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I don’t like gardening any more - any advice?

EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
in The potting shed

I have loved gardening for 30 years or more, but this year I seem to have fallen completely out of love with it. I know that it used to make me feel great, no idea why it doesn’t any more. 

The symptoms:

1. I haven’t watched a single episode of Gardeners World this year, or watched any gardening YouTube .

2. I only come on to this forum for the Potting Shed discussions.

3. The only gardening that I’ve done has been guilty/emergency weeding/pruning when things have got completely out of hand. A joyless task, which isn’t helping the situation. 

I’m not depressed or physically incapable - still enjoying life, reading, fell-walking etc. One factor is that we have a big garden & veg plot, which needs a lot of work to keep it ticking over. This used to be a good thing. 

Does this ever happen to you? Do you just make yourself get out there until it goes away? Any advice gratefully received, because I want to get back to enjoying it. 

Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I would downsize your big garden. Decide on a patch near the house and allow nature to take care of the rest. 
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • AstroAstro Posts: 433
    I suppose when it becomes a burden or routine the joy may be sucked out of it, what was once novel isn't so much and a new incentive is required.Usually a new project or a new focus can help get out of the rut, perhaps even a break from gardening. 

    I haven't really watched much Gardeners World over the last couple of years either, I tend to watch YouTube gardeners.
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    We moved here away from our big garden because it was in danger of destroying my interest in gardening. Not easy to rekindle enthusiasm with anything. Agree with B3. Just do the most important bits and let the rest go hang.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Can you afford / find a gardener to take over for you, at least for a while? You might be able to just enjoy the garden, rather than the gardening, and save your energies for the other activities you are still enjoying. Sometimes a hobby or activity just runs its course, and it’s time to enjoy something else instead. You are probably more likely to come back to it with pleasure if everything hasn’t been running wild in the meantime.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Sounds like a case of Gardeners Block as it were.

    I often get it in spring when I look out and see the entire garden needs attention and I don't know where to start.
    So, I do like @b3 says.
    I identify a small patch on a border and challenge myself to clear 1sq m of weeds that day.
    That's quite easy, but at least it's done and I've met the challenge. So I can tick that off and reward myself.
    It sort of associates work and reward = pleasure
    Then I repeat the process, and little by little I enjoy it more and the garden slowly gets sorted.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Don’t like mine anymore either,  far too big,  I’ve tried the one square metre but it’s no good,  doesn’t look like I’ve done anything, just doesn’t notice.  I try to keep the edges tidy but the whole thing has got away from me now.
    I try to muster up enthusiasm,  think about seeds,  buy them,  sow them, pot them on,  then what,  no space because the weeds have taken over.
    Thank goodness for OH who keeps all the lawns and edges cut.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    That's how we've coped this last 2 years with my knees preventing me from doing much.  Do the important stuff and leave the rest alone.   Good for wildlife too.  Bit different form being out of love with gardening but it does help to recognise one's limits whether temporary or permanent.

    Fortunately, I still get excited about seeds germinating but have sown fewer this last 2 springs, concentrating on edibles such as curcubits, tomatoes and brassicas plus onion sets and garlic.   Potting on and planting out can be a trial tho with dodgy knees.

    OH has to do all the weeding which is fine in the veggie patch - when he remembers it's his job - but a hazard in the rest of the garden as he's a blitzer and doesn't discriminate between treasures and unwanted guests.

    I find it helps to do things when I'm in the mood so it's a pleasure and not a chore.  gives a feeling of satisfaction done that way too.  Bit like housework really - I rarely enjoy the process but like the results.

    I limit my gardening TV to GW but tend to FF thru any jungle garden, most of the viewers' gardens and a lot of Monty who I find can be all too depressing.  The other presenters are so much more positive and cheerful and communicate their excitement about plants and gardening.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • coccinellacoccinella Posts: 1,428
    As we get older the gardens get somewhat bigger. This might not be your case (fell walking!)  but I wouldn't worry, I would just do as @B3 says.
    I will do exactly that one day with my (not big but high maintenance) garden.
    You might feel differently next spring. A day at a time. Best wishes.

    Luxembourg
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Sounds more like a zoo😊
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ErgatesErgates Posts: 2,953
    Sounds like my sort of garden @pansyface! I rarely get the time, energy or have suitable sunny spaces for what I call flower gardening. Lots of pruning of shrubs and trees, and although a lot of our ‘lawns’ are mainly moss, we’ve kept and expanded them, as at least OH can trundle round with the lawn mower when it’s dry enough. I try to keep the bits I can see as tidy as I can, and kid myself that the out of sight areas aren’t like Jurassic Park. I get most pleasure from watching the wildlife.
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