You only have to live up to your own standards, not your mother's. Don't spend 3 seconds worrying about whether your house and yard are clean enough to suit her. There's no law saying you have to have a nice garden. Mom gets to run her household as she sees fit. You are the boss of your home, not her. I hate to say this, but it may be that the less you see of your mom, the happier you'll be.