A Moral Dilemma

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.