On 24/03/2014 18:34, Rod wrote:
On Saturday, March 22, 2014 10:28:54 PM UTC, Spider wrote:
Totally brainless, but utterly believable. No wonder gardening is not a

respected profession.

--

Spider.

On high ground in SE London

gardening on heavy clay

No it's because gardening is not a respected profession "Anybody can do it"
So we'll keep seeing stuff like the heartbreaking example on Bob's site and gardeners will keep being paid peanuts and little respect.

Glad I've got that off my chest

Rod



I think we've just learned that anybody *can't* do it. What anybody
*can* do is ignorantly snip off a length of plant with secateurs.
Really understanding *why* ones taking out that particular bit of plant
is what makes a good gardener. I'm reasonably good at pruning but, when
faced with a plant I'm not familiar with, I always stop and ask myself:
"Why am I cutting out this branch? Does it flower on this year's wood or
older wood?" It's that thinking and learning process that makes the
difference.

Pay should follow know-how and experience, but it rarely does. For a
country apparently so hungry for the next generation of professional
gardeners, we seem hopelessly blinkered to the solution. A good scale of
pay and some much needed respect would make all the difference, I agree.
Alas, when a householder wants a 'gardener', "how much" is invariably
asked before "how good". It's not hard to see how respect goes down the
drain.

I have a good friend who works as a jobbing gardener. She's very keen
but far from confident. To resolve this, she is going to apply for an
on-line RHS foundation course (or simialr) so that she can learn the job
properly and have a piece of paper to show for it. Hopefully, then,
she'll be able to earn a decent wage.
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay