Question Author
I have just sent the following email:
"Dear (Gardener's Name)
It is with regret that (husband's name) and I have decided not to continue having our garden maintained by you.
I think we have acted fairly to you, increasing your hourly rate by 33% and paying holiday pay, when requested and without argument.
However, there have been occasions when we have wondered whether you were putting in 4 hours a week. Sometimes, (husband's name) would work from home in order to talk to you about future plans for the garden. You were never there before he had to leave and you were not there when I returned from work, less than four hours later.
Once, we even suspected that you had been working on your car in our driveway. Not that we would have minded had you sought permission.
I have always defended you under the circumstances. However, last Thursday I was awaiting your arrival and as far as I am aware, you did not arrive before 1pm. I watched you leave at 4:10pm as I had come to find you to ask you a question, and I saw you were getting into a car.
I feel let down and deceived by you and under the circumstances cannot continue to use your services.
I hope that you will learn from these mistakes."