Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

New gardeners next door

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in The potting shed
We have new neighbours next door. We don't see them much and are only at the nodding stage. ( This is London after all!)
They have started to do up their garden but are making basic but not catastrophic errors. Things like pruning weeds and grass in overgrown beds to ground level.
Should I 
In London. Keen but lazy.

New gardeners next door 28 votes

Mind my own business
53%
FairygirlSinging GardenerLoxleyEmerionShepsSkandiTulip18coccinellaedhelkaTheVanguardfebruarysgirldidywTracyPEmptyheadtimerossdriscoll13 15 votes
Poke my head over the fence and give them some unsolicited advice
0%
Other
46%
AuntyRachCebeBusy-LizzieTopbirdKT53madpenguinNanny BeachJennyJcc87ErgatesBluejaywayrowlandscastle444NewnorthernIrishgardener 13 votes
«13

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Other
    Maybe strike up a conversation and then give advice if they seem interested. Maybe they don't want to plant up the beds and by cutting it all short the grass will most likely dominate in time.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 9,016
    Other
    Until you are on actual speaking terms with them, not just the odd 'Hello', I would advise keeping your opinions to yourself.  If they see you have a nice garden and start asking for advice, that's a different matter.  They may have cut the weeds down simply to stop them seeding and have longer term plans.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    That's my inclination too. I don't want to be that nosey old bat next door.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    Other
    Definitely try to make positive comments in early conversation, and wait to see if they ask for advice. They may be attempting to create a wildlife garden.

    I would avoid being critical, in any capacity, so early - I'm speaking from experience!! Mind you, my neighbours at the time planted 50 leylandii trees in a 90ft long garden, and only 15ft wide. They planted them 6inches from the fence.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I'd say hi, introduce myself, and then start talking about something like what their plans are for the garden, as you've noticed them making a start.. that way, you're being friendly not pushy, and you can guage whether they want help or advice. You can just leave it open by saying if they need any help, to give you a shout. 
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    That would certainly be worth mentioning @rowlandscastle444😳
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Mind my own business
    I say nothing unless people ask. 
    If they ask, I'm happy to help or offer plants, assistance etc.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Mind my own business
    Agree with @Fairygirl with any luck they'll join the forum 🙂
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    On the other hand.. they might have a couple of goat willow saplings or something near the fence line or shared sewage pipes, and they might like them, and let them grow.. I'd be glad of some friendly advice if I was guessing,  they might never even have had a garden before. 😊
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742

    I think I'd wait a while until maybe you are both out in the garden at the same time and you could hopefully start a conversation along "gardening" lines.  Rather than directly pointing out any errors ( as you say they are not catastrophic ), you could ask what they plan to do/grow, say if they want any advice to just ask, even mention the Forum if they seem interested, if they want any seeds/plants you have spare, again to just ask.

    New neighbours here last year but it was pretty obvious from the word go that they were gardeners.  They had inherited a very tidy ( but boring) garden and also a GH so I went round with some of my excess Basil plants which they accepted with alacrity. 
    Good luck and hope they take your approach in the right spirit  :)
Sign In or Register to comment.