Would it be too much?

Personally, I think I would give it a go. You would probably enjoy it, and if it did get too much then you would have to tell her, or try and find someone else who wouldnt rip her off.

Hi Tiger. only you knows if it will be too much, have a good think about it, and talk it over with your OH.and after that if you feel fit enough i would say give it a go. i'm sure it would put your neighbours mind at rest if you gave it a try. Good luck. :o)

i cant think that it would do anything but good ~ you helping the neighbour, she gets a better deal; so long as its not one of those highly demanding type of gardens you will both gain. you could always change some bits to make it easier ~ im sure your neighbour wouldnt mind.
hope it works out well.

Thanks for the input everyone. I knew that the good people here would talk common sense!
The garden in question is quite low maintenance, being mainly lawn and shrubs. My neighbour did say she would look after her baskets and pots herself. It's more of the labour intensive work that i would be required to do. She still has all the tools so i wouldn't even have to use my own. Perhaps i could agree with her to do it every so often, rather than as regular as my own. The money is not important but she insists on paying me, maybe this will be a way of enabling us to come to an agreement on time spent, as you all know how long we like to spend in our gardens LOL!

im sure some kind of a compromise could be worked out ~ enjoy the garden!!

Just seen this and I would say 'Go for it!' ... a friend of my Mums is in the same boat so to speak ... she allows a chap to use her late husbands greenhouse in return for maintaining her lawn and borders. No set times ... as and when required. I think older folk wish to keep their gardens neat & tidy ... but are often unable to do the bending & stretching involved! Your neighbour obviously considers you to be a reliable & trustworthy gardener. Think of the plants you could exchange and/or take cuttings of! : o )

Wise words Shirley, I hadn't thought about it in that way! I suppose we will both benefit in our own way. We have built up quite a trust, as she has now had a spare set of keys cut for us just in case anything should happen to her. Her family were pleased that she has someone they could trust as they are not always available. She doesn't have a greenhouse but does have a large empty garage! Who knows? LOL

I cut the grass for an elderly lady down the village. She has uite a lot of grass but it is no big deal. I would look after the garden if it were my descision.

Well i think with all the comments and the backing of the wife, i will go ahead and see how it goes. I may supply some photos later in the year and let you all know how i get on, thanks to everyone.

I'd jump at the chance especially if I could have the experience of growing her plants and I'd think of it as an extension of my garden :o)

My parents have a lovely man who comes when needed my mum just rings him up and asks him to come to cut the grass. I think if you feel you can do it then go for it, it'll be nice for your neighbour to have you in the garden too bit of company? do let us know how you get on, nice to have good neighbours :o)

If you feel you can do it then go ahead - if it gets too mcuh you could also keep a lookout for someone who could do it instead. Perhaps an ad on your local shop/supermarket's notice board ?

Yes i think if it did become too much Mariek, i would follow your advice. It would always be better to find a recommended gardener and to see some of their work first.

stupidly i had forgotten, my mum has someone to mow the lawn for her; [she lives two and a half hours away from me] which enables her to keep the garden she loves, keeps the value in the house and works very well for her. he just cuts the lawns and then we do any heavy digging that she cant manage ~ she is 81.

Yes Sticki, our neighbour although not as keen a gardener as i am, would hate to see her garden go to ruin. I somehow think that it would also in time, mean she would ask me to do other little odd jobs around the house, because she too is very house proud. As long as any other work was minor in nature, i think i will agree to help her.