Gardening

Before my knee replacements, it was simply too painful to attempt to kneel.

The other problem is the terraced beds - the idiots who put them in did not make the beds flat and did not add enough levels. So I have a bed about six feet wide on a 20 degree slope, a bed about four feet wide on a 25 degree slope, then an area of grass on about a 45 degree slope. At least now I can work on those slopes some - before the knee replacements just walking on flat ground was a challenge.

I need to hire someone with a front end loader, tear out all the existing terraced beds and have them redone properly with wider, level beds going down to nearly ground level and put good quality soil in - but I simply don't have the money. With insurance my out of pocket for two knee replacements and carpal tunnel surgery was a lot. My husband needs foot surgery this year and I need to get carpal tunnel surgery on the other hand.

My strategy now is to try to put in plantings that will crowd out the weeds and take over the beds, maybe growing down the slope eventually so that doesn't have to be weed whacked. I've got three flats of hybrid lantana to plant this weekend - that's supposed to be really good at out competing the weeds. And it attracts all kinds of nectar drinkers - birds, butterflies & bees, oh boy!

I'm going to see what I can do myself and hire a couple of young men I know to help with the heavy labor for an afternoon or two. I priced hiring a landscape company and it's just not in the budget. Besides, I enjoy gardening and the work is good exercise, which I need.