant or shrub. My beautiful wisteria was demolished but luckily us now in full bloom from the stub that was left after husband’s sb contractor tried to grub it out. I think he was probably trying to make some amends for taking so long on your work. By this time next year you will have a beautiful new garden.

I understand your sense of loss and I’m sorry this has happened to you. Some people have no appreciation for nature and don’t see its value.
I think it would make me all the more determined to make the new garden really amazing. A proper sanctuary to retreat to.

Builder is slow?

A year late?

either more exaggerations or understatement of the century

I would be heartbroken too. That’s awful.

Glad to hear the builder was surprised, too. Suggests he’ll be reasonable about this going forward. Hope your new garden will be even nicer than your last… although I realise that plants with sentimental value can’t be replaced. I was livid when I read your post this morning and it’s not even my garden. Slapdash builders wind me up. I’ve calmed down now.

Am with you on feeling absolutely devastated by their actions. My garden is also my sanctuary.
If you haven't paid their final bill, don't for the moment.
Write to them to outline the destruction they have caused and without permission. You will be seeking a quote to have their damage made good (buying in mature,more expensive plants if needs be) and billing them for it/deducting from final bill. I know this will never be the same as having the originals but it moves towards....check what the builders have done with the plants, as they may have used for another job....
There is always an agreement with builders as to who disposes of their rubbish. Presumably the agreement was they would, having stored it in your garden for such a long time. Clearing a garden does not mean removing mature/established plants and trees. Whilst some suggest it's a misunderstanding, it's not, it's builders doing work they have not been requested to do.
Small claims if needs be.

How awful for you. The shrubs will probably recover, but the sentimental value of things that are gone is very high. Part of your conversation with the builder needs to be clarifying exactly what they did and didn't do to the garden to help you plan, eg, what exactly did they dig out, snd what exactly did they cut back? As others have suggested, take your time - plan, maybe join gardening groups on nextdoor if you aren't a member already as these groups do lots of plant swapping and giving away. If you have the money maybe get a garden designer in to talk through your ideas and do you some drawings, which is what I did after our exte sion was built. If you then do the work yourself its not that expensive. Personally I think accessing this sort of professional advice is worth its weight in gold but I know that's not a view universally shared. Good luck talking to the builder. If you find confrontation difficult, try asking questions before you explain how much its a problem.

It sounds like it could be the dad didn't realised what had happened either? Unless he stayed on site all day helping them?

If he got men in to clear the garden and left them to it, it may be that they assumed it ALL needed to go, so just got on with it, it sounds like a real breakdown of communication, SOMEONE assumed, but it's not clear who, but it may not be the builders dad fault entirely, although he should have been at least supervising!

I'd be furious OP and I think the builder should be deducting the cost of repopulating the garden at least, ultimately this cock up is his responsibility to sort out.

Not ok. Give the builder and his dad a bill for all the plants and lawn. I am sure his insurance would cover it . Don’t let them get away with it .

Appalling, so sorry.
Builders can be careless. Nothing like as bad as this but when we extended the kitchen, I noticed that after completion an abutilon (lovely pretty flowers) quite close to the new wall had gone. I didn't say anything about it though.

I don’t believe you have made it up

I think you have simply employed a great deal of hyperbole

Totally possible to do in a day whilst DH was at work.

well in that case you have utterly exaggerated what they have done to the garden.

screenshot of this post nuclear explosion garden?

Poor you - what a horrible suprise. Does sound as though something was missed in translation with the instructions given to the guys doing the work. However - not your fault at all and I would be asking for something towards landscaping and planting as well as the plants themselves. Best of luck with creating your new garden.

And he did not say anything right then? "Put back my trees!" / How dare you destroy my garden? Anything at all?

Edit: I am not trying to question you and you are absolutely right to be devastated. I would be as well. It's just incredibly unfortunate that your DH didn't act then and there...

You are perfectly reasonable to deduct the cost for the new plants. He will have to sort that out with this father (and not you).

OMG OP! Just want to say that I am so sorry, and if this happened to me I would be horrified and would cry for days probably! I don’t even have my own garden at the moment but I hope to have one again and established trees and shrubs are what I really value. Fruit trees especially.

What on earth were they thinking? It’s a huge job to fully clear a garden (or almost) and an unnecessary expense. And they absolutely should have made it clear what they meant before going ahead with something so drastic, especially with the garden full of their junk which is what anyone would have thought they meant.

If you are in the UK i am pretty sure it would need planning permission to do this. Councils now take a dim view of hard surfaces replacing grass or gravel because they don't drain well and it can lead to localised flooding. It is also disastrous for wildlife as birds and insects can no longer feed.

This is absolutely awful. i really feel for you OP. How can you possibly think you m ight be being unreasonable? Of course you are not. This builder has crossed every line and is guilty of criminal damage. If that does not happen (police probably won't be interested) sue the bastard not just for loss of the monetary valued of your plants and trees, but the amenity they gave your garden in terms of beauty and privacy, etc, AND for your emotional distress including loss of your feelings of safety and sanctuary and the sentimental value of some of your garden plants. This is all perfectly valid.

What an utter bastard, don't hold back from letting him know how bad this is and making clear he has to compensate you completely.