Is paying gardeners for regular maintenance really seen as an extravagance

[Augustus40]

I have always paid gardeners to maintain my gardens front and back over the years.

The reactions I have had are very puzzling. Why is this deemed a luxury or an extravagance?

I detest gardening get bitten easily get plant allergies hayfever and a bad back.

There is enough to do running a home without killing myself gardening!

I pay £60 a month to 2 young men and they do a great job. It really cheers me up.

It is about the only small luxury I have left these days. I stopped pedicures massages and physio long ago.

Is it so unusual to support a local business in this way. People seem to have a problem with it. Can't you do it they ask! If this is such a rarity then how come gardeners are always fully booked up!

Who are the people that have a problem with it? What reactions are you getting from them?

£60 seems an a bargain to me.

I have a tiny garden and had an amazing ing gardener until he retired 🥲. I loved coming home to a neat garden I had neither the time or inclination to look after . I would do it again with no hesitation.

It’s no different to getting a cleaner. I’d stop listening to others!

It's relative, isn't it.

It's something I can't afford so to me it is an extravagance. However, I don't understand why you would be judged. I hate seeing scruffy gardens that aren't cared for so having a gardener for something you hate doing is a great solution.

Not at all I do exactly the same thing. £30 every two weeks. The tidy, weed, cut the grass blow and leaves/ bits away.
They are a godsend I also get any bigger jobs done by the them and pay separately.

Some women might spend that on their lady gardens. You do you.

I have a problem in even finding such people to maintain the garden. I work away and long hours and struggle to keep on top of it all the time.
Everyone I contact wants £25 to £35 and hour to use a power tool...they'll happily mow grass or trim jesgesbifnit involves a power tool but dont want to keepnontop of dead heading and weeds.

Dont get me wrong...weeding is dull but my garden is maintained so it wouldn't be clearing out of weeds alone,just pulling a few here and there every week.
People in my area calling themselves gardeners are anything but...they're hedge trimmers or lawn mowers.

But in answer to your question...who cares what anyone thinks. I obviously agree with you but jot asnlucky as to find suitable people to help me maintain.

Yeah I know what you mean, I like the house and garden clean and tidy but I haven’t got the capacity to do it all so I pay someone to do the bits I can’t do - ironing, some cleaning (2hrs a fortnight) and cutting the grass, I’d rather forgo other things like a better car or more expensive clothes and keep our home nice for me and my kids but I do sometimes feel judged. Even if I did have time, I don’t think I’d want to cut the grass myself!

Yes many take little interest in their garden. They can lo ok really scruffy. My neighbour does nothing and it always looks a real eyesore!

After my relationship ended I had to take over the garden. Cue a very hard and unsatisfying 8 years, before I found a gardener who has transformed the garden and therefore my life. He is what I needed to be happy. I’d rather pay my gardener than eat in restaurants and cafes. A lot of friends and family just don’t understand that I’m delighted to pay £80 a week! Less in winter of course.

Wow such a high cost but worth it if it makes you happy.

Running a home takes a lot of tim e and energy if you ask me.I

Decluttering springcleaning etc

People pay for cleaners. Surely this is no different.

Lots of people couldn't afford £60 a month, or at least not without skimping on something important. So it might seem extravagant to them for that reason.

The other thing is that for a lot of people gardening is the point of having a garden. Buying a house with a significant garden and then paying a gardener might feel to them a bit like buying a gym subscription and then paying someone else to go and work out there.

That's not how you feel about it, and that's fine, but it does help to explain the diversity of people's reactions.

I did not even tell them the cost. It is only six months of the year or I could not afford it.

I think it's absolutely fine. Like others have mentioned I can't find anyone who will do it for less than £30 an hour. I've developed a bad back and just can't do it anymore . Pulling ivy out of a fence resulted in a lot of expensive treatment. A gardener would have been cheaper.

why tell anyone? It's none of their business. Having a cleaner or gardener is a personal choice.

I have a gardener. I hate gardening and am useless at it so why not?

Yes. Some people do think this stuff is extravagant. Some are rude enought to comment and let their bitterness show.

I don't have a gardener but I do have a cleaner. Which is a source of judgement. It's your money and none of their business. I am learning that even when you're discreet, others are always watching to see how much they think you have.

I think people lack outlook.

I am also utterly crap at gardening. Outside of the health issues.

That’s a bargain! I just paid £150 to get the hedges cut. I do the rest of the garden myself because I like it and it’s not huge….but I can’t do a 12 foot high hedge.

friend has a gardener but it’s a big garden, and she does most of it herself but needs help with some bits.

other friends in their 70s have a huge garden, really need a gardener but won’t pay for one…

I pay for a cleaner once a week, £50, you are just paying for outdoor cleaning. Unless you have a postage stamp sized garden in which case …just get out there and do it yourself!

He’s £20 an hour. It’s a big garden which I’d allowed to be invaded by ivy, nettles, thistles and bindweed, and the lawn was a tragedy. So a lot of what he’s doing is still effectively renovation rather than maintenance in this first year. He’s put up trellises and built compost bins, I’ll get him to fix the shed roof and install a gutter and a second water butt soon, plus espalliering a new fig tree. It turns out there’s a lot to do and I’m loving getting it done properly - paid for by not holidaying this year!

What you soend your diisposable income on is no ones business but yours.
Similarly, wbat rhey spend theirs on is none if your business.

When I was working I had a cleaner and years ago I paid someone to mow the lawn. It's no different to outsourcing other work that you haven't the skill, the time or the inclination to do. It never occurred to me to service my own car for example.

That is a great rate. Here it is £25 assuming you can even find someone. Many gardeners don't bother getting back to you.

I have a handyman too but he is just two hours twice a year.

Easier than coping with a husband lol

I think it’s fine!