A lot of us have reached that time when it all gets a bit too much. (69 this year).
OH says we just have to accept the changes to the garden and let some get overgrown, but I'm not ready yet.
I had the idea of getting ground covering evergreens on all the slopes, I've always found slopes hard on the back and hips. In some places this has worked but others not yet.
I was a full time carer for 3 years with increasing duties towards the end. During that time a garden fit to open for the ngs turned into a jungle of weeds. It's my ambition to get back on top within the next couple of years.
I'm not ready to give up whatever the joints are saying. I may even grow more trees from seed.
If you can afford it hogweed it might be worth having hard stuff instead of grass. Grass takes a lot of effort even if you're not obsessive about it and all those clippings need to go somewhere.
Ignore what the TV gardeners do. As someone else said, it's not real. It's like taking photos of the garden. You get a stunning pic of a small part and only you know what's behind the lens
Don't despair, grow easy, low maintenance plants and enjoy it
One of the advantages of the current job crisis is that you can get a couple of hours labour for next to nothing. Maybe having some young man lugging stuff about and weeding boarders with his top off could be of use to you now and again.
...the mere thought is quite rejuvenating...lol...
...perhaps downsizing might have to be considered at some point... this is no consolation but I'm envious of anyone who has the time to spend more than an hour a day in their garden.... 9-6 would be unimaginable,...or even a few hours a rarity... I still work and do the lot myself... not easy to find the time...and I'm older than you...but I do have a husband to do some heavy work... just dug out a shrub that had been rooted in for years...no way I could have done that on my own....
...I would be in favour of taking the more shrubs and conifers line...I always think things like roses and perennials - cottage gardening - take up a lot of work...I've had to cut down on those quite a bit...
My last reply disappeared into the ether, so if it reappears, sorry for the repeat!
Thank you all for your kind words of wisdom and support. Up until now I very rarely sat down in my garden - I was always up and doing things - I can see now that sitting down will become more frequent. I was feeling a bit despondent last night having spent a couple of hours in the afternoon trying to separate couch grass from a big clump of persicaria. In the end I threw most of the persicaria out!
Rio's suggestion amused me - it would certainly brighten my day!
One of the advantages of the current job crisis is that you can get a couple of hours labour for next to nothing. Maybe having some young man lugging stuff about and weeding boarders with his top off could be of use to you now and again.
Off to the garden centre now for heleniums and a trillium if I can afford it!
Thank you all again!
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
scott just read your post, can't believe monty fell in pond, i love him so much, i would love to see that, and rio, yes, it's often good t see a top off but only if what's under it worth seeing!!! hogweed, maybe rather than a pro gardener you could try a local 'handyman'? we had a helpful chap last year when we needed most of front digging up to replace lead pipes. must reiterate how fab yoga is, even just learn a couple of postures, for instance a sun salutation, it will honestly help, my favourite thing is doing it - well, was when i had time and hope to do so this summer....-do your yoga in the garden really early in the morning, blissfully quiet, just birds singing, good for mind body and soul
Posts
A lot of us have reached that time when it all gets a bit too much. (69 this year).
OH says we just have to accept the changes to the garden and let some get overgrown, but I'm not ready yet.
I had the idea of getting ground covering evergreens on all the slopes, I've always found slopes hard on the back and hips. In some places this has worked but others not yet.
I was a full time carer for 3 years with increasing duties towards the end. During that time a garden fit to open for the ngs turned into a jungle of weeds. It's my ambition to get back on top within the next couple of years.
I'm not ready to give up whatever the joints are saying. I may even grow more trees from seed.
If you can afford it hogweed it might be worth having hard stuff instead of grass. Grass takes a lot of effort even if you're not obsessive about it and all those clippings need to go somewhere.
Ignore what the TV gardeners do. As someone else said, it's not real. It's like taking photos of the garden. You get a stunning pic of a small part and only you know what's behind the lens
Don't despair, grow easy, low maintenance plants and enjoy it
In the sticks near Peterborough
...the mere thought is quite rejuvenating...lol...
...perhaps downsizing might have to be considered at some point... this is no consolation but I'm envious of anyone who has the time to spend more than an hour a day in their garden.... 9-6 would be unimaginable,...or even a few hours a rarity... I still work and do the lot myself... not easy to find the time...and I'm older than you...but I do have a husband to do some heavy work... just dug out a shrub that had been rooted in for years...no way I could have done that on my own....
...I would be in favour of taking the more shrubs and conifers line...I always think things like roses and perennials - cottage gardening - take up a lot of work...I've had to cut down on those quite a bit...
My last reply disappeared into the ether, so if it reappears, sorry for the repeat!
Thank you all for your kind words of wisdom and support. Up until now I very rarely sat down in my garden - I was always up and doing things - I can see now that sitting down will become more frequent. I was feeling a bit despondent last night having spent a couple of hours in the afternoon trying to separate couch grass from a big clump of persicaria. In the end I threw most of the persicaria out!
Rio's suggestion amused me - it would certainly brighten my day!
scott just read your post, can't believe monty fell in pond, i love him so much, i would love to see that, and rio, yes, it's often good t see a top off but only if what's under it worth seeing!!! hogweed, maybe rather than a pro gardener you could try a local 'handyman'? we had a helpful chap last year when we needed most of front digging up to replace lead pipes. must reiterate how fab yoga is, even just learn a couple of postures, for instance a sun salutation, it will honestly help, my favourite thing is doing it - well, was when i had time and hope to do so this summer....-do your yoga in the garden really early in the morning, blissfully quiet, just birds singing, good for mind body and soul