To think people can make more of an effort with their gardens

[Lovelybitofsquirrel3]

Due to circumstances changing I moved from the family home (owned, not by me, by family) to a council estate a few years ago.
Generally people don’t bother to plant anything/haven’t bothered with their gardens. There are hardly any bees, butterflies or insects that visit and I’m finding it depressing. A lot of people haven’t bothered with their gardens.
I planted potatoes last year which were never pollinated, and one or two bees visited, I don’t know where from and they died quickly.
I’m not looking for excuses as to why people don’t plant but surely it’s simple to buy a few packets of seeds and turn over some turf.

People are working, raising kids, doing housework. Life is busy and time to garden is a luxury. I’m sure a lot of people would love to have a nice garden, but just don’t have the time, energy, or money to spare to make it happen.

I have a busy life and a lot on my plate. I will do weeding and basic tidying, but no I don't have the time or inclination to be out planting seeds, having to water plants frequently etc. I'm busy enough as it is, that time would mean stopping doing something else. If you find it depressing then perhaps focus on your own garden.

No, it's not actually simple.
But glad you've got time for this, must be nice!

I agree, it doesn't take much effort to plant a small tree and a few flowering shrubs. I'm one of a very few people on our estate who has planted a garden. We have lots of birds visiting as well as a toad last year. Loads of bumble bees too. Our estate looks like a barren landscape and it's embarrassing how much my front garden actually stands out as I have lots going on in it.

"You're not looking for excuses" so you're looking for an echo chamber of snobbery then?

Most people would probably love a garden with flowers and plants but time is precious commodity which we never have enough of

Plus the whole COL crisis. People can't afford to eat. I'm sure a few packets of seeds are a huge priority

I've lived here 8 years and I'm still working on my garden because I'm money and time poor, and my physical ability to do it is limited.
I haven't bought anything plant wise to save money, I used wild grass seed from the fields and grass verges and grew cuttings from bushes and plants taken on walks and verges and from other people's gardens (with permission) and repurposed a lot of things as pots and containers.
It's fairly boring to be honest and wasn't and still isn't my priority. I do it when I can be arsed and that's not very often. It's clean and tidy now which is all I'm really bothered about.

My garden was filled with wildflowers last year, spread from a small section around my pond and as I was going to do some landscaping this s Spring I left it to its own devices. I'm talking hip height and taller with Ox eye daisies, poppies, teasels, thistles, sorrel through the entirety of my garden.

I still had very few bees or butterflies, plenty of other critters and beetles but bees and butterflies in particular I had very few. But it was cooler and wetter than normal and that will have impacted their lifecycle.

I’m not looking for excuses as to why people don’t plant but surely it’s simple to buy a few packets of seeds and turn over some turf.

No one needs an excuse, and no it's not simple. Like many people I'm at capacity a lot of the time. I do the things I have to do, then the things I want to do in any leftover time. I'm not doing things I don't have to do or want to do, and I neither have to nor want to plant seeds and turn over turf.

Potatoes don't need pollinating, and I've never seen a bee show any interest in them.

If you want insects, plant flowers that attract and feed them.

If you want to hit the crap and pay someone to do it and maintain it, my garden is yours op.

I can't afford it
I have no will to do
I hate gardening.

The wildness is good for the bugs... 👍🏻

I'm a single parent and barely have any free time. I have no time for the garden. I will mow the lawn but I haven't got a clue about gardening and flowers so I don't have much going on. My garden is a place for my kids to run around and have fun in. I don't have the time or headspace to make it anything else. HTH

Generally people favour low maintenance and just trying to keep it looking tidy.
If renting they may be concerned they need landlord permission.
Seeds spread not always where you want, need weeding. Flower beds can attract cats who use as a toilet etc.

Simple is it, don't want excuse do you.

Our house came with a canny while garden which is sort of wonderful and also a nightmare. Different plants need trimming back at different times of years, I've accidentally dug up what I assumed were weeds but were saplings, or bulbs, I don't have time or money to carefully plant new things and tend to them...

It's a lovely thing to do, but quite a shitty attitude OP

Don't like gardening, my back is in giblets and my knees are fucked. Enough reasons why my garden is below your standards OP?

I live in a mature neighborhood so most gardens are well planted. I wanted to add though, I tried planting a "wildflower mix" of seeds in various pots last year and the year before and what I ended up with was literally minging looking weeds 😂 If I'd had better results I'd consider replacing my motheaten looking front lawn with wild flowers, but I suspect it would look dreadful. I'm wondering about snowdrop bulbs instead but that would only be nice for a few weeks in later winter.

Gardening is outdoor housework and I don't have time to do much more than cut the grass and do a bit of weeding! I maintain the garden but I certainly can't spare hours to plant, water and feed seeds and flowers. That would eat into my indoor housework time.
Having said that, I do appreciate a well kept garden if I see one on my travels. Its sad when a garden has been left to get completely overgrown and unkempt with grass 3 feet tall and brambles and weeds all over.

I have a big garden, but I hate gardening. Some people have green fingers... I have a black thumb. Plants come in my garden to die.

I hate it when people say you should grow your own veg to beat the Cost of Living crisis. I just laugh... unless you are experienced, knowledgeable, and have the interest to start with, it is cheaper to buy your veg from Lidl.
I spent months planting and nurturing a red cabbage that ends up being 75p if I buy it in a shop.
If I grow stuff, I try and grow things that you rarely see like spaghetti squash

YANBU....I think it's really sad and have commented to DH when you walk around our village how it's only the houses owned by 50+ people who seem to take pride in them alot of the time or bother to do anything remotely interesting or attractive with them.
I get time and money can be factors but I don't think that's the full story.

Sorry kids there’s no dinner tonight…but look at that garden it’s beautiful! 🙄

People seem to pave over their gardens now and just have a square of grass (sometimes fake!). It all looks so sterile.

My garden has lots of shrubs and trees etc. I do make an effort with it, but it is time consuming and I can understand why other people aren't able to do the upkeep.

Gardening has a lot of mental health benefits, though. It is sad that it seems to be on the wane.

It's extremely sad and worrying for wildlife.

Apparently the UK is the most wildlife depleted country in the world. Even seagulls are on the decline. I find attitudes to wildlife, plants, trees etc. quite brutal and sad.

And then you get those putting Astroturf down and fake plastic plants. Just awful for the environment.

I guess even if they just have grass, the birds can still dig for worms in it and make nests out of the dry bits.

Yes, a "desirable" garden now seems to be super low maintenance. I see ads for landscapers etc on FB. Gardens with a patch of artificial grass, with patio and wall around it. No wildlife would go there, and it is soulless.