My Garden Progress

Very lovely and serene that garden is! Your hard work and patience has paid off

 

Hi Kevin,

I wonder if there is a supplier here in Britain that may have some in stock. It may be worth your while doing a search on the web.

You're not alone, if something can go wrong for me it will too. Right now though your patience is being tested, so hang on it will all be settled eventually.

Your garden looks lovely and the plants are maturing well. Hopefully that will offset the other issues for you for a while.

 

Hello @Sheal

Thanks for the reply.

I hope your arm is feeling better.

I hate tests, I think my patience is probably being graded as a D- :(

I do not think the supply issue is an issue for me as such since RF Landscaping Supplies whom the Landscaper uses has the products for my job in stock, I think it is the supply of the products required for those jobs prior to mine which is delaying things.

Knowing my luck, when it comes time for the Landscaper to do my job the required materials will be out of stock

The plants are all growing well, even the Verbena Bonariensis which I said in an earlier Post was struggling has spread like crazy, I do not know if I should just let the seedlings grow and cover the bare soil or wait and thin them out, I have never dealt with self seeding plants before, I even have a few Heuchera 'Coral Bells' that have self seeded.

A couple of the Clematis, both Group 3 have leaves that have drooped as if they have been overwatered but the others are fine so I do not know what is happening there.

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hello @CanadianLori

Thanks for the reply and the kind words.

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

I hope you are well if a little fed up at the moment.

Thank you for asking but there's little improvement at the moment even with help from a physiotherapist. This is going to take a lot longer to heal than I thought. With no gardening being done I'm watching nature gradually take over and so frustrating! I've had to hire someone to strim and mow for the time being but it's not as tidy as I would like. Meanwhile, here on GC, I'll continue to type left handed only. I am getting a little faster at that though.

If your landscaper's supplier has your items in stock then I don't see why you have to wait in a queue for the job to be done. It seems to me the other jobs probably need a bigger supply than you and they are making you wait which I think is unfair. You've waited long enough!

I suggest leaving the seedlings for a while to grow on and see how you feel about them at a later point. If you don't like them at that time, then they are easily removed.

I'm sorry, I can't help you with the Clematis as I've never been successful with them.

 

Hello @Sheal

Thanks for the reply.

A little fed up does not really cover it, unfortunately

I am sorry to hear that your arm is not improving, hopefully it will do so sooner rather than later.

Regarding the Landscaper, I actually see things differently, my job is booked in for the first week in August so that is when I am expecting, hoping, for the work to be done, I agree with the need for a queue as without order there is chaos, trust me, I know

I will leave the seedlings for now and if need be I will remove some at a later date, at least the bees and butterflies will enjoy them.

The Clematis are frustrating, the Montana (Group 1) is growing like crazy, the Picotee (Group 2) whilst new to the garden is doing well, the Rouge Cardinal (Group 3) and the Daniel Deronda (Group 3) are both drooping badly so at this point I am wondering if it is an issue with Group 3 Clematis, no idea but that is what I have thus far.

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

The first week in August isn't that far away, so let's hope the landscaper is on schedule.

Perhaps you should ask fellow members here for help with your Clematis.

 

Hello @Sheal

Sorry for the delay in replying, I have not been too good :(

It seems I am now having issues with my chosen Landscaper for the do over :(

He has said that he prefers to be paid in Cash, unfortunately, I am not comfortable with that especially for the amount involved, I prefer to pay by Bank Transfer then I have proof of the payment.

He said that I can pay by BACS if I prefer to but I would have to pay VAT, then later, told me that since I am Disabled I do not pay VAT, I have asked him to confirm that but no confirmation has been forthcoming.

When I have requested his Bank Details, on multiple occasions, he has not supplied them.

I have a Bank Account that takes time to setup Payees and so I need the Bank Details to give me time to setup a Payment Profile for him

Also, he said that he would visit this week to give me a price for laying the Edging Setts in the front garden, he never came so I rang him yesterday and he said he would visit today, guess what, he did not come.

I am now in the process of looking for another Landscaper to give me a Quote for the work.

All fun

Thanks

Kevin

 

Hi Kevin,

I can't believe how unlucky you've been with the patio and sett problems. The payment issue with this landscaper sounds very suspicious and I think you are quite right to look elsewhere for another one to do the job. It's such a shame that you have been let down again.

Do you know anyone that could recommend a landscaper?

 

Hello @Sheal

First things first, I need to figure out how to tell him that I want to cancel the scheduled work.

Unfortunately, family do not have any recommendations and I do not really know anyone.

I have found one Landscaper who has good write ups etc. but they are currently booking work for February and March.

I am waiting on replies from a couple of others but have not heard back yet.

Thanks

Kevin

 

I would suggest you tell him you can't pay him cash and then if he's not prepared to accept your banking facilities, apologise and say you have no choice but to find someone else that will.

Let's hope you find someone that will take on the work.

 

Can you not offer to give the man a certified style cheque? A deposit and then the rest on completion. You were planning on paying tax anyway so he is just trying to avoid the possivility of income tax evasion catching up to him.

Perhaps tell him you don't care how he files his return, you just want the job done properly and a paper trail between you two. A matter of mutual trust. See what he says to that?

Yes, a little dodgy, but no one knows if contractors claim all of their earnings no matter how the money transfers.

All governments act like they are all seeing but contractors don't have the CON in their name for nothing!

 

Hello @CanadianLori

Thanks for the reply.

I do not have the ability to issue a Cheque so that is not an option.

Also, it is VAT I would have to pay if doing a Bank Transfer, not Tax.

I will ring him on Monday and try to cancel the scheduled work.

One of the major things I tend to struggle with is confrontation, I know this is not really confrontation as such but it feels as such.to me.

Thanks

Kevin

 

No, I'm not talking about a personal cheque. I'm talking about a bank draft. Drawn up at your local branch, made out to his name.

Yes, he will add VAT but it takes the responsibility off of you.

Yes, income tax is another animal. But if he doesn't collect VAT/declare the transaction, he can easily slip under the radar of paying wage earning taxes.

Two different things, but that is what he is after.

If you are not comfortable overall, , simply email him with your regrets. These guys are busy. He won't blink an eye

 

Hello @CanadianLori

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately, I have tried Emailing, sending Texts etc. but I never get a reply :(

Email would be the best way, for me, but it seems as though I will have to ring him, not ideal but a must, it seems.

Thanks

Kevin