when i moved to my house 16 yrs ago i wasn't interested in gardening at all so i had on existing 15ft x 2ft wide border and another smaller one, it already had odd bits of paving so we indian stoned the whole garden bar the borders as it is practical with a dog and i don't like mowing grass. in the last 4 years i have got into gardening and wish now i had massive borders to work on, our garden is about 50ft by 40ft and long for a garden at least twice the size, i have increased the amount of borders but because of the layout of gates ets it's not practical to increases the width of borders. i love our beautiful home but i would gladly move if it meant having a bigger garden, i'd be happy in a smaller house if it meant gaining more outside space, i spend as much time as i can out there and i happily will work in it til it gets dark, i get bored once it is all as it should be in the summer and long for and look for jobs to do, i have built lots of large wooden planters to make more planting space where ever i can and have gardened up the old wall with pots attatched to increase planting space, if i was you i would have your big garden now while you enjoy it, you can always downsize later on but if it is what you enjoy, do it!
i have birds visit the garden and wood mice come daily to feed i just love being out there and there is just the satisfaction of creating something beautiful
We moved for a different lifestyle. We had long conversations about whether or not to make a huge change in our circumstances which came down to "If money was no object, what would you want to do?". And then we took the answer to that question and found a way to do it within the limited means we have.
As it happens we ended up with a smaller house and a much bigger garden. But that wasn't the reason to move. We wanted to be in this place, doing what we are doing and this is the home and garden we have made here as a result.
So I wouldn't move for a bigger garden, no, only for a better life. If you like your life, then stay there and enjoy it
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Logan - Today at 14:03 - "I'd love a bigger garden, but we are both retired so have more time for the garden"
Problem is: yes, when you are retired you have plenty of time on your hands, but you are also older and sometimes not so fit, so you have to accept a garden of a "realistic" size.
At the moment our garden is 300 m² large consisting of approx. half lawn and half mixed borders etc. and I find it quite the right size to be manageable in my present health condition.
Yes you're right,but I do gardening only for a few hours a day. We have 3 goldies to walk and they take up a lot of time. In between doing the house work and cooking.:)
Oh Newb, don't lose sleep over it all. You have time to think things through. Have you done all your sums regarding extension or move? Sometimes seeing hard facts and figures can decide for you. If you were to stay for the foreseeable future and build your extension , your house and garden would be all of your own design. This would give you a wonderful sense of achievement and pride. Also gardens are subject to evolve regarding tastes and what will thrive in your particular conditions. I, myself try something new each year, and move/ remove plants that aren't up to scratch. One of my gardening passions is raising plants from seed, devisions and cuttings. This l do in a small plastic standing greenhouse and on my kitchen windowsill. I produce far too many for my own needs , so donate them to a Hospicare plant sale . Sometimes after work if it's been a challenging day, and there's many of those at the moment, l will just go for a mooch around a garden centre, even just half an hour restores peace to a frazzled brain. ? Sleep well
I persuaded OH to move to a place with a bigger garden and he agreed knowing that it's my passion and now he complains that he never sees me and the house is a mess!
The Summerhouse and my shed are tidy though! Ha ha.
However, the smaller, old house was never tidy either and the garden was always neat. I have no interest in keeping the house tidy I admit, but rain or shine I'm outside clearing and faffing.
I'd say be careful because if you get your bigger garden, you might neglect your family like wot I have (although actually the dogs love being with me down the garden which leaves lonely OH in a scruffy house by himself).
I am, I admit, selfish, so just giving you another angle. I could not survive without my weekend therapy. Not sure it this will help or not?
We have a big garden and for years, when the children were young I tried to spend as much time as possible with them - they grow up so quickly and those magical years spent with them are gone forever. But the garden is still here - and now that I have the time I can immerse myself in creating the type of garden I want. It's hard work, but well worth it and the children (adults now) can enjoy the results when they visit.
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Posy that was beautiful and touched my heart too
when i moved to my house 16 yrs ago i wasn't interested in gardening at all so i had on existing 15ft x 2ft wide border and another smaller one, it already had odd bits of paving so we indian stoned the whole garden bar the borders as it is practical with a dog and i don't like mowing grass. in the last 4 years i have got into gardening and wish now i had massive borders to work on, our garden is about 50ft by 40ft and long for a garden at least twice the size, i have increased the amount of borders but because of the layout of gates ets it's not practical to increases the width of borders. i love our beautiful home but i would gladly move if it meant having a bigger garden, i'd be happy in a smaller house if it meant gaining more outside space, i spend as much time as i can out there and i happily will work in it til it gets dark, i get bored once it is all as it should be in the summer and long for and look for jobs to do, i have built lots of large wooden planters to make more planting space where ever i can and have gardened up the old wall with pots attatched to increase planting space, if i was you i would have your big garden now while you enjoy it, you can always downsize later on but if it is what you enjoy, do it!
i have birds visit the garden and wood mice come daily to feed i just love being out there and there is just the satisfaction of creating something beautiful
We moved for a different lifestyle. We had long conversations about whether or not to make a huge change in our circumstances which came down to "If money was no object, what would you want to do?". And then we took the answer to that question and found a way to do it within the limited means we have.
As it happens we ended up with a smaller house and a much bigger garden. But that wasn't the reason to move. We wanted to be in this place, doing what we are doing and this is the home and garden we have made here as a result.
So I wouldn't move for a bigger garden, no, only for a better life. If you like your life, then stay there and enjoy it
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Well said, Posy !
Yes you're right,but I do gardening only for a few hours a day. We have 3 goldies to walk and they take up a lot of time. In between doing the house work and cooking.:)
I would now think of moving for a smaller garden. I find it is more of a challenge now I'm older.
I have been thinking about it, reading all the replies. loosing sleep over it...
Oh Newb, don't lose sleep over it all. You have time to think things through. Have you done all your sums regarding extension or move? Sometimes seeing hard facts and figures can decide for you. If you were to stay for the foreseeable future and build your extension , your house and garden would be all of your own design. This would give you a wonderful sense of achievement and pride. Also gardens are subject to evolve regarding tastes and what will thrive in your particular conditions. I, myself try something new each year, and move/ remove plants that aren't up to scratch. One of my gardening passions is raising plants from seed, devisions and cuttings. This l do in a small plastic standing greenhouse and on my kitchen windowsill. I produce far too many for my own needs , so donate them to a Hospicare plant sale . Sometimes after work if it's been a challenging day, and there's many of those at the moment, l will just go for a mooch around a garden centre, even just half an hour restores peace to a frazzled brain. ? Sleep well
I persuaded OH to move to a place with a bigger garden and he agreed knowing that it's my passion and now he complains that he never sees me and the house is a mess!
The Summerhouse and my shed are tidy though! Ha ha.
However, the smaller, old house was never tidy either and the garden was always neat. I have no interest in keeping the house tidy I admit, but rain or shine I'm outside clearing and faffing.
I'd say be careful because if you get your bigger garden, you might neglect your family like wot I have (although actually the dogs love being with me down the garden which leaves lonely OH in a scruffy house by himself).
I am, I admit, selfish, so just giving you another angle. I could not survive without my weekend therapy. Not sure it this will help or not?
We have a big garden and for years, when the children were young I tried to spend as much time as possible with them - they grow up so quickly and those magical years spent with them are gone forever. But the garden is still here - and now that I have the time I can immerse myself in creating the type of garden I want. It's hard work, but well worth it and the children (adults now) can enjoy the results when they visit.