To wish I didn't have a garden

[Wildernessgarden]

I know I am and just need reminding that I should be grateful. But my stomach lurches just looking out the window. Not sure I'll ever get it sorted.

I hate gardening and I don't know where to start. It's like a jungle. There is barely any lawn left, few patches of grass, mostly 2 foot high weeds. Huge out of control trees, overgrown hedges and some crazy vine that covers every thing. Several broken fence panels. Random raised bits. The concrete paths are cracked and mossy. Rotting falling apart sheds. Front and back.

Could you get a couple of friends round for a day and attack it with the promise of beer and a curry at the end?

My garden is my favourite room in my house.

Can you ask friends and family over for a day of clearing it or get someone on to tidy it up.

Even a high cut of grass/weeds can make it look loads better.

No friends or family nearby

I have some time off this summer so could do a few hours each day while the DC play squabble beside me. I do a few hours usually and then give up. Need to stick with it.

The trees are daunting though and I can't afford to pay anyone.

Can you afford a gardener as a one off for a weekend or so?

I know what you mean, I’m just about to move into my own house and will have a garden for the first time since moving out of my parents’ house in my teens. I’m excited, I can’t wait to have somewhere private to relax in the sun or sit and have a coffee in the morning if it’s nice, but at the same time I can see it’s a big task to keep on top of and basically an extra room to keep clean and worry about haha.

Ah cross post. If you can’t afford to hire someone then you’re just gonna have to crack on!

Yes LIZS I might just go out and cut all the weeds/lawn with the lawnmower.

Are you sure you can't afford to pay anyone to just do the worst bits?

Some people in my local FB group don't charge much at all.

Would it be worth taking some pics and asking for a couple of rough estimates? Even just enough to make you feel that sorting the rest yourself, isn't insurmountable?

Can you borrow a strimmer? Will make quick work of high weeds and grass, then go over with the mower

I've got a strimmer. Will have a go.

Worra my work is uncertain just now so wouldn't be sensible. That might be an option next year though.

You can't do much about the cracks in the paths and sheds right now, but if you have a strimmer you can cut down the weeds.

Assuming it's not woody or thorny, you can pull down the vines with your hands (get the children to help!) and dispose of it.

You could buy some cheap weedkiller and go over paths and paved areas to tidy those up a bit.

If you can afford to buy a pair of shears (or borrow from a neighbour) you can attack the overgrown hedges too. The trees would be best left to a professional I think.

A strimmer, a bit of weed killer, a pair of shears and lots of elbow grease will get you quite far :)

And a hammer and some nails could work wonders on the fences too, but it will obviously depend on the construction of the fencing.

Op it will seems daunting but actually you will be amazed at what you can do once you start.
And it will be best feeling in world when you see the space cleared!

Challenge yourself to 20 mins, have carrier bags or bin bags ready, clippers and some sort of glove. Chop it down as you get it in bag and be super careful of brambles.

Tackle one thing at a time. As to the trees I bought some long armed massive secateur cutting thing from Argos for £30 & it was great for slim branches. You can also hire the saws for hedges & big branch stuff. And task rabbit has cheap gardeners by the hour which is cheaper than professional tree specialist.

Fence panels have pretty much crumbled. But yes with a bit of effort I could tackle the rest. The kids love being in the garden despite the mess so I might well get them to help.

I'm feeling more motivated just reading comments. Thanks

As a PP, I would definitely check Facebook for local services, they're much cheaper than a professional for the trees, Can you spare an hour a day, put on some music on, rip up the weeds, fix the fencing, small changes will make a different.
Ours was like a forest when we moved in, once you do the big job it is easier to maintain.
Do you have neighbours close by? My neighbours would be huffing and puffing if the garden was in a state.

Neighbors on one side have a lovely garden and I imagine aren't too pleased but too sweet to say anything. I might tackle the hedges on that side first. Other side also messy so not too worried. They have complained about the height of the trees but really can't do much about that yet.
The fencing isn't really fixable, will have to wait.

If you get on with your neighbours , can you ask their advice . I love gardening and if I lived beside someone who was struggling to get theirs sorted I’d offer to help for free . Also take it one day at a time and get the children to help . Dig over an area, put down some compost and let them plant some seeds ? An old tyre can look good with nasturtiums planted in it . Get cuttings from your neighbours to help with planting. Ask on Facebook or gumtree for some old window boxes etc .
I know it’s overwhelming but you can do this . Good luck !

You'll get there, I dont understand why previous owners and tenants plant so many trees and bushes in their garden.
My garden is small, standard 3 bedroom terrace I've a huge bloody palm tree, a blossom tree, there was bushes everywhere.
I ripped out the bushes but the trees are ridiculously, especially in autumn.

Are you rural? If so someone probably has a goat you can borrow, you'd tether it in your garden and it'll eat most of the greenery for you. If you're not rural this probably sounds weird of course.

Not rural but that's my favourite suggestion yet Countrylifeornot!

Emerald the trees are beautiful but definitely too big for the size of the garden. I think the previous owners enjoyed gardening though. Looked lovely before.

Advertise locally for someone who loves gardening but doesn't have one and would do some in exchange for occasional use of garden? Say two hours gardening in exchange for a morning's use - could be when you're out? Or is that impossibly idealistic?

Countrylifeornot Good one.
Out of curiosity I googled it and you can rent a goat.
not suggesting OP rents one just amused you can

Kids love a jungle. Don't try to get it back to where it was before, just try to get it back to a state where you're not irritating your lovely neighbours. Mow the edges but let the middle grow tall just strim some wiggly paths though; ask your neighbours who have a lovely garden if they can see any plants they would love to have and let them come and dig them up, they're probably dying to give you a hand.

When part of my mum’s garden for very badly out of control when she had dementia, my brother began the process of bringing it back by laying a weed mat down on top of the weeds. This killed everything without using pesticide or involving too much cutting and digging.

You can buy them at b&q or on amazon.