Gardens with nothing in them?

[BigDahliaFan]

Would you not at least put a low maintenance shrub in? I mean not everyone wants full on Monty Don....but something?

My good friend, retired has a large garden with a stream flowing through. It could be magical but it's just grass.
It's not just about time. My DC grew up with me gardening and growing fruit and veg. One loves his garden and the other never sets foot in it.

Oh I'm not judging the lack of gardening @PurplePolkaDot0 - people are busy and strapped for cash and I think a lot of people don't know the basics - it's understandable.

I just find it sad and depressing and a bit alien to see the results (and very hot in high summer).

Also it's such a fun, cheap activity with the DC to just buy some seeds - or some bedding plants outside the supermarket with the weekly shop - get some compost and spend an afternoon planting. It was a real fallback for me when I was cash strapped and a single parent. So I'm sad to see that maybe people feel overwhelmed or that it has to be complex or something.

(I am judging the ageism like crazy, though. )

No way is it mainly over 60s people of all ages love gardening.

Wow @lateloverofcelery so you deny ageism by doubling down in the ageism. Nice. I'm not looking forward to being a retirement age woman in this society.

I have a patio and a large-ish lawn, which is well maintained. I would in theory like a nice garden with flowers/shrubs etc, but I have no idea where to start. I have two small children, no time and no money for doing up the garden. They use the lawn for playing, football, paddling pool etc.

I really don't like plants, shrubs etc. so yes I have the dreaded fake grass and slabs 🤷‍♀️. Or suits my taste and the way I use my outside space. I detest insects also so I wouldn't want to be anywhere near planting etc. and yes it is another bloody job to put on the list so that's a nope for me.

Nobody mentioned ableism.

But stereotyping whole age groups is never constructive.

As if I didn’t have enough to do, now I have to garden to other people’s satisfaction as well, haha!

Theres obvs a gap in the market OP, start a business, free gift with every purchase : your uninvited opinion

I can’t imagine why people would want plastic things in their gardens. It gets dusty and deteriorates which means everyone around will be breathing in fragments of plastic bloody grass and plants.
There are so many very easy plants which take no maintenance whatsoever. All the information you need is online. Gardens are a massive part of the UK’s ecosystem and they are being wrecked by people who are either thick or lazy or both. It’s really depressing to be honest.

Just moved to a new house in a new gated community 2 months ago. We have had the garden walled and two gates, one each side of house to enclose the dogs. We just had a walled veg garden built and the soil is coming for it tomorrow. I have put strings up the walls as will be planting climbing plants this week. 2 months ago it was totally open, but this stuff takes time .

There are loads of gardeners with disabilities. Gardens can be very easily adapted to anybody’s needs. Check out Sue Kent for inspiration.

The same way someone might see a blank canvas or want to decorate a plain room, when I see an an empty garden, my mind goes “oooo some roses would look good there, clematis over in that corner, alliums here” etc.

I know not everyone likes gardening/has time etc. I get it.… but fake grass 🤯

I’m in my late 30’s, far from retired😏Gardening is a hobby, I love it, I find it relaxing, dh & the kids get involved. It’s one of our happy places.

Wait till they grow up otherwise your plants get wrecked by football etc. Watch where the sun goes and look at neighbouring gardens to see what thrives so when the kids are off you can start.

I think it can be adapted to many people’s needs but not anyone’s.

Some people really struggle with absolute daily basics like cooking, washing themselves or clothes, keeping their home clean/tidy without assistance.

@lassi I am neither thick nor lazy. I have a full time job, provide car for a Sen adult and two children. I don't have time to scratch myself and now I have to take on peoples attitude on my garden that I paid for choice that suit my family?

Don't be so rude nor judgemental.

Yes if it was done for me and I didn't have to do anything or think about it. However my garden is north facing with dreadful clay soil...I'm sure there's something that could be done but I certainly am not interested enough to discover it. I literally just want a tidy space I can sit in.

Five years or so would be a long time to wait with no plants just in case they get hit by a football. Unless you're completely broke, a tenner or two on some shrubs is not a huge investment even if a couple of them get knackered.

But I agree that looking at what other local people have flourishing in their gardens is great advice. If it grows well for them in the local soil then it's probably good for you. I've just shoved a passion flower in on the grounds that it's growing insanely well in a garden down the road. Especially useful if you can see what's growing in gardens parallel to yours which get similar levels of sun.

I’m sure my neighbours judge my garden it’s an overgrown mess after an injury I had last year stopped me from keeping it, but I’m slowly making progress through it.

I also confess to being a bit judgmental towards fake grass, not only is it terrible environmentally but it also looks awful after a few years. Not sure if it’s the weather where we are or the quality of the stuff they’ve used but they all need replacing already.

I'm late 40s and I spend quite a lot of time gardening. The reality is however that it's really expensive. Yes you can buy a packet of seeds fairly cheaply but that isn't going to guarantee that you get much to show for it if all you're doing is broadcasting into beds.

It is also a constant task. It isn't like decorating an internal room where you do the decorating and then the room is done.

So for the cash poor and the time poor (and those who are both), gardening can be difficult to achieve.

I'd love more plants but everything I've tried to grow in the garden dies. I do have some of the shrubs etc that I inherited from the previous owners (and which are now massive) but I find the whole gardening thing overwhelming so a lot of the garden has been made into lawn. I did draw the line at plastic grass though.

I've always gardened, and not the easiest of gardens either. Age is irrelevant. DH hasn't a clue so apart from some basic labouring, it's always been me. Babies, toddlers, working, DH with anti- social hours job,football mad DS, cricket etc etc - you just adapt round it and reclaim borders as DC grow up.You find time for things that matter to you.

It's an attitude of mind as much as anything. Some people have no interest in their surroundings beyond the front door. The odd planted pot or shrub isn't difficult, or time consuming but people will claim they can't grow anything in the same way they laughingly say they can't cook. Both are pretty basic and just require a bit of attention.

It can be adapted to most people’s needs who are not completely incapacitated. I know of loads of gardeners with quite complex disabilities who still do lots in their gardens. For a lot of people it’s therapy.