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I was recommended to them by 2 very good seperate clients, for my plant knowledge (which she told me was the case)and I'd believe because I care as well,
As these 2 other gardeners are European I'd presume they are charging very low rates.
Definitely agree with bringing in tree surgeons as that is a specialist area on its own.
If I was agreeing too do her recommended four hours a week it would be costing her more than having just one of us. I think I could afford to loose them as I have a lot of work on, so I will just read and take in any other replies I get and go from there.
Thanks
Providing I need the work, I would take this as a challenge! As has been mentioned, get it clear who does what, then knock spots off the opposition, which doesn't sound too hard! Customers aren't stupid - you'll be given the whole garden in no time............unless you are up against a relative of course!!
I voiced my frustrations about how the garden was not looking it best and it would be easier to have one person managing it all. Happily in the second year, the two separate owners decided to dispense of the gardener's services and kept it in house with me which meant I could manage the whole situation. There are occasions when you need a specialist to work on your patch such as tree surgeons or a lawn care company to aerate the lawn at periodic times (though I do all the lawn care myself).
More expensive and she said don’t do the grass because that’s below you just do the rose pruning and move divide the herbaceous<br/><br/>
After two visits I’d had enough<br/><br/>
The blow go crew strimmed their mess over the herbaceous cutting down delphiniums on the edge and the lawn doctor type scattered feed weed which also went over paving<br/><br/>
I was frustrated and said to the client I can’t work with my standards being damaged by incompetence from others and left<br/><br/>
She still rings years later asking if I’ll return under the same terms<br/><br/>
No thanks it was frustrating first time round<br/><br/>
Another client paid me to mow and scarify her lawns while a retired friend did everything else<br/><br/>
That works fine although his weeding skills are limited at best<br/><br/>
Thirdly this year a client from ten years custom decided to use a futniture restorer friend to do hedge work in July while I had a month off in hospital the work he did was bad enough but then left all the crap on the hedge top or the garden<br/><br/>
Not only was i peed off but the customer asked me to do it all again to my standard<br/><br/>
That made me smile until I found out he offered to pay the guy my rate<br/><br/>
It made my decision to put him up £8 an hour so easy<br/><br/>
He weren’t happy one bit but I said you were happy to give my job away so my high standards are worth more and your rate has now gone up<br/><br/>
<br/><br/>
Either which way the job is offered<br/><br/>
If you feel your at the bottom and under appreciated then prob best bin them<br/><br/>
I bin customers easily<br/><br/>
I’m self employed for job satisfaction before money<br/><br/>
Like Oliver clarkson if I’m faster or more skilled I’d happily cut the hours<br/><br/>
Dossing around on a job is not satisfying and unproductive for everyone
The homeowners had three sets of gardeners working there, the hard landscaping contractor and his guys building and planting a new terrace garden, the father and son mow, blow and go guys looking after the lawns and meadows, also the guy who looks after the borders and beds.
Three sets of guys with different skills and equipment; and no apparent rivalries.
Andy