Would it be pretentious to employ a gardener?

Go for it. Its not pretentious, its spending your time doing what you enjoy doing and if paying someone else to do something you are not that interested in, gives you more time to do what you are interested in, then how can it be wrong ?

Just so long as your surname is not Chatterley !

 

I can't answer regarding the wages, however we had a gardener/mowing man at the last house.
He came around every 2 weeks during the growing season & monthly in the cooler weather, we actually got him through the Tech College where I work. He was doing a Cert IV in Horticulture & Greenkeeping. We paid him cash in the hand & he was more than happy with that.
Perhaps a local Horticulture College is a place to start.

 

No it bloody well isn't Poppy! And post like this will just put other folk off getting one and stopping me earning a crust.
Personal recomendation's the best way. Qualifications can mean jack. Believe me there are some well quallified idiots out there.
Keep an eye out for gardeners working over the winter, these guys will be doing the right job at the right time, unless they re feeding lawns.
Go for a month to 6 week trial period. You want someone who'll do the little jobs, not just the mowing and hedge trimming; any idiot can do that. Well or badly for that matter.
Be sat down when you open the quote, it shouldn't be too cheap for a weekly half/ full day.
Terms, I 'd offer a monthly account peronaly, sometimes the weather doesn't play ball and your man needs and should make up for any short fall in work.
If say you ask in february for the grass to be fed and scarified and they say yes, drop em like a stone. A good gardener does the right job at the right time. Be prepared for some arguements about this, think I ve just about educated my boss after 15 years.
Good luck Poppy

 

My Son-in-law is starting a business doing this very thing when he returns from South Afrika. It's what Bill the Doka is for, he did it quite succesfully before leaving for SA.
He priced up individual projects on a job and finish basis, i.e. all in regardless of time.
However regular jobs he priced at £10/hour (for friends) £12.50/hour for 'receipts' and £15/hour awkward jobs\awkward customers\rich gits.

 

concrete it over and paint it green

 

Why should it be pretentious? If you've got a large garden and little time, I'd say go for it.

 

Sell your garden?!?!?!?! Or grass over it and call it a campsite.

 

I don't think so - they're just doing a job. You're creating employment!

Our neighbour (who's away on contract a lot) has a guy in to mow the lawn, etc...they're just just providing a service.

If you do get one, mind, makes sure he refers to you as "My Lord" or even "Massa", "Baaas", etc. They have to know their place . And don't let him rodger the missus in the woodshed...

 

Wealth is more evenly distributed now (it is believe me). Time has become less available than money. Let someone else earn an income doing something they want to do and you get on with something else.
If you feel that uncomfortable about paying someone offer part of your garden up as an allotment for someone to use in return for keeping the rest of it nice and tidy.

 

We've had a gardener for years - I don't like doing it basically. He enjoys the work - mostly does the jobs that Jenny doesn't want to do ( she likes gardening )

 

Do kids still earn money now, or is that against the law I used to have 2 gardening jobs for pensioners when I was 14-16, it paid more than a paper round which I did aswell, but used earn myself £10 a session, which would normally be 2-3 hours.

Child labour or illegal immigrants are the future!

 

No mate it's not pretentious at all. Gardeners do a job, if no one used them they'd be unemployed.

We use a gardener, he does a good job.

I'll get our butler to send you his details if you like?