A Moral Dilemma

Would he do something else other than cut lawns? Weeding, spraying, cutting back?
We have a lovely man who comes to cut ours fortnightly but didn't come in the hot weather last year because he knew it wouldn't be worth it. He is semi-retired, though so not so reliant on the income.

Allsorts

I have my. lawns cut by a lovely man each two weeks. Not cheap but he’s good and reliable. The problem I have is if there is a period of hot weather and the grass hasn't grown, it scalps it when its cut as it just doesn't need it. He's been coming five years, only once did I pluck up courage to say it really doesn't need doing can I miss this time. He didn't like it and was very abrupt with me, he wasn't his jovial self. It’s not easy getting someone good so should I clench my teeth, see grass scalped and pay up. I know he loses money if he cant cut lawns.

I also have a lovely man who comes to cut my hedges every two weeks but when the weather is hot, the hedges do not grow as quickly so I ask him to do something else like weeding, or fixing a fence (he also does diy jobs). He is happy to do these other jobs for me as it means he doesn't lose any money by not cutting my hedges and it also helps me out too.

I don't see this as a moral dilemma, it's a question of common sense and economics.
When your grass does not need to be cut, why on earth should you pay someone to do so? Particularly as you say it causes damage.

You are not responsible for the weather or for this chap's life choices. He made the decision to be self-employed and you have no obligation to finance his choice. What does he do in the autumn & winter when grass isn’t growing and needs no mowing?

I also don't think he's such a “lovely man” if he reacted to your perfectly reasonable request in the way you describe. Is there anything else he could do for you in the garden instead?

Perhaps have a chat with him and explain that your need for his services are entirely weather dependent and agree how many days notice you will give if he is not required?

No I asked him last time and he said he just cut lawns, Im going to risk telling him but i daresay he will say he won't do them anymore. Thank you Castillion for your reply.

My husband is a gardener handyman. He does lawns and landscapes he wouldn’t be bothered if one of his clients said no to one missed week he enjoys his work and is really pleasant.

I'm wondering if you waited until your gardener had arrived when you asked him not to cut the grass? If that was the case, perhaps he was a bit grumpy because he had wasted his time travelling to your property.
There may have been other clients needing his gardening services.
Maybe you should consider contacting him during this hot spell and suggesting he doesn't cut the grass as it has not grown then he has the option to do work elsewhere.
As others say, is there anything else you need doing?
I can understand both sides, you don't want your lawn ruined but if gardening is his main job, he needs a regular, guaranteed income.

If he only cuts grass then he must accept that his services aren’t needed during hot, dry spells just as they’re not needed over the colder months. I wonder if he edges lawns, which he might do when they don’t need mowing? If not, and he expects to do a job that isn’t needed and be paid for it, you may have to look for someone more flexible. There are so many gardening jobs that need to be done during hot, dry spells such as dead heading, weeding and watering.

Surely any gardener worth his salt would realise that grass stops growing during dry spells and doesn’t require cutting.

I agree with those who say he’s hardly ‘lovely’ if he became grumpy with you just because you pointed out what he should have already known.
It sounds to me like he’s prioritising making money, rather than doing what’s best for his customers.

Obviously the chap has to make a living, but in your situation I would make some excuse to let him go.

i'm not sure.
maybe you could pay him a retainer, not to cut the grass on occasions, for a reduced fee.
after all, if you cancel a hairdresser's appt, or a dentist or a counsellor, you still have to pay.
i think you have to pay counsellors if you are away on holiday, as they have blocked out that session for you.

I'm guessing the problem is that no-one wants their lawns scalped during hot spells and, as you've allowed him to do the job in spite of the weather previously, he was relying on the income.

However, as a 'lawn cutter' he must be aware of this fact, so it's wrong of him to expect anyone to agree to it and, as others have pointed out- it's his choice to do this kind of work.

If on the previous occasion you only told him that you didn't want the grass cut at the last minute then, yes, he probably was a bit miffed.

I think it needs to be clarified with him whether he's expecting to be paid even when not needed for work in order to be 'retained'. These matters have to be agreed beforehand.

We have a gardener who does everything except the lawn (my sole horticultural skill). If it is raining he doesn't come, and doesn't charge. What does OP's grasscutter do on a wet day?

Tell him not to cut the grass, (as employer) but pay him anyway; this will only happen a very few times and surely his services and goodwill (as employee) are worth retaining.

eazybee

Tell him not to cut the grass, (as employer) but pay him anyway; this will only happen a very few times and surely his services and goodwill (as employee) are worth retaining.

Perfect solution. He's happy because he's not out of pocket and has some time off. You're happy that he'll continue his mowing in future.

eazybee

Tell him not to cut the grass, (as employer) but pay him anyway; this will only happen a very few times and surely his services and goodwill (as employee) are worth retaining.

I think I'm going to agree with this option too.

I agree. The weather isn't his fault (or yours) and he's worth hanging on to. He'll appreciate you as a good employer.

As someone else said, what does he do if there is a prolonged wet spell, as is often the case nowadays?

Does he come and mow the lawn regardless, with his wellies and raincoat on?

I don’t think I would be keen on paying him if he doesn’t cut the grass though.

It's one of the hazards of this type of work - no job done, no pay. I think that's fair, Allsorts isn't his employer.
If our lawncutter doesn't come for whatever reason, he doesn't charge us and he is flexible with his days if it's pouring with rain/scorching hot.

Perhaps we're just lucky he will do other work as well. He must be a treasure!

I dot use my garden much - its only a case of keeping it looking reasonably tidy. My gardener only comes once a month and usually just cuts lawns and strims in summer. However if I want him to do another job (connected with the garden) he will do it. Obviously I need to give him notice if its something for which he does not carry equipment in his van like cutting down the leylandii. Then he will bring his ladders and "men at work" notices.

Can't he just adjust the cut on the mover so that it doesn't scalp the ground? I'm guessing that he's had a few people cancel because of the weather but he thought you were too nice to cancel!

It is very difficult to kill grass, so if you are generally happy with his work let him be.

It's difficult when you are self-employed and keeping slots free for people who then decide they do not want/need them, at very short notice. I do not charge my clients when they go on holiday, but some counsellors do, and certainly dentists and hairdressers charge people who don't turn up, without 24 hours notice. Surely it must be possible to talk this through - tell him you value him and ask how he suggests you negotiate these times when the grass does not need cutting? He must be able to do something else, surely?

Tell him as you don’t want lawn scorched, but pay him, it is a business and if I cancel anything such as dog sitter, I still pay as my space is saved and had it not been sunny you'd of wanted him to do it.
I often get myself into a pickle about things like this especially if he is good and reliable. Good luck

OP, I might offer an extra £2 a mowing session, to take into account the hot weather missed mowing session?

Does he do other lawn stuff (though not in hot weather) such as feeding,watering a lawn, putting grass seed on bare patches, ( seed best sprinkled over bare patches in Feb or March) edging?

Surely be can raise the mower blades?