Be prepared for quite a few trips to the tip! If your budget can stretch to buying a couple of bags to put the clippings in, you’ll find that very helpful. If not, have you got an old sheet or big curtain tucked away in the rag bag? You could wrap the greenery into that to get it into the car boot. I second the suggestion to keep an eye on Lidl for garden tools. I’ve got quite a selection of secateurs and loppers from there, very good quality and very reasonably priced.
Ebay do a wide range of second hand, cheap garden tools. If you are looking for something specfiic you can save the search and it will send you an email when it comes in. (click 'save search'). The same goes for garden ornaments and pots etc. Look for cheap local items for collection in person.
Remember that loads of good stuff in the wrong place is a PITA. Lots of people will be trying to get rid of gravel or top soil, bricks, wood chip, all sorts of things that might be of use to you. People moving house are often desperate to get rid of garden stuff. Car boots sales, Freecycle, Gumtree and Shpock are your friends.
I might drop a note round to your immediate neighbours apologising for your garden being so unruly and saying that you have no issues with them pruning back any overhanging branches and, if it makes it easier, they can come into your garden to make better inroads.
Then I would add that you’re resolved to sort out your jungle but you’re constrained by a shortage of tools and a shortage of knowledge “so if you see me in the garden, probably struggling, I would be delighted to receive any help you think you could offer.”
I also sympathize. I am an elderly wrinkly with 2 replacement knees, an ankle which has been replaced twice and a hip that is beginning to deteriorate. Arthritis plagues me so I am limited with how long I can work. Old age never comes alone! I have a medium sized garden which in places is very overgrown, I call them my nature areas, the wildlife live there happily undisturbed. I have made a small area near the house my decorative garden area and have fenced off a veg. patch further down where I only grow veg., I know I will eat. I did have a man in once to do some strimming but he ripped through everything with gay abandonment so I haven't tried that again. I just do lots of short sessions, plenty of tea breaks, which is frustrating but is better than nothing. No point in overdoing it and not being able to move for a week. I find a sack trolley very useful for moving bags of compost etc. and a folding chair helps me get down to a lower level. Weed matting is useful for mapping out where paths go, not beautiful but functional. Because my garden is surrounded by unused fields I am resigned to the idea I will never have an immaculate garden, the weed seeds blow in from all sides. The main thing is, do not let it stress you. Do what you can afford and cope with physically and try to enjoy your efforts.
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I second the suggestion to keep an eye on Lidl for garden tools. I’ve got quite a selection of secateurs and loppers from there, very good quality and very reasonably priced.
Then I would add that you’re resolved to sort out your jungle but you’re constrained by a shortage of tools and a shortage of knowledge “so if you see me in the garden, probably struggling, I would be delighted to receive any help you think you could offer.”
I have a medium sized garden which in places is very overgrown, I call them my nature areas, the wildlife live there happily undisturbed. I have made a small area near the house my decorative garden area and have fenced off a veg. patch further down where I only grow veg., I know I will eat.
I did have a man in once to do some strimming but he ripped through everything with gay abandonment so I haven't tried that again. I just do lots of short sessions, plenty of tea breaks, which is frustrating but is better than nothing. No point in overdoing it and not being able to move for a week. I find a sack trolley very useful for moving bags of compost etc. and a folding chair helps me get down to a lower level. Weed matting is useful for mapping out where paths go, not beautiful but functional.
Because my garden is surrounded by unused fields I am resigned to the idea I will never have an immaculate garden, the weed seeds blow in from all sides. The main thing is, do not let it stress you. Do what you can afford and cope with physically and try to enjoy your efforts.