newbie gardener struggling with stuff!

[mogwai]

We have a large-ish east-facing back garden with two large lawns, two patios and empty flower beds held in place by railway sleepers.

My husband is studying for exams and I'm struggling to sort the garden out on my own. I cleaned the patios at the weekend with Jeyes Fluid and then used a pressure washer on the ornamental wall. I've also pulled the weeds out of the borders, so made a good start!

All this with a 9 month old daughter who has separation issues and has to have me in her sight!

We have some really patchy bits of lawn, particularly the lower level of the garden, which is sodden for much of the winter. I probably need to reseed parts of it but don't know how to do this or what to buy.

I have no idea what to put in the borders. They don't get much direct sunlight. The border at the back is on an easterly wall so gets sun in the afternoon and evening. the other main border is on the southern side of the garden but is north facing IYSWIM. This border has some shrubs but I'd like to plant flowers too.

I'd also like some ideas about plants for pots that will stay alive through the winter! One of our patios gets no direct sunlight after about 1pm, the other one is light until about 4-5pm

Any ideas gratefully received!

Before you think of re seeding the grass you need to sort out the poor drainage.Especially as your DD will be walking soon and you probably dont want her to play in mud

Is your soil acid alkali or neutral? Soil type? Where do you live ( area) and is it town or country? Inland or coastal? Windy? Exposed?

You need to plant things that like the conditions in your garden or you will just create a lot of work

If your soil is in poor condition you need to improve it first.

Sorry there is so much to think about befroe you get to the fun stuff of buying new plants

Make boders mostly shrubs or it will be too much work. You can still have them colourful with flowering shrubs & a mixture of foliage shapes and textures. And some perennials and bulbs. If you dont knwo what to do with the borders at the moment put down some mulch so you dont get lots of annual weeds

we live inland, in cheshire. We are quite elevated and I think the soil is based on sandstone.

Not especially windy.

We have drainage pits in the lower lawn but they don;t seem to work!