What's your opinion on my gardener....?

[AxolotlLove]

So I have someone who comes irregularly to do some work in the garden. (It's large and overgrown, so I just need a bit of help managing it).

He mows at the front and then does other gardening work, but the last couple of times I've not really been around while he's here and I've been less than impressed with what he's done (ir at least ehat I can actually see).

He worked for 3 hours last week, and I was unfortunately out for the whole time. I came back and all I could really see was that the lawn had been cut.

I'm interested in other people's opinion on the conversation and where I should go from here. I can't really afford to just throw money around and I was really hoping he was a good, inexpensive gardener who would be able to assist. But I have a suspcion that he's been taking advantage.

I'd be interested in what others think 😊

First messges

Second set

Last set

He charges £45 for 3 hours? That's very cheap. Does he have his own tools, mower etc? Sounds like he doesn't know very much about gardening.

Also 'good' and 'inexpensive' cancel each other out. A decent professional gardener will have agreed with you what they will achieve in your garden and set out some t&C's. 'I cut some branches'....your :gardener' hasn't a clue.

Just pay the £45 and don't have him back.
Saying you'll spend time with him next time he comes is rude. He might be useless but your messages aren't great either.

You get what you pay for... But it's a bit weird trying to sort it out with little PA messages. If he's all you can afford, you need to meet him and discuss what he's going to do and make sure you are both in agreement. Maybe every time he comes round until you are both on a surer footing.

Yes your messages are a mixture of challenging and chatty. Pay and ask not to come back.

I have someone who works hard but sometimes cant tell where he’s been when I’ve been out but no doubts he’s a genuinely hard worker. I think some jobs take longer than I expect but saying you want to work alongside him next time is a brilliant solution. You can see how energetic and expert he is or not and direct him to the jobs where he will have most impact.

Also if you have huge areas to weed it consumes a lot of time so you could strim an area and cover in cardboard to shit out light while you deal with an achievable section and get it shipshape.

(We pay £17 per hour.)

Oh your messages are Not Good. Quite condescending really. Just pay and cancel him.

I think that if I received a message like yours, I'd be telling you to cut your own grass and do your own weeding

You are paying just about minimum wage after holiday pay has been added on- with no sick pay or pension

You sound very Lady Muck

Just pay the gardener and stop being such a pompous tit.

I think your messages are incredibly rude, especially your comment about working alongside your gardener, and if I was him, there's no way I would come back.

Pay him and find someone else. I don't think he can work for you as regardless of what he has or hasn't done your messages are rude.

Its wrong not to pay him though.

Pay him and just do it yourself if you've got time to help him.

I don’t have a gardener any more, but when I did, we walked along together through the garden and I explained what I wanted done and he gave me the cost.
I think back in 2005 it was $125US and if I was unhappy, I went outside and pointed it out.
I understand you weren’t home, but texting is a very poor form of communication for such a visual thing like a garden.
Perhaps you need to pay more or need to find a more suitable gardener.

I didn’t like your messages. Please pay him and do the rest yourself

I hope you have paid him.

You are completely ignoring his request to be paid.

Just give him his money that you've withheld for a week now and I doubt you will see him again anyway.

You sound like a nightmare

Pay the gardener ffs!!!

I have just googled how much a gardener is and it's coming up with about £30 an hour depending where you live so £45 for 3 hours work is cheap.

Jesus wept. Lazy fucker in ‘I don’t know how the work gets done’ scandal. Get off your backside and weed and mow your own garden, then you’ll know where 3 hours goes.

I agree with everyone else. I think you need to pay him & then don’t have him back if you’re not happy. It sounds like English isn’t his first language from his messages? It’s tough being self employed & at the very least he mowed the lawn which you said was large. In London our gardener was £35 an hour but on another thread the national average seemed to be around £25. In your messages you sound quite intense & controlling but also like you want to be best friends.

I would pay £45 just to have my 40ft garden lawn cut, I hate doing it. Pay him, your messages are rude.

TBH, after this I don't expect he'll come back to you anyway.

As others say, £45 for 3 hours is not a lot for someone working alone.