Can’t leave this soil like this right?

[amaryl]

I inherited a gardener from previous owner. I’ve kept him even though I have reservations because he’s oblivious to weeds. I’ve had a few issues with him cutting down plants without asking and if he plants anything it’s a bit haphazard, but I had a real problem today describing what I wanted.
I have a lot of large rocks left over and wanted them as a border. Described it on two occasions previously. He comes with a ton of soil, covering all the bulbs coming up and then says it doesn’t need a border!
I had to insist that’s what I wanted.
Leaving all this soil like this would just be a mess right?

Is your gardener Makka pakka 😂

I don't understand your gardener left it like that??? First time it rains the soil sill just run off its all kind of wrong.

Even if it was fine I cant believe he insisted you don't need a border. Err.. ok... but you want one?!

Sack him, he's clearly incompetent.

Makka pakka

Yes ffsseriously- run into the gravel!
MummytoCSJH- exactly, I wanted a border
The only reason I can think is that he didn’t want to move the stones, but it was all his suggestion to do something with the area
And the bulbs aren’t going to make their way up that extra foot of soil

I don’t understand what’s with the random placing of the rocks!?

Sack him.

The big stones for the border are stacked up over on the left

Won't the soil just get washed down when it rains?? It looks bizarre

Cheshire- there’s going to be some planting in between those stones, but it it very strange

Umm, you do need the stones. But the bulbs might be ok. Remarkable things, bulbs.

Are you sure he’s a gardner and not just a grass cutter?

Actually, I’m going to take another photo tomorrow of another area where I don’t understand his logic

I think the issue is that he just does the physical stuff, lawn, leaf blowing, cutting. Anything else or anything a bit different just goes wrong!

Yes Tiny, I think that’s it. But I need someone to do it all.

Agree that you need to find another gardener. Just because the previous owner had him, doesnt mean you are any obligation! Go onto the 'next door' website for recommendations.

The bulbs will likely be ok, but he doesn't sound qualified. Plus, he obviously didn't give a toss about what you wanted, didn't give you suggestions or provide any reasoning behind the random rock placement! Maybe a simple diagram might have helped, but even so, get someone professional!

I know, but it’s been 18months now.
He’s a lovely guy and he does the neighbours too

He’s a lovely guy and he does the neighbours too Well, cut down his hours to whatever is required to do the hedge trimming and grass cutting, and find a proper gardener to do the skilled stuff.

There's an awful lot to learn with gardening, it's not just cutting stuff back. You can make a heck of a mess if you don't know what you're doing. Fine if he's just mowing the grass, but if you want technical knowledge you'd be better off finding a replacement gardener.

That "border" is shocking, unless he's planning to return to do more tomorrow? It looks like a currant bun at the moment! Don't worry about the bulbs, they'll make their way out anyway, they're usually quite determined...

If I was physically able I’d love to be a gardener. I’ve managed my last 4 gardens, all done from scratch
Maybe that’s why this is so frustrating, I can’t physically dig, weed or move stones. But if I could it’d be simple

This is the other thing he did. I suggested a border or a rockery and he’s put these edging stones as a rockery

I can kind of see why he'd get confused by your instructions as I think you are both using the word 'border' differently. You mean border as in an edging to the planting bed. He seems to be thinking border as in planting bed. If someone talks about a border in my garden I'm thinking planting beds not edging to planting bed.

Could you draw out what you want? Or show him some photos of similar?

I'm so sorry I just spat out my tea laughing at that last photo. Oh god he's awful! Get rid and get yourself a gardener. He most certainly is not one!

Agree he may be confused about what you mean in regards to borders/edging. Have you explained it fully to him? Still though, those photos do indicate he had no idea. As in why has he put a rockery under a tree at the back, where it wont get any sunlight or, you know, be a feature? And leaving soil like that is just going to create a huge mess. It is possible hes just into hedge trimmings/lawn cutting. If that's the case, like PP have suggested just cut down his hours. Or cite financial reasons as to why you cant keep him on, if you want to be diplomatic. Working for the neighbor's is irrelevant, if he has any professionalism he wont talk about you in any way to them. It's also a business transaction, so nothing personal to him

😂 no offence but it looks like he doesn’t know a damn thing about gardening. Show him a photo off google of what you want, if he doesn’t do it. Sack him, no point paying someone if they can’t do the job.

Ah- I see what you mean but I have explained it multiple times and used the word edge and contain.
But even if he didn’t understand me how can he think that those square blocks built up in that one corner looks ok?