Do You Employ a Residential Gardener?

[BristolCavendish]

Curious if any TRFers have gardeners to maintain their residential landscaping. Reason for asking is that while we employ the services of one, I am becoming more and more skeptical of his actual proficiency when it comes to a number of basic gardening-related skills.

For those old enough to remember, there was a time when this profession was predominated by individuals who were highly skilled in all aspects of gardening and landscape maintenance. In addition to trimming lawns, most 'professional' gardeners were also adept at interpreting and carrying out detailed landscaping plans, lawn aeration/renovation/fertilization, the specialized pruning of roses/seasonal trees and perhaps most importantly, offering constructive and insightful suggestions on how to improve and enhance one's landscape in general.

I am beginning to suspect that over the years the actual art of gardening has steadily been replaced by something more along the lines of 'basic landscape maintenance'. Instead of a highly-skilled gardener, we've got one who merely straps on a noisy leaf blower (sending flying debris onto the street and eventually into our neighbor's front yard), trims a few hedges from time to time and pulls some weeds whenever the mood suits him. To get anything else accomplished one has to practically draw a picture and as of recently I've taken over the seasonal pruning of trees and roses, leaving the cuttings for him and his crew to eventually pick up and dispose of.

It's kind of ironic that while modern technology is always advancing, skilled manual labor appears to be on a downward spiral in certain areas. Maybe it's time to consider a rock garden.

[mannyv11]

I guess i am confused by your last sentence. If we look at a lot of of trades when modern technology takes hold the skill required to maintain these aspects of the job are generally lost over time.

For example a millworker used to be able to create beautiful cabinetry by hand and basic tools, ornate fireplace surrounds, handrails, etc. Now with CDC machines the skill required to create those items by hand is no longer required you just program it into the machine and boom beautiful woodwork is created. There are hundred of examples of skills lost to the sands of time due to technology.

Also without anyone around left to properly train people it is difficult to learn the adequate skills. Now a days a plumber can earn much more than a college grad, unfortunately no one wants to get their hands dirty anymore thinking the work is beneath them. This also explains why the costs to perform skilled work continues to rise by very high margins.

[mannyv11]

Oh I guess to answer your questions no I don't employ anyone to do my yard, I do it myself and save myself the 200 bucks a week.

[Knappo 1307]

Yard work, gardening, and maintaining my Koi pond are my therapy. I thoroughly enjoy it and look forward to it.

[swils8610]

I have a landscape company that cuts my lawn and weeds my gardens. Also trims shrubs and bushes.


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[mjclark32]

Had a "landscaper " for all of last year, but all that entailed was him cutting, edging, blowing the yard as needed. He went too fast on the ride on around the tree creating tire burn etc. We had a chat about it. Hired him to do a yard clean up at the end of the fall. Left a lot of leaves in beds under shrubs etc. had a chat about it. Finally had enough and I've been doing it myself. Yard looks pretty good, not sure if it's me or the increased rainfall, but I'll take it.
Also have trugreen hired to spray for weeds, mosquitoes, and aerate. They're ok if you get a good tech.
We hired some local landscapers from a local golf club to do something specialty work and they did an awesome job. Will be outsourcing to them on the more difficult jobs in the future. They like the cash and I like my back not breaking

Long story short, I agree. I'm sure back in the day the local guys were better

[returntorolex]

Most of the home related chores have been 'outsourced' including yard work, domestic cleaning (laundry too), pest control, pruning, weeding/overseeing/fertilizer, gutter cleaning, and pool maintenance. I hire professionals and expect professional results.

I want to spend the precious little time in my day with my wife and kids.

[cda555]

Maybe you should look on yelp for reputable landscape companies? I love yelp.

[encarter13]

I use a lawn company. They cut the grass, weed, edge, etc weekly. They also fertilize and all that other "stuff" once a quarter. I trim all the bushes myself as it is not a service they offer. They do solid work.

[singe89]

mow and blow once a week with some planting and soil a few times a year. Cheap and looks good. They don't tend to sick plants as well as I would like but I can do it with minimal effort or just have them replace it. The house was originally done by some major landscape architect but I'll be redoing it as some point because it requires too much water every month.

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

Oh I guess to answer your questions no I don't employ anyone to do my yard, I do it myself and save myself the 200 bucks a week.

At $800+ per month you've got some expensive gardeners in your area. The guy we've got is barely worth the $400 he receives monthly.

Originally Posted by Knappo 1307

Yard work, gardening, and maintaining my Koi pond are my therapy. I thoroughly enjoy it and look forward to it.

While I don't necessarily enjoy or embark upon various home-related chores as a form of personal therapy, many (or most) of them definitely have to be done by oneself in order to get things right.

Originally Posted by cda555

Maybe you should look on yelp for reputable landscape companies? I love yelp.

Yelp is definitely an excellent reference source for eliminating potentially bad selections. Our current gardener was referred to us by a next door neighbor so now all the guy has to do is send the dead leaves and debris flying back and forth between the two residencies with his leaf blower.

[mannyv11]

Originally Posted by BristolCavendish

At $800+ per month you've got some expensive gardeners in your area. The guy we've got is barely worth the $400 he receives monthly.

While I don't necessarily enjoy or embark upon various home-related chores as a form of personal therapy, many (or most) of them definitely have to be done by oneself in order to get things right.

Yelp is definitely an excellent reference source for eliminating potentially bad selections.

that is just the mowing costs, needless to say takes them a while to mow 3+ acres. So I just do it myself and listen to my headphones while I do it, I find it very relaxing.

[Chewbacca]

no.



(just answered the title due to being a BriCav thread )

[Hollister]

You just can't get the staff these days, what what!

[123Blueface]

Originally Posted by swils8610

I have a landscape company that cuts my lawn and weeds my gardens. Also trims shrubs and bushes.


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Same here.
Cuts lawn weekly, trims hedges, shrubs, etc. once a month

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by singe89

mow and blow once a week with some planting and soil a few times a year. Cheap and looks good. They don't tend to sick plants as well as I would like but I can do it with minimal effort or just have them replace it. The house was originally done by some major landscape architect but I'll be redoing it as some point because it requires too much water every month.

Yes, Same here. Wife has them coming out tomorrow to do some refreshing of the bark chip, plant some new plants, cut back a large bird of paradise, and a few other things... $1,500! I just garden a little here and there. The gardeners do the heavy lifting.

[walds11]

Originally Posted by 123Blueface

Same here.
Cuts lawn weekly, trims hedges, shrubs, etc. once a month

My lawn landscaping company cuts my lawn weeky and trims hedges/shrubs every other month during the season. They also do spring and fall clean-ups. Money well spent and time for me to do other things

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by mannyv11

I guess i am confused by your last sentence. If we look at a lot of of trades when modern technology takes hold the skill required to maintain these aspects of the job are generally lost over time.

For example a millworker used to be able to create beautiful cabinetry by hand and basic tools, ornate fireplace surrounds, handrails, etc. Now with CDC machines the skill required to create those items by hand is no longer required you just program it into the machine and boom beautiful woodwork is created. There are hundred of examples of skills lost to the sands of time due to technology.

Also without anyone around left to properly train people it is difficult to learn the adequate skills. Now a days a plumber can earn much more than a college grad, unfortunately no one wants to get their hands dirty anymore thinking the work is beneath them. This also explains why the costs to perform skilled work continues to rise by very high margins.

This also applies to watch making

[Rebel]

In retirement, I serve as a Methodist Minister not too far from my home. I keep up the yard at the Parsonage. I also keep up my yard at our home not too far a away and a yard at our rent house in the same town we are from. So, no I do not employ a gardener.

I wish I did sometimes!!!!

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by returntorolex

Most of the home related chores have been 'outsourced' including yard work, domestic cleaning (laundry too), pest control, pruning, weeding/overseeing/fertilizer, gutter cleaning, and pool maintenance. I hire professionals and expect professional results.

I want to spend the precious little time in my day with my wife and kids.

Wait. You don't do your own laundry? My hero !

I've given up trimming my palm trees now as they are way to tall and those guys climb them like monkeys and are finished doing all in less then in hour and haul away everything. 3 times a year they get cut.

I do my own pool maintaince and chemicals because I enjoy the backyard and no one cleans it as good as me.

[GB-man]

No I'm too young and too cheap.

[Abdullah71601]

My wife employs me.

[uscmatt99]

We've got a couple guys who mow and edge the lawn weekly, a landscaping crew that mainly does the fall cleanup work, and use Truegreen for lawn treatments. My wife and I take care of weed spraying/pulling. My wife, formerly a city girl, has been replaced by an alien that now loves to move plants around constantly, swap out plants, and change out annuals in a few beds. The tulips were great this year!

DSC05118.jpg by matthewcummings99, on Flickr

Edit: I should add that the main mower is pretty cool, we occasionally have a beer during a break and talk college football. We've known the landscaping crew since we built our house, and they've solved a couple of design issues with drainage that the builders messed up. Lastly, of all things, our Truegreen guy formerly owned and operated the pizza shop we lived directly across from when we were living in an apartment in the city. The recession and slow recovery sucked for the small biz owners around here unfortunately.

[TopNotchChach]

i am the gardener/landscaper. i designed my front yard and back. i only mow the back. pull the weeds and cultivate/trim when needed. i will say im thinking about adding sprinklers which i wont do myself lol.

it is therapeutic i must say.

[locutus49]

Our condo fees pay for gardening and maintenance but you are correct that the old ways of trimming and treating shrubs, etc., are gone.

[sea-dweller]

We do, have utilized the same firm for years.

[Beauregard]

Jesus mows my lawn, adjusts my sprinklers, and blows the driveway. Although a great guy, I wouldn't necessarily call him a gardener.

[steversaurus]

Also in the outsourcing camp. Did it myself for a couple of years before life got in the way. After seeing how reasonable the rates were, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner.

[Tools]

True gardeners are an endangered species any more.

They have been replaced with the pick-up truck load of mowers and leaf blowers who spend about 10 minutes at each residence before they move along.

Not many of us have the yard, or want to pay for, a qualified gardener.

[bdex75]

I do not. As a matter of fact I was out edging all of the sidewalks and drive last night. With a proper gas powered edger. Not a weed wacker like I see the grass cutter guys doing.

You are right Bristol. Those folks still exist but are few and far between and are expensive. I live in a suburban neighborhood. Lots are about 1/2 acre total. 90% of my neighborhood pays $45 a week to get the grass cut and trimmed. I did the math. Paid for my Deere in less than 2 years at that rate. Assuming the high school aged son doesn't crash it into a tree.


I just bought the above mentioned edger because it needed a tune up and a blade. Changed the oil and gas, spark plug and blade for $30 and 30 minutes of my time. Runs like new and cuts like a champ. Guys wife sold $300 edger on a Facebook garage sale site for $40 because they didn't want to pay to get the service done ($150).




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