Murray Freeman, 79, was devastated when he woke to find his plants and flowers ripped up and strewn across his lawn.

Tears rolled down Murray Freeman's face as he described how vandals destroyed his prized Christchurch garden.

"The grass was just strewn with plants, it was a hell of a mess," the 79-year-old said.

JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ Murray Freeman, 79, whose Redwood garden was vandalised.

"It's just so bloody awful."

Elysium and lobelia border plants were ripped from beside a manicured lawn, mature red salvia plants snapped at their base in the random attack by night.

"It would have to be people that were stoned or drunk wouldn't it, to be so stupid," Freeman said.

Freeman has lived with his wife Valerie Freeman on Lowry Ave, in Redwood, for more than 20 years and thinks the attack must have happened late Monday night or early Tuesday morning while they were sleeping.

"Molly [the pair's two-year-old golden retriever] was sleeping in the lounge and she didn't hear them, so they were quiet workers."

Freeman's green thumb had grown since old age robbed him of previous joys such as tramping and skiing.

Supplied Plants were ripped out and strewn all around the garden.

"My garden is of tremendous importance – it's my hobby, I enjoy it and I wander up and down every day wondering how I can make it better," Freeman said.

The pair spent the last two days replanting those plants they could save and clearing up the mess.

They called the police but knew it was a long shot to find those responsible.

Supplied The vandalised garden of Murray Freeman, Redwood.

"Of course the police, they're very polite and everything but they can't do anything, can they."

Freeman said he would like to "strip and thrash" whoever ripped up his plants.

"If someone came in and ripped five plants out and took them home, you'd forgive them, but to vandalise like that, I just can't understand it.

"We will get it back looking good, and hope the things we've replanted will be OK, but we just don't understand why someone would do this."