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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to insist we restore the gardener's fortnightly visits?

63 replies

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 22:31

Am I being unreasonable - last month my husband reduced how often the gardener comes from once per fortnight to once per month. Now the lawnmower has broken and the garden is getting completely out of control. Is it unreasonable to demand that we get the gardener back once a fortnight?

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 25/06/2026 10:36

If it bothers you that much and is so upsetting for you, pay for it yourself. Jesus wept.

saraclara · 25/06/2026 10:32

JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 10:11

Ah. That makes sense. Sorry Sara. I’d originally put our joint income but then realised you just asked for his income. My mistake entirely.

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Fair enough. Thanks for the clarification (though I didn't ask for his income, maybe another poster did)

MellowZebra · 25/06/2026 10:18

The lawns aren’t that big but I’d be worried about it ending up in the lake or getting in the stables

Mmm.

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 25/06/2026 10:11

saraclara · 25/06/2026 09:31

Your being somewhat disingenuous. I posted before you edited your post where you first said that he makes £550k. I make less than £55k.

Now why did you edit that post?

Edited
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Ah. That makes sense. Sorry Sara. I’d originally put our joint income but then realised you just asked for his income. My mistake entirely.

OP posts:
saraclara · 25/06/2026 09:31

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

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Your being somewhat disingenuous. I posted before you edited your post where you first said that he makes £550k. I make less than £55k.

Now why did you edit that post?

AIBU to insist we restore the gardener's fortnightly visits?
Friendlygingercat · 25/06/2026 00:20

My gardener comes once a month which is plenty.

Ahhhhhhahshs · 25/06/2026 00:07

Lolol

Viviennemary · 25/06/2026 00:05

I dont think the minimum wage is £45k. And not affording a gardener on £200k a year - utter madness. Most people who have gardners are on a fraction of that.

Branster · 25/06/2026 00:02

This must be one of those wind up threads again.
Well done OP!

Jellybean23 · 24/06/2026 23:57

A tidy garden is important to you. Does DH have something better to spend the money on? Do you need to make savings? You were getting a bargain at £15 an hour, The gardener will have no trouble filling your spot at £25 per hour, probably has a waiting list of customers, and even if your husband asks to return to fortnightly, it might be too late.

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:47

Also, it’s not just the lawns. It’s the hedges, conifers etc etc

OP posts:
Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:45

Yetone · 24/06/2026 23:35

Have you considered getting a robot lawnmower?

This is a fair point. I’m hoping we can get the lawnmower repaired and therefore this shouldn’t be necessary but will consider this further if needs be. The lawns aren’t that big but I’d be worried about it ending up in the lake or getting in the stables.
We have a robot hoover and the blasted thing goes off in the night and wakes the dogs!

OP posts:
Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:42

50Balesofgrey · 24/06/2026 23:33

Is that you Lady Chatterley?
Why don't you book and pay for whatever you want?

Wouldn’t that make me just as bad - acting unilaterally! Next…!

OP posts:
Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:41

HeddaGarbled · 24/06/2026 23:37

The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it

Oh, a wind-up. How tiresome.

Excuse me for being facetious but it’s not get legal to get paid than £20k per year for a full time role in the UK. Ok - it might be part time! But even so, there’s no chance you’re then paying for a gardener once a fortnight!!!

OP posts:
HeddaGarbled · 24/06/2026 23:37

The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it

Oh, a wind-up. How tiresome.

Yetone · 24/06/2026 23:35

Have you considered getting a robot lawnmower?

50Balesofgrey · 24/06/2026 23:33

Is that you Lady Chatterley?
Why don't you book and pay for whatever you want?

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:20

saraclara · 24/06/2026 23:14

I'm on considerably less than 10% of that, and on my own, so nothing that coming in. And I still find fortnightly visits from the gardener for eight months of the year, money well spent.

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I can’t see how you can be on less than £20k? The minimum wage is around £45k now isn’t it?

OP posts:
Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:18

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 24/06/2026 23:10

It’s really hard to judge. If your finances are tight then I can see why he doesn’t want to pay £50 a month for something you could keep on top of yourselves / is purely aesthetic. It’s confusing why it’s his decision. Do you not have access to money?

Finances are ok but I am on maternity leave so they are a bit tighter at the moment.
I have access to my own money but my husband has always dealt with the gardener.
He says £100 per month is too much and that he can do it once per month himself. But then our daughter broke the lawnmower and he hasn’t been able to.
Now the garden is getting overgrown and it’s making me very upset.

OP posts:
saraclara · 24/06/2026 23:14

JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:10

He’s on about £200k so he can bloody afford it IMO. He seems to think it’s the principle of the thing! The man’s a lunatic and my hedges are getting out of control!

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I'm on considerably less than 10% of that, and on my own, so nothing that coming in. And I still find fortnightly visits from the gardener for eight months of the year, money well spent.

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:14

MrsEndeavourMorse · 24/06/2026 23:10

My gardener is £20 a time and takes him about 20 minutes. Worth every penny. Plus he takes the rubbish away so no need to pay for garden waste

£1 per minute. Completely reasonable IMO.

OP posts:
MrsEndeavourMorse · 24/06/2026 23:10

My gardener is £20 a time and takes him about 20 minutes. Worth every penny. Plus he takes the rubbish away so no need to pay for garden waste

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:10

converseandjeans · 24/06/2026 23:03

YANBU he is being tight. £15/hr is barely minimum wage & by the time the gardener has factored in travel time he’s barely earning anything. We pay our dog walker £12.75/30mins for an easy walk. Is he the one paying? I can’t see why it’s just his decision. What salary does he earn - would he work for £15/hr?

He’s on about £200k so he can bloody afford it IMO. He seems to think it’s the principle of the thing! The man’s a lunatic and my hedges are getting out of control!

OP posts:
InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 24/06/2026 23:10

It’s really hard to judge. If your finances are tight then I can see why he doesn’t want to pay £50 a month for something you could keep on top of yourselves / is purely aesthetic. It’s confusing why it’s his decision. Do you not have access to money?

Original poster
JanefromSpain · 24/06/2026 23:08

NotAnotherScarf · 24/06/2026 23:04

Oh it does to professional gardeners. The wife hires you. You do a great job . Or the husband tries to work alongside you....either way his nose is out of joint.

I once had from the wife " we didn't know what you did when we were away" what the 30 yards of hedge cut. The weeds that were growing in the foundations of your house and the apple tree pruning weren't a fucking clue

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I appreciate what you do. But sadly my hubby doesn’t see it. Complete ignoramous!

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