Why do people want to rip every plant out of their gardens?!

[Turnedtochaos]

Just that.

My NDN have spent the past 2 days pulling up every mature tree, shrub and plant from the fence lines at the back and sides of their garden. Now instead of a view of lovely trees I can see all the houses behind and get a view of 3 families who now have no privacy. I can now see NDN wandering around in wheras before I could see nothing at all!

The plants weren’t shading their massive garden either and were covered in beautiful flowers. Just why?

Before anyone says…I have my own plants but due to the angle it won’t offer any privacy for those behind NDN.

Im not a natural gardener at all - more of a have a go person - so i can understand people wanting easy and simple although it wouldnt be what i woild choose to do.

One of my more interesting garden "projects" this year has been to let an area in our front garden (under a tree and shaded by a large hedge) just kind of "be". Traditional grass just doesn't grow and it's an awkward spot to mow or strim anyway with the tree roots (so dh is over the moon) and I thought I'd let Mother Nature show me the way.

Its been quite lovely seeing beautiful mosses grow and the wild forget me nots have been really quite enchanting - a mini woodland glade in a teeny tiny space. I'm intrigued to see what else grows and what happens next.

I agree about developers and councils needing to take some responsibility. On one new build estate near me there were daft little teeny rectangles of grass dotted along the fronts of the properties, maybe A3 paper size... So although I agree completely that plastic grass is awful I could totally understand that these little bits were not practical for the owners.

A teeny rectangle of grass is crying out to be replaced with a tree or bush though, not plastic.

Thanks so much for this, it’s so hard to know where to start with a blank canvas so will check these out ☺️

I think I'd flip the conventional 'grass in the middle/flowers round the edge' to be a circle of pavement in the middle as a patio, then no grass but loads of shrubs, a couple of small trees and flowers round the outside if I was starting fresh on a new build small garden. You could but nice shrubs that won't get too big, make sure the trees won't be too big, and add flowers every year as annuals or buy some flowers you like every summer. If you really want low maintenan ce add some nice grasses too

@GardenTableyes my robins only say “cheep” but make up for it in friendliness

It’s illegal to cut trees at this time of year owing to nesting birds. Do tell her this. I wonder if you can report her somehow? I also agree with you and think there are many people in the world I just do not understand. Saw a man recently working outside his beautiful Victorian terraced house. Original tiles in the front garden path in beautiful condition; he poured concrete over them and stuck down grey slabs. I think he should be imprisoned for crimes against Victorian housing (I know some on here are going to enjoy my “overreaction” but it’s definitely how I feel when I see this kind of thing).

This would have been the developers ticking some box about “green space”. Woeful.

I think it's really sad.

There are so many gardens now that are just paving slabs or astroturf, or so little grass because people have erected huge sheds and bars. Those poor bees and butterflies, and birds (and hedgehogs).

I live in flat with a communal garden, I'd give anything to have my own garden but I do what I can to make the communal garden look nice instead.

Eh??

In my garden, yes, absolutely.

But as I said, next door have gone for plastic grass because they want somewhere for their kids to play. I don't like it but I do understand why they made that choice. They have kept their lovely old apple tree and have some things growing in pots so they're not complete hooligans.