melonfool wrote:You should not have to manage your gardener, you are not a line manager, you are a client. It is not your fault at all.
Mel
When I said a failure of management I was talking a little tongue in cheek and thinking more in terms of project management rather than line management.
I fully agree that you should not need to act as a line manager with a professional gardener (or any other professional employed to do a job for you) but unless a clear set of expectations are in place then you are likely to be disappointed with the outcome and to be fair this young man is not a professional gardener.
Trying to save you time and effort in the long term with this young man I'd suggest that a much tighter set of expectations and rules need to be put in place and enforced.
My own son has just turned 17 and is looking for a part time job, there is little around that is any more that £7 per hour for his age and much that is around £5. If he took on a job then I would expect him to turn up when expected, on time and to do a good job while there, I'd also hope that he could show some initiative once he had settled in and not need to be told exactly what to do all the time. He is looking to help out the green keeper at the local golf club...£5 per hour, 5am starts in the summer and hard graft raking out bunkers and preparing greens!
I'd tend to agree that this young man is not really what you need but also that you do not need the services of a full on professional gardener, so I think talk of £30 per hour is not really relevant here.
Good luck with sorting out your garden, I hope either he gets a lot better or you find someone else.
John