Feeling like someone didn't charge you ENOUGH money...?

[user104658]

So because I am a little prince, I do not garden. I despise it. I would like to say it's because I can't do it at the moment but it's not - we've been paying to have the garden done ever since we could afford it.

The guy we'd always used retired last year and we got some random company to do it, they were fine last year, this year it was a bit overgrown by the time they came for the first visit and they did a SHOCKING job. Really horrendous. Missed huge overgrown patches behind the shed, didn't put down weedkiller (which was paid for) etc... and got a bit nasty when we complained so they've been yeeted. We didn't get another for a while so it was pretty wild again. We were expecting to pay around £200 for it all to be properly sorted.

...ANYWAY... the new guy we got is here to do it today, doing a brilliant job (much better than the actual gardening company we had last), and he's only charging £85 :think:. He's been working for 1.5hrs already and I'd say there's still a good 2 hours of work to be done.

I feel guilty? Like... I'm exploiting someone or something. Is it weird to tip a gardener? Is it offensive to pay MORE than the quoted price? :worry: help :joker:. I at least want to round up to £100.

[Ammi]

…if there is still a few hours work to do, they’re extraordinarily good value….yeah, I guess if it was me, I would probably tip him a bit extra and ask if it’s ok to recommend him to others as you’re so happy with what he’s done…

[user104658]

…if there is still a few hours work to do, they’re extraordinarily good value….yeah, I guess if it was me, I would probably tip him a bit extra and ask if it’s ok to recommend him to others as you’re so happy with what he’s done…

He's even taking away some junk that we didn't specify as part of the job (there MAY be ... three... dead christmas trees out the back. :umm2: )

[Niamh.]

If you rounded it up to £100 I'm sure he'd be delighted, not insulted!

[Ammi]

He's even taking away some junk that we didn't specify as part of the job (there MAY be ... three... dead christmas trees out the back. :umm2: )

…he’s a keeper…:love:…and you obviously want to keep him because he sounds like such a treasure….I guess that I would let him know how reasonable his pricing is and let him know how pleased you are with the work he’s done and that you’d like him to be more regular ..?..he’s set his own costing and he’s obviously happy with that too so it’s win/win isn’t it….and it’s your decision if you want to tip further…..you’re the perfect gardening couple…:love:…


…lettuce know what you decided to do…

https://media.giphy.com/media/WiXMlla4ZFR8Q/giphy.gif

[Cherie]

yeah round it up, sounds like he may have under estimated tbh

[smudgie]

If he is a one man band, general gardening and not a landscaper then around £20 an hour is about right.

[Beso]

Make it 120 you tight git

[Calderyon]

85 £ is more than enough.

[thesheriff443]

Ts one of those men that sit and watch other men work.

[rusticgal]

He obviously needs the work so he is under pricing himself in order to get it. Give him 100.00 and he will always come back and do a good job. You can also tell him you will recommend him on social media.
Give credit where it’s due….

[Crimson Dynamo]

when he is done suck your teeth and start finding small faults

say "look i cant say im blown away, I can give you 50?"

chances re you will haggle and get it for £65

that will learn the robbing bastard

[Zizu]

We have a few people older types (builder , plumber electrician ) who come and sort little problems and they never charge enough .

We always give them more than they ask for ..

Win , win situation


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[Zizu]

…if there is still a few hours work to do, they’re extraordinarily good value….yeah, I guess if it was me, I would probably tip him a bit extra and ask if it’s ok to recommend him to others as you’re so happy with what he’s done…


Yeah .. I ask them for a few of their business cards as they leave .. to pass on


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[rusticgal]

when he is done suck your teeth and start finding small faults

say "look i cant say im blown away, I can give you 50?"

chances re you will haggle and get it for £65

that will learn the robbing bastard




:laugh:….:nono:

[user104658]

It took nearly 4 hours in the end… it’s not an exaggeration to say that the grass was a foot high and the weeds four feet high in places because of the hot then wet weather and the previous gardener charging for, but then blatantly not doing, weed killer (hence dispute and new gardener) and he did a great job, plus he’ll have had to go to the dump with the trees :joker:. I was going to give £100 but my wife told me to send £120.

I was expecting £150 when he priced it up so basically still a saving vs expectations :shrug:

[Beso]

Your wife is the sensible one in the marriage.

[rusticgal]

Your wife is the sensible one in the marriage.


As in most...:hehe:

[Marsh.]

Get some lovely fake grass.

[Beso]

Get some lovely fake grass.

Marsh now resorting to encouraging the use of spice.:nono:

Ban the troll
:smug:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Get some lovely fake grass.

:nono:

terrible for insects

[Beso]

And LTs practice swing on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

[ThomasC]

when he is done suck your teeth and start finding small faults

say "look i cant say im blown away, I can give you 50?"

chances re you will haggle and get it for £65

that will learn the robbing bastard

Ts one of those men that sit and watch other men work.

:joker:

It took nearly 4 hours in the end… it’s not an exaggeration to say that the grass was a foot high and the weeds four feet high in places because of the hot then wet weather and the previous gardener charging for, but then blatantly not doing, weed killer (hence dispute and new gardener) and he did a great job, plus he’ll have had to go to the dump with the trees :joker:. I was going to give £100 but my wife told me to send £120.

I was expecting £150 when he priced it up so basically still a saving vs expectations :shrug:

I would say over £20.00 an hour is a fair rate for a general gardener. He's not a tree surgeon? Why would anyone pay anymore for a job you could do yourself?

If it's landscape design them yes, you'd expect double or triple.

If he's done a good job then I'd be inclined to round up to £100... I would say his costing is spot on.

Get some lovely fake grass.

No offence to you or anyone else who has this, but fake grass is not classy.

[Cherie]

I think he got it spot on as Smudgie said, 20.00 an hour is the going rate for a non landscape gardener, he gave himself an extra fiver and was probably expecting it to be rounded up so its a pretty decent days pay for just over half a days work? cash in hand as well so...

[Cherie]

:nono:

terrible for insects

yes not a fan of fake grass either, I know someone who has it but it still has to be washed and the leaves swept off it so its not exactly no maintenance, and you can't grow wild flowers in it :hmph:

[user104658]

Fake grass is awful you might as well stick an old carpet across the garden. We’re supporting biodiversity!

In all seriousness though I think there are like 5 different “species” of grass in my garden, it grows at totally different rates, and then there was a big patch that the dog had burned away with piss that I raked out and put “dog repair” seed on (my one but of gardening this year) and it worked great EXCEPT THAT the grass that grew there is a really lush, deep, healthy green and the rest of the grass - after all this horrible sunshine - is a totally different colour of light green :joker:.

Might just chuck what’s left of the seed around all over the place and see what happens…

[Ammi]

…is it a big garden, would it be feasible to replace the grass with harder landscaping…/gravel/pavers etc….a low maintenance garden…?…do the girls use the garden a lot, TS…?…

[Cherie]

Fake grass is awful you might as well stick an old carpet across the garden. We’re supporting biodiversity!

In all seriousness though I think there are like 5 different “species” of grass in my garden, it grows at totally different rates, and then there was a big patch that the dog had burned away with piss that I raked out and put “dog repair” seed on (my one but of gardening this year) and it worked great EXCEPT THAT the grass that grew there is a really lush, deep, healthy green and the rest of the grass - after all this horrible sunshine - is a totally different colour of light green :joker:.

Might just chuck what’s left of the seed around all over the place and see what happens…

throw a few bags of wildflower seeds on there as well, at least when it grows it will be pretty and good for the bees

[Marsh.]

No offence to you or anyone else who has this, but fake grass is not classy.

Well, I don't have it so knock yourself out getting judgemental over fake turf. :joker:

[Zizu]

yes not a fan of fake grass either, I know someone who has it but it still has to be washed and the leaves swept off it so its not exactly no maintenance, and you can't grow wild flowers in it :hmph:


There’s a ‘fake’ garden near us and the only time it looks ok is when it HAS leaves on it .
As soon as they clear them off with a leaf sucker if looks ridiculous again .


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[AnnieK]

I had fake grass in my old house. Not gonna lie with a football mad kid, it was far easier...less mud and he could play out any time.

My garden now is patchy and looks awful where he's worn the grass away and I am going to have to re-seed the whole lot.

[user104658]

…is it a big garden, would it be feasible to replace the grass with harder landscaping…/gravel/pavers etc….a low maintenance garden…?…do the girls use the garden a lot, TS…?…


We’re on a corner so there’s a big garden to the side as well as front and back. Still renting though so won’t be getting anything major done! If we owned this house we’d probably be looking to extend to the side and probably a nice big conservatory at the back as well, and extend the driveway for two cars. Then probably pave the rest of the front and just have grass at the back. I still wouldn’t want to mow it myself though :joker:.

Kids don’t really use the garden much these days, there’s a play park (and wooded area/cycle track) literally right across the road and we tend to go “properly out” a lot (forest walks, the beach etc.)

Though not at the moment obviously :bawling:

[Ammi]

We’re on a corner so there’s a big garden to the side as well as front and back. Still renting though so won’t be getting anything major done! If we owned this house we’d probably be looking to extend to the side and probably a nice big conservatory at the back as well, and extend the driveway for two cars. Then probably pave the rest of the front and just have grass at the back. I still wouldn’t want to mow it myself though :joker:.

Kids don’t really use the garden much these days, there’s a play park (and wooded area/cycle track) literally right across the road and we tend to go “properly out” a lot (forest walks, the beach etc.)

Though not at the moment obviously :bawling:


…yeah, it is obviously more restricted with renting, I know …what I was thinking, to reduce the grass area you have to maintain as well is an outdoor/indoor/shed/hut thing etc area for them and their friends …a TS young lady hangout space where they’ll feel their own independence and privacy as they’re getting older etc…while they’re still there right there in front of you and …a win/win/win thing…they get a their own hangout and friend zone in their non parent time/you get to know they’re safe in their non parent time… and a bit less garden maintenance…

[Swan]

Did you pay him cash though? Like was it an agreed upon deal for cash before he started?