Heartbroken

Messynessy

We had a painter round to repaint our fence. I went out this evening and saw that he’s trampled on so many things. A beautiful hydrangea vanilla fraise(?) some sedums and many tulips that were so close to opening. A few daffodil stems were broken but I’m sure they’ll survive and I’ve already had the chance to enjoy them this year. I’m heartbroken. It’s my first year gardening and it feels like all the hard work has been wasted. 

B3

Can you post some pictures so that we can see what's salvageable? You may find that the hydrangea and the sedums will survive but you should certainly be able to take some cuttings.

Messynessy

Yes that’s a good idea thank you. I’ll head out tomorrow morning and see. The hydrangea didn’t have any new growth yet this year but I can see it’s all green inside so it was still dormant. I also lost quite a bit of vinca that was flowering happily but too close to the fence to be safe. It’s a bit of a thug so still plenty of new stems popping up all over. 

B3

Vinca  is a pest here. It will definitely survive !

wild edges

I've been so disheartened by my kids trampling and picking plants for the past couple of years but plants are generally built to survive being trodden on and eaten by animals so they bounce back surprisingly well. It might not seem like it at the time but you'll hopefully laugh about it eventually.

borgadr

I know how you feel. I had tree surgeons trampling all over newly planted stuff last year (my fault, I didn't warn them). It all bounced back though, I lost nothing.

Loxley

Yes, nothing will be permanently lost.

bertrand-mabel

Feel for you @Messynessy We have always been so worried when we have had building works done as all their parts/equipment etc end up on and in the plants. I know they have a job to do but they don't take into consideration (not all) about the area they dumping their equipment in/on.

Hope your plants do survive.

Fire

I've lost a lot that way too. Nowadays, when there are workmen in the garden, I put large pots over things I want to protect. I use tarps and wrap fleece around the roses - mostly to denote the plants are there and that I take them seriously. Workmen don't even seem to see the plants, even when given warnings.

Recently, on the community plot, workmen decided our garden was in the way. There is a fence of bamboo sticks all the way around. They took out the guard sticks and literally walked all over it as they unloaded their vans. They were told not to do it as it's a community garden. The next day they took out the sticks and did the same thing all over again. I find it unimaginable how someone can think this would be ok. We have signs up, and everything. It really makes me wonder about the human mind. Luckily it was early enough in the year that things will recover. They trode on a lovely little bushy salvia and broke it in half. They smashed up growing poppies. The home owner that employed the workmen just shrugged. "It's just what workmen do", he said.

July

Lyn

You’ll be cutting the Vanilla Fraise right back soon anyway,    I’m sure it will be ok. 

Messynessy

That’s beautiful @Fire. I’ve had another look this morning and I think most will survive. I’ve tried not to spend too much on plants so I’ve bought the smaller ones to grow into the spaces. I guess it will just take a little longer for that to happen now. He also trampled another hydrangea and a foxglove. The hydrangea had lots of new growth so was clearly alive and not a weed. The foxglove was pretty weedy.