Is this asking too much?
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Anonymous
| I have a neighbor in her 60s. We often keep tabs on each other’s houses when we head out of town. I have some beautiful flowers this year that I don’t want to lose if I can help it. Is it asking too much to request she water them for the four days we will be gone? FWIW, she gardens in her own yard in the evenings. I feel awful asking for some reason. The job itself takes about 10 minutes tops. |
Anonymous
| We hire that kind of stuff out. I would not be comfortable having an elderly woman working on our outdoor property anyway. One fall and she can sue you. |
Anonymous
OMG. I wouldn’t hesitate. My parents would be thrilled if they were asked (my mom also gardens on the evenings). These are the normal asks of neighbors. Bring her some chocolates from your trip or bake her a pie when you get home. She can also say no, which is perfectly fine. |
Anonymous
Granted I’m late 50’s so not quite 60’s, but when you’re describing an elderly woman falling while watering flowers I’m picturing my mother, not me. Barring health issues a woman in her 60’s should be quite capable of watering plants. If the neighbor is a gardener in general and it’s literally next door I would consider asking her first. If she’s says she can’t do it then I would look at hiring someone else. My neighbors and I, younger and older, do that kind of stuff for each other all the time. |
Anonymous
To clarify, she will be walking into my yard and spraying from a hose that I will leave out near the garden bed. She’s not weeding or doing anything else. |
Anonymous
She’s 60, not 100. |
Anonymous
| Sprinkler on a timer. |
Anonymous
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Not at all, particularly if you bring home some small treat as a thank you.
(That said, one of my teens was asked to do this recently, and there was enough rain that no watering was necessary.) |
Anonymous
| I think it’s fine to ask. We would do it for a neighbor. If you are not reciprocating anytime soon bring a small gift back from where you’re going. Preferably something consumable. |
Anonymous
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It should be fine, but only you know the relationship with her.
All of this kind of stuff used to be normal to ask of neighbors. Now, we are so isolated and scared to ask even friends of anything. No more rides to the airport - hire an uber. No watering of plants - hire someone. Etc etc. I’m also guilty of not wanting to put people out but I think it does weaken our community bonds more broadly. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
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Does she have anything else going on? We are in our late 40s/early 50s with two teens and it would be a pain since we are both working. I wouldn’t even want our kids to do it since they aren’t home every evening.
My retired parents in their 70s would love this. I would not worry at all about them falling. They walk miles per day for exercise. |
Anonymous
| Since you don't have drip irrigation (which is a right pain to set up!), I would do timed sprinkler, or maybe those inverted water thingies that you can put at the base of each plant. Alternatively, you can ask your neighbor, but make sure to bring her back a nice gift! |
Anonymous
| My neighbour has asked me to water their plants for them, I dont see an issue with it. As long as you're friendlyish already, at least. |
Anonymous
| I would be happy to do it for my neighbors. |