To plant or not to plant that is the question

[ancee]

We've just moved into a council house (yes they still do exist). Problem is, they are now no longer classed as 'homes for life'. So, every penny spent on doing it up (and it really does need doing up) is money we'll never see back. We've accepted this. But, if I plant my trees into the ground and take them out of their pots, that's it isn't it? Government policies are changing all the time. You are now looking at being penalised if you have a spare bedroom! - Which means, once my children leave home and we are an old couple rattling round we no longer need the bedrooms and so will have to move out or pay an extra premium for the empty rooms! But what about my garden??? I have moved through work and an airy fairy idea of moving to the seaside 17 times in the last 17 years and so am fed up of moving!! My plants come with me, but now we are settled I want them to settle too but I don't want to leave them if I have to move in a few years from now! What would you lovely lot do? My pear tree is sick of his planter by the way! He needs a new one, but I see him looking longingly at the bare earth...

[alldigging]

Plant it.



You know you want to.

[veggiechicken]

Plant it - it will thank you for it. If you're really attached to a plant and you need to move again, you can dig it up

[northepaul]

...or you can take a scion and make a new baby tree

(You can take cuttings of any of your plants by the way)

[rustylady]

It could be many years before you have to move again, so concentrate on getting the house and garden how you want it. Plant your tree.

[Florence Fennel]

Plant it ancee, put down your roots

[VirginVegGrower]

Plant it and tell the council you're not for moving.

[zazen999]

You will probably get enough pears in the meantime to make it worth your while.

Isn't it said that we don't plant fruit for us, but for the next generation?

If it's too much to bear, get a few cheap ones and plant them.

[VirginVegGrower]

Isn't it said that we don't plant fruit for us, but for the next generation?

And on that note I am going to buy myself a mulberry for my birthday - I don't mean handbag either!

[Feral007]

I'd plant it. If and when you move, you might find someone else has planted things and left them for you. Or not. But enjoy what you've got now, and let the future take care of itself.

[Kaiya]

We're selling our house and I can't take my apple tree (she's a sapling as tall as the house!) so I plan to get her grafted onto a dwarfing rootstock so I can take a smaller version of her with us. The wonderful thing with plants is you can have your cake AND eat it - they can be in two places at once

[ancee]

Thanks for the advice everyone I'm going to plant!! It's just that I've just left such a trail of gardens in my wake. And it just makes my blood boil when the next house-owner goes "Oh, we're not into gardening" and I think all of that work and love is wasted on you!!

[Tripmeup]

Live for now!! Plant it...

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Ancee, if you are worrying about the bedroom tax - don't. Who knows what will be happening when you are retired. Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow. So, plant your tree and design your garden the way you want it. It is your home. Also remember to post photos of your garden - I'm nosey

[ancee]

Ah frostfreckle I will, you're right, I do worry about ridiculous stuff sometimes! and tripmeup that's good advice too