'don't try' these garden tasks that could see you injured or fined

AROUND 100,00 PEOPLE SUFFER INJURIES WHILE CARRYING OUT GARDEN TASKS 15:09, 21 May 2025Updated 15:09, 21 May 2025 Each year, nearly 100,000 people suffer injuries while carrying out garden

tasks. Jobs including pruning, fencing and patio laying may appear simple but they carry a risk of injury if things go wrong. Over 87,000 people annually end up in hospital due to gardening

mishaps while more than 300,000 sustain injuries in their gardens. Some occur due to unfortunate circumstances but others are a result from a lack of skill or training. James Lewis, a

gardener with MyBuilder.com says while some garden jobs are fine to DIY, others should always be done by a professional. James said: "Most of us are capable of mowing a lawn or pruning

plants, but certain garden jobs require a knowledgeable and experienced pair of hands to get it right. "Cutting corners and DIY-ing garden tasks can often be a false economy at best,

with jobs needing correcting or redoing when it’s not good enough. But at its worst, badly done garden DIY can result in you injuring yourself, or those who use your garden. “For any jobs

that require specialist work, always call a professional in for advice at the very least. It will probably save you time and money in the long run, as well as giving you a beautiful and safe

garden." Article continues below LAYING PATIO SLABS Laying slabs for your patio may seem easy, but even just one incorrectly laid slab can lead to several problems down the line. From

small but irritating issues such as weed growth, to uneven edges causing a trip hazard for you and your visitors, this is a job best left to experts. Badly laid slabs will cause your patio

to shift over time, and will almost certainly need to be redone, so it’s not only a safety issue, but a false economy too. PRUNING TREES While this may seem like a straightforward job, it’s

actually one that requires a great deal of skill and experience. Over-pruning your trees can stress them and put them at risk of disease and pest-infestation, and cutting too close to the

trunk or main branch will leave your tree exposed to potential decay. On top of this, should any stray branch cause damage to someone else’s home or garden, you will be liable for any costs

and likely will not be covered by your home insurance. REMOVING A TREE STUMP Digging out and removing a tree stump is physically demanding and time-consuming, and without the necessary

specialist equipment, it could take days of your time. Removal of a tree stump could easily lead to injury due to the back-breaking nature of the work. REMOVING A TREE This task requires

knowledge as to whether you need permission from the local council before you remove a tree. If you do - and permission has not been sought - you could face a significant fine. The Wildlife

and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally kill or injure protected species, destroy any protected shelter, or destroy any protected plants. Beyond this, cutting down

trees can be a dangerous job and failure to do it properly could cause severe injury or even death. SOAKING AND DRAINAGE If your garden suffers from flooding or if you’re planning on laying

a patio, you might require drainage work in your garden. This is a specialist job as doing it wrong could cause damage to your neighbour’s garden, and referring to the Flood and Water

Management Act 2010, homeowners have a duty to manage their drainage in a way that won’t cause damage to other homeowners. French drains are a popular choice, but require a great deal of

expertise. FENCING Spring is a great time to repair and treat your fence after the rigours of winter. While it is possible to erect your own fencing, there are several reasons why it’s a bad

idea. Certain heights of fencing can require planning permission and you could be forced to take it down should you fall foul of this rule. If you place the posts too far apart or they

aren’t secure enough, it’s likely that the fence will not be sturdy enough to withstand extreme weather. This could result in having to replace and repair it again very quickly, costing more

time and money, as well as presenting a danger should it fall on any guests or pets. CREATING A POND While digging a pond might seem like simple but hard work, there’s a lot to consider.

Your pond should be in some level of shade to reduce algae levels, and be on a flat, level ground. You may also need help from an electrician if your pond needs a pump or filter, and water

and electrics do not mix! Finally, ponds can present a big danger to guests, so a professional can provide advice on sensible positioning and safety measures that can be taken. Article

continues below CUTTING A HEDGE Did you know that trimming certain hedges between April and September is actually illegal? As well as this problem, the tools required to trim a hedge can

easily cause injuries in the wrong hands. Hedge trimmers and secateurs are two of the tools most likely to cause garden-related injuries. Also, working on large hedges will require ladders

to do a thorough job, and ladders plus power tools are a dangerous combination without a professional.