Are You A Nuisance Gardener?

When we think about who a “nuisance gardener” is, we rarely associate ourselves with this ragtag group of misfits. Instead, it’s a word we save for a nagging neighbor or a bothersome community member who irritates us to no end. Yet, it is conceivable that some of our garden activities may not endear us with the neighbors.

Are you a Nuisance Gardener?

So, before we point the finger at those who “get under our skin,” let’s take a quick look at some of those pesky activities to see whether we may – perish the thought! – be considered a nuisance gardener.

The Sunday-Morning-Mowing-Nuisance-Gardener

The most hideous of all nuisance gardeners is the noise nuisance. This individual has little or no, concern for neighbors’ well-being and insists on using the mower/blower-vac/chainsaw or other power tools first thing Sunday morning. The only nuisance that rates higher than this are performing these similar activities on a bank holiday. Imagine the gall!

The Boundary-Hedge-Trimming-Nuisance-Gardener

Next, but not a distant second, is the gardener who takes joy in trimming their boundary hedges only to leave their neighbor’s prunings laying in situ. While the gardener’s side of the fence looks neat and manicured, the neighbors now resemble a green-waste depot.

Maybe you’re justified leaving the waste to lay there week after week because your neighbor refuses to trim their side of the hedge – but really! Is it that difficult to keep harmonious relationships?

The Foul-Wind-Fertilising-Nuisance-Gardener

I swear that most gardeners in my neighborhood wait until the wind changes before they apply their organic fertilizers. The moment you crack open a well-earned cold beer and take a seat on the patio, your skin becomes a noxious green as you gasp for breath and the odor of fertilizer envelopes the street.

Admittedly, I haven’t always checked the prevailing weather conditions before applying soil amendments, but this is one activity that will undoubtedly wind you up as a nuisance gardener.

The View-Blocking-Tree-Growing-Nuisance-Gardener

As gardeners, we’re all keen to make the most of a borrowed landscape yet not so impressed with a view-blocking landscape. A nuisance gardener is one who doesn’t consider what their landscaping activities may inhibit their neighbors from viewing.

Instead, they plant trees, hedges, large growing shrubs, or erect landscape structures that clearly don’t promote neighbor harmony.

Most will argue that a view is a valuable commodity, and hindering that outlook may cause enemies rather than develop life-long friendships.

The Nuisance-Pet-Owner

This nuisance gardener doesn’t have to be a dog, or cat, owner. Crowing roosters, threatening geese, roaming peacocks, and arrogant alpacas can undoubtedly bring the level of neighborhood consonance to its knees. Put yourself in your neighbor’s shoes and ask the question, “If my car had become the territorial interest of my neighbor’s gander, would I be removing them off the Christmas card list?”

The Smoking-Nuisance-Neighbour

Tobacco. Pot. Backyard incinerators. Regular burn-offs. Patio incense burners. Smoke, no matter the source, can strain neighbor relationships beyond the burning point. It’s often an unpleasant odor that can keep neighbors indoors and label you a nuisance gardener.

In the interests of keeping friendly relationships with your neighbors, it may be worth considering some of your gardening activities and assessing whether or not you may have become the nuisance gardener yourself. I’m not saying you are….just asking the question!