Could you move to a smaller house with less yard? Or would your cost for employing someone to do the yard work come to less than you'd be paying out in rent? There are options to moving. We have considered getting a Gardner but I resent someone doing the work when I'm not there to appreciate it! We also considered making the garden even lower maintenance, but we've decided we need to move. We are looking at smaller houses as well as apartments, with low or no maintenance gardens.