That "hospice for local plants" line is painfully real... but it makes me wonder what's actually happening in your garden. Is it the soil, or maybe the light that's off? I get that imported plants can be tougher sometimes, but local ones should ideally be suited to the area. So what's going wrong for yours specifically, do you figure? It seems like there's a specific reason they keep checking out early.

Which stretch exactly? My back gets so stiff after hauling boxes all day. Honestly might need to try this.

Tried that once too. My rain barrel water killed the starter and three houseplants. My sustainability era was a short one.

But have you tried using power tools with that same level of focus? I find a router or table saw needs just as much careful attention. It's really about the person, not the tool.