Gardening

[whistonian]

I am 81 years old and have a large garden to look after. Yesterday i spent between 2 & 3 hours trimming my Hawthorn hedge.Before I had finished my chest was very sore and it took a further 3-4 hours before I felt comfortable again.
A friend has informed me that I am likely to do myself an injury and it's time I found someone younger to do the job.Do you think he is right?

[murraymints]

abso..bloomin..lutely ! ..silly sausage..does your local council offer hedge cutting service...they do my mum's for a small annual charge..AND they clear up and away..now STOP STOP STOP...doing yourself harm !!

[ladybirder]

Yes, if you can afford it.

[wiltsman]

I'm just a few years younger than you whistonian, but having recently injured my shoulder, I had to pay someone yesterday to cut the hedge to my large garden. Must admit, I'm glad I made that, correct, decision.

If spending two to three hours cutting your hedge is making your chest sore and making you feel uncomfortable, then I think its time you get someone else in to do it for you.

You know it makes sense!

[Old_Geezer]

It is your decision. One alternative might be to ensure you don't overdo it by refusing to do more than 20 minutes trimming, or equally straining work, at a time. Although at 81 I'd have expected you to be avoiding strain for many a year now (no offence meant).

Meanwhile I'm surprised at the ease folk find people to do jobs. So far this year I've failed to get builders to mend cracks in the wall and fascia /guttering maintenance folk to maintain my fascias. I have all but given up, I'm beginning to think folk just advertise services for something to do.

[237SJ]

You can find trusted gardeners and other handy persons through the Age UK website. Might be worth checking out their prices

[whistonian]

Thank you all for your replies.I guess it's time to slow down a bit.

[Sqad]

whiston:
My initial thoughts:
If you can trim a hedge for 3-4 hours at the age of 81, then you are a pretty fit guy with a good and effective circulation.
That is the bottom line.
The chest pain......3-4 hours, if no sweating and fainting is unlikely to be of heart origin and almost certainly muscular which an Ibuprofen would have settled.
Would you do an injury to yourself, by that you mean to your heart, i would doubt it. Please continue you gardening BUT confine it to an hour at a time.

\\\\I guess it's time to slow down a bit.\\\
You have summed it up beautifully in your own words.......but just a bit slower.