Gardener

Some of us used to be able to cope like you do, TriciaF, just be thankful that you still can.

He is very reasonable and as soon as I have informed him of the importance of not using certain bins for clods of earth he should be ok. Just needed him to get garden into shape after 2 years of semi-neglect due to mine and DHs ill health. (why am I justifying myself?)

I am thankful - husband has given up because of back problems.
We can't afford to employ a gardener - if I give up too the garden will just revert to the wild.

I am dreading that time, I must say, and yes Anno, I really do appreciate it. Back and knees hurt like crazy, but I ignore it and actually, the more I do, the better I feel. I am thinking of finding a young person to train myself- so they know how I want things done, and to help me a bit- before they need to take over. I exchange a lot of services actually, teaching French, English or German in exchange for help with housework, decorating and perhaps soon- gardening.

Goodness, I sound like I have acres and acres. I have a fairly small garden. He charges £10 and hour and loves his work. He often works beyond the booked hours. He has transformed my friend's garden. I love gardening but, like I have said, our little plot has become neglected with minimal attention for two years. We also live on clay soil which needs a lot of attention to make it suitable for planting.

My small garden at the front is attended to by my two Afghan elves, under close supervision. They simply dig the borders and turn the weeds over when directed. The back garden is also quite small, but has a pond, raised bed, grassed area, patio with wooden seating area, recycling shelves, log store, bin store, brick BBQ area with seating......and about ten surf boards, windsurfers, kayaks as garden ornaments!!
I tend to ignore everything but the raised flower bed and the planted arrangements; occasionally I mow the grass.
The allotment though, that's a another story.....that is usually kept in quite good order and keeps my husband really busy from about April onwards; with me acting as trusty 'gofer' and chief harvester. Today he tells me he's been invited to go on a cycle trek across Europe to Russia at the end of May, so I guess I shall be promoted to head gardener for a couple of weeks.

How I would love and Afghan elf. Just one would do.

We now have help in the garden one afternoon a week. Our garden is too large for the two of us to cope with everything, especially digging and clearing up hedge prunings etc. We pay £10 per hour and I justify it by telling myself I've never had a cleaner. The housework goes to pot at this time of the year anyway!

We have also invested in as much equipment as we can afford to make life easier. A ride on mower is essential as we have four lawns and a one acre field. We have also converted an old ride-on into a garden tractor by removing the cutting deck and buying a little trailer which is great for moving compost, logs, bark mulch etc. DH refuses to give in to his disability so we also have a petrol driven strimmer, long arm hedge trimmer, brush cutter and leaf blower but all these are of no use whatsoever if the weather's crap!!

Long may this sunshine last.