Why homeowners say the sums add...
For many homeowners, the idea of downsizing brings mixed emotions. There’s...
19th Mar
General
For many of us, a garden becomes part of the story of a home. It’s where children once played for hours, where dogs wore their paths across the lawn, and where summer evenings drifted by over a family barbeque or a glass of wine.
It is often the first place we notice the changing seasons too, from the snowdrops pushing up in February to the last roses holding on into October.
Stepping away from a garden like that is rarely a purely practical decision, because it carries memories in its borders and routines in its pathways. What surprises many people, though, is that the pleasure of being surrounded by greenery and planting doesn’t disappear just because the responsibility for maintaining it has gone. In fact, once the constant list of jobs is removed, it can sometimes become easier to appreciate those small seasonal details even more.
Over time, the hidden labour behind even the most beautiful garden begins to add up. Lawns need mowing, hedges demand trimming, gutters fill with leaves, patios become slippery underfoot, and fences and borders need attention that never seems to come at a convenient moment. What once felt like enjoyable activity can gradually turn into a cycle of maintenance that needs to be kept on top of.
Joan, who moved after decades in a large Victorian house, remembers that feeling. “I was the one who noticed the guttering,” she recalls, explaining that if anything needed doing up a ladder, it often became her responsibility to make sure it happened.
That accumulation of responsibility can weigh not only on homeowners themselves, but also on their families, who naturally begin to worry about ladders, uneven paving, slippery paths and the physical effort required to keep everything in good order, for them or their loved ones.
For some people, the turning point comes not because they stop loving their garden, but because they realise that it has started to demand more energy than it gives back.
Homeowner David remembers standing on a sloping lawn, struggling with the mower and wondering how much longer it made sense to keep going. After moving, he felt an immediate relief. “When you move here, all of a sudden, you’re not looking at jobs that need doing around the house and garden. The worry has instantly all gone away.”
Homeowner Sue echoes that sentiment: “The grounds here are lovely and so well kept. Having the gardeners is a huge benefit, the fact that somebody else is doing it for me is brilliant.”
Our expert gardening team maintain the landscaped gardens all-year round
The emotional attachment often remains though. Margaret, who had built her family home and tended half an acre of garden for decades, admits she was fond of it. However, after moving, she discovered a different kind of relationship with the outdoors. “We have much more time available to do the things that we want to do because we no longer have to worry about the upkeep of a big house and garden.”
For many people, that shift from maintaining a garden to simply enjoying it makes a remarkable difference. In some cases, that means stepping back from gardening altogether. David is cheerfully clear about his own choice. “There’s a gardening club, but I said: I’ve done enough gardening for my life thank you.” He now enjoys the view without the physical strain that once accompanied it.
For others, the pleasure comes from being able to take part on their own terms. Joan enjoys planting a few bulbs or taking cuttings without carrying the overall responsibility. “We go around dead-heading, but we haven’t got that major responsibility anymore. You can back off if you don’t feel like it today, you haven’t got to do it and that’s lovely.”
That freedom to garden for pleasure and to step away when it feels like work is often the key difference.
Homeowner John, grows carrots and beetroot in a small allotment area, while Marcia enjoys the colour from their patio. The scale of their gardening has changed, but the enjoyment is still very much there. Instead of entire borders to manage, there are pots to tend, and instead of weekend-long chores, there’s the choice to spend time outside when the mood takes them.
Adlington Retirement Living gardening club
There is also a social side to outdoor spaces that many homeowners say they had not anticipated. Gardens and patios become places to sit, talk and spend time with friends. Rob, who moved to Broadleaf House after decades in a large house, describes warm afternoons spent outside with neighbours, sharing gin and tonics as the sun goes down.
Homeowner Cath shares: “There are some very keen gardeners among the homeowners, and when the weather’s nice I love sitting out in a sunny, sheltered spot by the greenhouse, chatting and watching them working in the raised beds. As a retired GP, I can really see how important it is; being outside, socialising and staying connected to nature makes a real difference.”
Homeowner Dr Cath relaxing in the gardens
Sunny weekends can now be enjoyed without the pressure of jobs waiting to be done, and holidays no longer require a careful checklist of watering schedules or neighbours holding spare keys.
A garden without the graft still offers birdsong in the morning, blossom in spring, and the satisfaction of watching something grow. What changes is the obligation.
As Joan puts it: “The gardens are lovely here. I haven’t got the overall responsibility. It’s just a superb arrangement.”
When the responsibility lifts, appreciation can return. Sitting outside with a drink in the sunshine, noticing the first shoots of spring or the colours of autumn, can feel all the more rewarding. The garden is still there, offering a sanctuary to enjoy, but it no longer asks quite so much in return.
Adlington Retirement Living homeowners relaxing in the maintained gardens
You can find more homeowner stories and inspiration like this in our free, monthly magazine, Adlington Life.
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