Woman fuming after ‘helpful’ neighbour landscapes garden while she’s on holiday

It seems the neighbour had taken her plant-watering responsibilities a little too far – not only had she weeded the entire garden, but she’d also got rather enthusiastic with her secateurs.

The woman came home to find all of her beloved roses had been hacked away.

Taking to Mumsnet, she explained: ‘We were away on holiday for 10 days and had asked our neighbour to water the plants in the green house whilst we were away.

‘Turns out she did a lot more than what we had asked for – the entire garden was completely weeded, plants and shrubs shaped and manicured, we were shocked and genuinely grateful, she did not have to do any of this.’

So far, so good – but there was more.

‘Everything seemed perfect,’ said the poster, ‘except she cut down ALL our roses!!!!’

To make matters worse, the neighbour has taken the cuttings to plant her own beautiful rose bush.

‘Did she cut them all down so she could plant in her garden?’ asked the angry woman.

‘We have five different roses shrubs/climbers in different areas of the garden, she has cut most of them to none,’ she explains.

‘Before we left they were all in full bloom, very leafy, big shrubs with abundant flowers taking up a lot of space.

‘Yes they did look a bit wild and overgrown, but we always went for the wild cottage garden look instead of the perfectly manicured look, and June/July is the time roses really grow and flourish.

‘From the short conversation we had after we came back it sounded like she thinks she has done us a favour,’ she added.

Now the poster says she’s ‘bitter’ and isn’t sure if her feelings are justified.

Unsure of what to do, other Mumsnet users shared their advice.

One wrote: ‘Is it possible she felt they intruded on her garden and took the opportunity to cut them right back? Or that they made her view look untidy? Neither are an excuse but wondering her motivation!’

Another added: ‘I don’t think there’s anything to be done. The roses will recover. Just do not ask her again!’

Many felt she should share how the experience has made her feel and confront the neighbour.

‘Just ask her why she did it,’ many agreed.

Well, there’s no rose tinted vision left here.

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