Absent neighbour

I would probably leave her half. As others have said, perhaps she hasn't noticed and would get it done herself.

NotSpaghetti

I think I'd be pretty annoyed if a neighbour cut my grass - however well meant.

That is the other side of the equation indeed.

I would wonder why a neighbour was cutting my half of the grass in those circumstances. You probably/almost certainly mean it as a favour - but there is the fact that some neighbours do do things that might get (mis)interpreted as them having "ownership of land that isnt theirs" and I've seen things done deliberately to look like they have rights and/or ownership they don't actually have.

So - whilst you are very probably doing it to be genuinely helpful - she might be feeling nervous in case your house might try and put in a claim for her half of the garden.

I've had neighbours in my current house trying things on and trying to claim a bit of my garden here, usage of a part of my garden there and downright stole another part of my garden. The reason they kept appearing in my garden at various times was to make out they had "rights" and/or ownership they don't rightfully have.

Might depend on what part of the country you are in? - as where I've come from I never even heard of this sort of thing. But where I am now I frequently hear of neighbour issues like this and there's all sorts of bits of land that have been nicked by a neighbour.

Do you ever talk to your neighbour - about the garden or any other subject?

Did she ask you to cut the grass? Does she know that you are doing it?

When I had a garden out front my neighbour use to cut it if it grew just a tiny bit. I'd come home from work and there it was done. I always thanked him because they are lovely people and just wanted to help.

But I was always a bit irritated inside myself as it's a task I like to do myself in my own time. I like to see a few daisies and clover and he never gave them a chance to grow.

Don't complain about non appreciation if you haven't established whether or not the action is wanted or needed.

I don't blame you and your husband in the slightest.

Manners are in very short supply these days and cost nothing.

Robin why?? the neighbour hasn’t asked them to sort her garden out, they have taken it into their own hands to do it then expect thanks, I doubt she even notices if she’s a busy lady travelling all over the world her bit of grass is probably not even noticed by her when she gets home
I m sure if they had said to her do you want x to look after your garden whilst you’re away she might have said oh yes please and thanks but to just presume and trespass is not the way to do it (in my opinion)
It doesn’t even sound as if they are chatty neighbours

Sago

I think it’s rude to mow someone’s lawn or water their plants without permission.

So do I actually.

I would be inclined to only tend my half of the garden…….sounds petty I know but the neighbour might hold the silly notion that your DH needs ‘permission ‘ to tend the garden when all he is doing is ensuring it is tidy, presentable and the neighbours house doesn’t look empty for long periods perhaps.
An overgrown lawn and neglected borders can make a house looked unlived-in.

I think it’s rude to mow someone’s lawn or water their plants without permission.

Perhaps make a point of saying to her. I’m sorry, but due to a continuing bad back, my husband (name) is struggling with grass cutting and is finding it a bit much doing both of our lawns, but I can suggest (name of company) who would likely undertake it, to keep it down whilst you’re away?

Calandergirl I was about to say the same
If by shared garden you mean all the gardens are the same just grass with a path down then why are you cutting someone’s else’s lawn
If you were buddies with a agreement then fine but to just cut someone else’s lawn without asking is not the right way in my eyes,
What if she’s an environmentalist and wants the daisys birds and bees to enjoy her lawn
Perhaps she’s no idea who cut it and thinks some magical council scheme is kindly cutting private lawns
You are probably cutting it not only to be kind but because you don’t like it to look messy near your house
Well stop and let her sort her own garden out it s not your business
You say you were brought up with manners well surely manners would be to say to this lady ‘ would you like us to cut your grass whilst we are doing ours’ and if she says yes then expect a thank you otherwise she ll think the lawn fairy did it

You say you have a shared garden?

I assume the lawn is half her side, half yours?

If so, just cut your side. It might irritate if hers is unkempt, but not your problem.

I think I'd be pretty annoyed if a neighbour cut my grass - however well meant.

I was just wondering if your neighbour is trying to tell you that in actual fact she doesn't want you to cut her grass. Has she ever asked you to?

If she works all over the world she can afford to employ a gardener.

Some people don’t give a stuff about gardens…just saying.

I'd let her pay for a gardener, it's nice to be appreciated and bot taken for granted

No good deed goes unpunished.

Did she want it cutting?
Just wondering.

I commented on this forum about lack of thank yous a while back.
I learnt my lesson.
Not something I will forget.
Taught me something.

My sentiments entirely. We are kind enough to cut her grass preventing her from paying someone, but I got so fed up with the lack of recognition, we don't do it anymore. On the other hand, another neighbour rewarded us with flowers when in her absence we watered her plants. A simple thank you would have been sufficient, but we didn't even get that!

You made the right call, don’t cut her grass.
When our neighbour watered our plants when my DH was in hospital and I was with him, I made sure that I took a nice box of choccies round to thank him, and asked him round for a cuppa.
Any acts of kindness should be appreciated imho because there isn’t enough kindness around.