Thanks Squiggle I really have no time, knowledge or desire to do a lot of gardening. I just want it to look as little a mess with a little effort as possible! These flower beds are a nightmare for weeds they can grow a few meters high in just a couple of months! So I'm happy I've got the liner down to stop them and I just need something presentable for now. We do have a row at the top that has some small trees planted that look very nice and are easy to maintain.
Sure born2run, I know aims, time, desires and abilities vary. I'm also aware of weeds (and I fear there is the dreaded creeping thistle on the farm patch) that grow tall and thick - put the big strimmer through "walls" of weed recently but yes, even a freshly dug veg square can quickly turn to weed and it can need a daily routine...
I've always enjoyed eating fresh produce but never thought of myself as a gardener (outside bits of grass cutting). I think one of my first efforts here came when mum found watering harder. For round the back, I set up a series of water butts, used a solar panel and marine fresh water pump and between that and the micro irrigation bits, we can do the veg plot and the small greenhouses by pressing buttons on tap timers. I was happy as "garden tech".
Then I take on the salad bits and like growing the tomatoes etc. I think this year, I became more aware of how we were loosing more ground which leads on to the new tools and me trying to be responsible for more and the looking at simplifying some bits.
I guess some things sort of creep up on you, although I think I'll enjoy my increased role again. I don't at this stage see myself as becoming a flower gardner or the person going round daily pulling up weeds.
It's not been the easiest of years this year with dad in hospital for a couple of months, and mum in for a week (which believe it or not started with a cut from a tomato tin and turned into a nasty infection) and things got more out of control than ever but I think we are heading in the right directions, as far as we can foresee anyway..