Retiring A Garden

[barry1010]

My neighbour can no longer manage her steeply terraced garden and it is very overgrown. She has asked my advice.

As she can't see the garden through her windows, apart from the patio, she wants everything ripped out, including the fruit trees, leaving just bare earth. She can't see the point in making it look pretty and just wants to stop the weeds.

What would be the best cost effective way to do it?

She will keep her patio and pots.

[Buenchico]

My friend recently decided that his failing health meant that he could no longer properly care for all of the plants in his garden.  He contacted a local community garden scheme and invited them to take most of his plants for their own garden.  They gained lots of lovely plans and he got his garden largely cleared for free.

Perhaps your neighbour could do something similar?  Then some sort of sheeting could be used to block weeds. e.g. https://www.diy.com/departments/oypla-2m-x-5m-heavy-duty-weed-control-ground-cover-membrane-sheet/5060544758541_BQ.prd

 

[barry1010]

That's a lovely idea, Buen, and one I think she'd be delighted with.

I'll look in to the sheeting

[Hopkirk]

Surely bare earth will quickly get overgrown with weeds.

[Maydup]

Indeed, bare earth will return the space to wilderness. OK if by luck it became meadow but it's more likely to be nettles and brambles within a month. 
Bettee to employ a gardener to do some minimal maintenance. 

[barry1010]

The weed blocker Buen linked to would hopefully stop most of the weeds

[DDIL]

I remember watching a program where an elderly lady 'rented' her garden to someone who didn't have one.  The renter went on to grow vegetables etc and gave a share to the owner as rent.

Would be a shame to rip out fruit trees.

[johnk]

Great idea DD

[barry1010]

She has tried that, DDIL, but no takers.  That's how I heard of her plans, she asked me if I'd be interested in using the garden for no cost.  She knows I grow my own fruit and veg but I don't have the time or energy to take it on.