Getting in a gardener!
madpenguin
Posts: 2,543
Although I am not quite in my dotage yet I do find some of the larger jobs in the garden a bit daunting (the sort where ladders and trees etc are involved).In the past I have laid paving slabs,built walls pruned trees etc.
As I have no transport getting rid of branches and other rubbish is also a hassle.
Today I had 2 cherry trees pruned and trimmed and a Virginia creeper cut back by a lovely local professional gardener.It was so nice to get these jobs done in one day and all the rubbish removed.He left the area so tidy you wouldn't know he had been.
These jobs would have taken me at least a fortnight and aggravated arthritis etc!
I love my garden and it is sometimes quite hard to admit that you cannot do some things but for me it was well worth it.
I can now concentrate on all the jobs I can do by myself! 
Posts
Good for you.
We are also planning to get in an expert to remove a tree or three and prune some more depending on whether they can be saved or not so it' s good to know it's worked for you.
Good post Madpenguin. Sometimes it's best to admit we can't do some things anymore.....much better than falling off a ladder! Concentrate on what y can do.
Totally agree with you chloe
Coming to terms with the fact that you need help is half the battle madpenguin, so well done.
I put my back out a couple of times in the past few years whilst lifting pots that were far too heavy for me - I couldn't admit to myself that they were too heavy - so just carried on until the inevitable pain rushed along my spine. After weeks of agony I finally saw a physio who helped me to strengthen my back again, but I wasted weeks of good gardening weather whilst doubled up in pain.
However, it has taught me (the hard way), to ask for help before I lift anything that I think might do me some damage. There are always willing hands around, whether we have to pay them or not. Now I concentrate on the gardening jobs that I enjoy, that will be of least exertion and leave the heavy stuff to others.
Good for you Penguin.
We never question getting a mechanic to service our car so it is silly to think that we have to do everything in the garden ourselves. I'm considering getting a gardener in to prune some big bushes; the idea of it being done in a day AND tidied up does appeal greatly!
Madpenguin,.......getting on in years and having arthritis, I decided last summer to get help.Well worth it.
The grass gets cut and edged, pots moved according to what is in flower, high shrubs pruned, leaves cleared.
This leaves me to plant, weed, deadhead do some pruning and, most important, to enjoy the garden rather than see it as a never ending chore.
Apart from the grass, other work is done as and when I need it.