Last week was total hell at work, so I was already in a bad state of mind. It was dark when I got home last night, so I didn't notice this right away.

I had hired a guy to grind out the stump of a tree that was right along the edge of my driveway. This morning I found that he had rolled heavy equipment onto my lawn. The ground was very wet due to all the recent rain. He tore up the grass and left huge ruts in the lawn. He could easily have kept his equipment on the driveway side of the stump. I couldn't believe my eyes. I called him and left a message saying I have his check for the work and will send it as soon as he comes back to repair the damage. No way am I paying him for destroying the lawn.

Then I turn around and see that my neighbor's gardener had come onto my side of the property and sheared off all of my azaleas! The azalea bed divides our properties, but the plants are clearly on my side. In fact, she had a survey done when she moved in and the markers are still there, clearly marking that the azaleas are mine. I planted all those azaleas myself 35 years ago and have nurtured them ever since. I never trim them because azaleas are supposed to have a natural shape. It looks like they were buzzed with a chain saw. Not only that, by cutting them now, they have cut off all the blossoms that would have bloomed next spring. I could just cry.

I know the neighbor was not home when it happened, so it wasn't her fault. It was the fault of the idiot lawn workers. Even if the bushes were hers, they should have known not to do that to azaleas. I did go over and speak to her about telling her gardener to stay off my property. I did it in a friendly fashion. I like her a lot and want to remain friends.

I love to garden and have spent countless hours on my lawn and beds. I get so much enjoyment from it and to have so much destroyed by thoughtless idiots in one fell swoop is killing me.

As I said, yes, I know I should be grateful if this is the worst problem I ever have, but I am livid.

Thanks for listening. It helps to get it out.

My ex once pulled up all of my ranunculus just as they were emerging one spring. Thought they were weeds. Another time my landlord took a weedeater to all of my Dutch irises.

I actually do prune my azaleas into a hedge because they are across the front of my long front porch. If I left them natural, I'm afraid I'd look like the crazy old lady behind all the shrubs! It forces more leaf fullness and more blossoms. Your azaleas will not be the same natural shape you love but they will bloom, don't worry. Rhodadendrons look best as a natural shape but I don't have any of those. It's too hot and dry here for those beauties.

Good thing you haven't paid the stump guy yet. At least you have some recourse there!

Feel free to vent all you want. We all have the need on occasion, even if our particular problem may not seem like the "end of the world" to some, in the grand scheme of things.

Linda

Years ago I had to deal with roofers who damaged my shrubs. There are ways to prevent these things - if workers are "professionals" they should know about preventing damage to the owner's property.

Teresa

Sally

Definitely tell Stump Guy that repairs must be made before you pay him.

A similar thing happened to my friend.... her "mow and blow guy" sheared and shaped a gorgeous huge weeping cut leaf Japanese Maple into a trunk with sticks a few weeks ago. Unfortunately she has no recourse because she is married to him. LOL!

So sorry that your yard is suffering....

Alexa

Yes, this is a crew of immigrants who come in and use the slash and burn method of pruning. Everything in the neighbor's yard was whacked within an inch of its life and now resemble ugly topiaries. This is her first house. She is a single woman with an adopted child and has a lot more on her mind than learning to garden, so she just turns them loose. I'm sure she was counting on them to have some knowledge of their work.

I feel like I have been fighting a lot of battles (not the screaming and yelling kind) lately and this was just one more assault. The yard will recover with time and some manual labor. It's just sad because that's where I go to escape all the rest of the cr@p.

It is so wonderful to have you all on my side. Thanks for listening and thanks for your sympathy!

Pam

Wasn't that nice? Toatlly unnecessary but very thoughtful. I am so touched.

Still not a word from the stump-grinder guy. I'd like to grind his stump.

His check is in the mail, for sure.

OMGosh! Where Jessy? Sorry Pam! I always giggle at that stuff and, ordinarily, would *never* say it or type it...but that just hit me funny and was too good to pass up! LOL!

I truly think that gardener's develop a "gardener's eye". You can just look at something and see if it adds to the landscape or if it shouldn't be there. That includes the ability to see that nature has a plan about how and where things should grow. All of us, of course, plant things where we want them and move them around, but still!

I have learned to be very specific with the mow and blow guys. Last year the mow/blow dude did a big yard clean up for me. This included pruning a tree. What a disaster. He pruned it into a misshapen mess. It was beginning to recover but then we had a big wind storm which broke off a huge branch. Sigh, it will never be the same. He also cut to the ground an antique rose bush that was planted next to a vigorous Cecil Brunner. He thought it was a sucker I guess. Thankfully roses are hard to kill.