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.

Really? Without listening to the real reason why real people don't currently make their garden a priority?

If you are genuine why don't you start in your local community, make an example for people that see your garden, offer to teach people how to do it, offer real help to people who have real barriers.

Edited for awful spelling and grumpy, tired attitude.

I don't know anything about gardening. I dont particularly enjoy it on the odd occasion I do it. My garden is mostly concrete and as I rent I'm not spending out to change that. I can't afford to anyway. It takes all my mental energy to do things like eat an do some minimal housework most days thanks to various physical and mental health issues.

Is that enough reasons for you?

No chance of that lovey 😭 let them enjoy their concrete I guess.

By criticising people who find it harder than you do?

Can you explain how people had more time please? There was the same number of hours in the day.

Really? 🥺 Do you find this approach - telling people that something is simple and wondering why they don't do it, without offering advice, encouragement or exhibiting any knowledge of the subject yourself - often encourages others?

I know, it makes me feel I'm from the 19th century or something 😂

Have you never seen Maslow’s hierarchy?

Easy to say, difficult to do for a great many people.

There could be all sorts of reasons people haven't planted the gardens.

They may not know anything about gardening - not everyone is brought up being taught what to do in the garden, what plants are suitable for specific conditions, how to look after them.

They may not have the money to spend - seeds don't cost much, but for most you can't just scatter them on the earth and hope for the best. It takes some preparation, and looking after - preparation requires tools, which cost money.

People may be using the space as a children's play area and either not have space for plants too, or think that plants would get damaged.

People may not have time - they may have other commitments - work, family to look after, caring for an ill relative etc.

People may not be physically able to do the work - you can't tell by looking at someone what conditions they have.

I enjoy gardening and have some level of knowledge (no way an expert). I have previously taken a lot more care of the garden then I do now. Although I may look fine, and have spent time doing some jobs in the garden , over the last few years, circumstances have stopped me doing what i would like. I have been unwell myself, so whilst i may want to do the garden finding a time when I have the energy, it is not too wet, and I am not working/elsewhere has meant it hasn't always happened.

Even when I have spent time in the garden, there has been a limit to what I can do - either due to time, energy or physical ability due to an injury. Add in helping to care for other family members, means it is even less likely to happen. I do what I can, but need to be realistic in what i can achieve. Have tried getting someone to do some bigger jobs in the garden for me, and am looking to have some of it changed to make it easier to maintain, but finding someone that will even come and quote to do the job isn't as easy as it sounds.

Whilst I agree to a point with what you have said, you may not be taking the reality that some take into account. Also you only said you have tried potato plants, but not what else you have planted, so it is unclear what effort you have put in.

Also, gardening is the eorst thing in the world. It’s worse than housework.

I have zero interest in gardening and wouldn’t have a clue where to start and it doesn’t interest me. Luckily dp does have an interest and I have a gardener but left to my own devices I just wouldn’t bother

God forbid they should put down their phones or be bothered to do anything for the greater good.

You don't seem to know a huge amount about gardening yourself. Potatoes don't need pollinating and definitely won't attract bees or many other insects for that matter. If you want wildlife, you need to grow suitable plants. There were sadly far fewer insects in general around last year and that was purely down to the weird weather we had. Lack of bees has nothing to do with your neighbours. If you provide the right plants, what insects there are, bees included, will very gratefully seek you out.

A few of my neighbours have lovely gardens. I’ve gradually come to realise that many of them (but not all) employ gardeners.

That said, I agree that planting bee-friendly plants is a nice thing to do and relatively easy. I planted some giant allium bulbs a few years ago. They come up every spring with no help from me, look impressive and the bumblebees love them.

And this is a tangent, but over the last few years, I’ve noticed that some hedgehog holes have been cut into garden fences (or gaps have been made underneath). Hedgehogs are now having a bit of a resurgence in our area, which is think is great.

Maybe you'll feel differently about it when you grow up.

Aw, are you still trying to do peer pressure?

Ok there’s no need to be condescending towards me or others. No I’m not some kind of professional gardener who can offer professional advice and no I don’t think people who would have no money for food should be buying seeds nor do I think people generally have loads of money for elaborate gardens. my point stands that people could still buy a few pots/tubs and plant something. They could plant over many years. They could make their own compost if they can’t afford to buy soil but even then planting in the ground can be fine. A lot of People don’t bother and think a lot of the time they make excuses for it.
In the first year in my house I planted some shrubs. This year I have planted bulbs and some rhubarb.
I will dig up something that’s dead, but I don’t like to get rid of weeds unless they’re suffocating other plants.
I literally threw some sprouting potatos onto the ground and they multiplied.

Ah right, that's where you went wrong with your other spuds. If you plant them, they die, if you throw them on the ground they do just fine.

This works for all plants incidentally. They should be called grounds really.

Personally I have absolutely no interest in planting anything. My garden is lot and square, half patio half grass and absolutely no plants in sight. I have no interest and no time, my garden looks great.

Personally I can’t stand over-flowered gardens. I think they look absolutely awful.

Goddamn it, you should be growing weeds and chucking out of date potatoes on the path like op. Don't you care about your council house environment?

I’m not sure if you’ve never met human beings before but most people aren’t encouraged by someone saying “WHY AREN’T YOU DOING WHAT I THINK YOU SHOULD DO???! Nope - don’t want to hear excuses. It’s easy, get it done, like me. No no, it doesn’t matter what else you have going on, think of the beez”

yes well, I should’ve said, I did just throw them in the soil. There were green leaves that appeared but they went all soggy and horrible and a lot of the potatoes I originally threw down did too, they went all soggy like liquid. Maybe I was supposed to pick them or maybe I did it at the wrong time of year

I love my concrete. Low maintenance, doesn’t get mushy in the winter and my BBQ and sun lingers stand very nicely on it.

Everyone would want a nice garden, of course they would, but time, location, money, energy, working hours, family commitments etc get in the way.

Also, it's January. What are you expecting to see right now?

Also (again) - you are moaning about the look of every else's garden and evidence your green thumb by planting potatoes? I reckon the bees will need to be working extra hard to bring your garden out in bloom! 🐝 🥔 🌼 🌸