Help! Clueless

[AmandaPandtheTantrumofDoom]

I have never had a garden. Well, growing up I lived in a new build with a very 'square lawn and bedding plants' type garden, but I showed no interest. As an adult, I've never had more than a few pots.

We now have a medium sized, mature garden. It seems to have been very thoughtfully planted, but perhaps not by the last owners. It's overrun with bindweed (identified for me by my mum!) and lots of shrubs, bushes and small trees seem not to have been pruned or looked after. Some are enormous, others are funny shapes, some are being forced out of their patch by their neighbour and growing at crazy angles.

I literally have no idea where to start. Except for the bindweed. I've looked that up and started the battle. I've no idea how to identify plants I don't know other than flipping hopefully through a large book I bought at the charity shop (which doesn't have a great strike rate so far).

Does anyone have any ideas for where I can start and resources for the total novice? I'm enthusiastic, but clueless.

It would be worth asking a local gardener to spend an hour going round your garden identifying plants for you. Then when you've got a list of names you can research what maintenance they need.

Ooh, that's a good idea. Any idea how I go about finding a gardener willing to do just a couple of hours with no real prospect of a big job at the end of it?

Gardeners world and RHS websites are quite good for finding out about plants. You probably need to draw a plan of your garden with the plants' names on it as you find them out and then you can keep track of what you have (would your mum be able to help you with this? Mine did!) and when you should do things to them! As a general rule, prune the plants back once they have finished flowering, and go gently to start with. It's also a good idea to watch your garden through the seasons rather than making hasty decisions on getting rid of "boring" plants in case they are more interesting in the spring etc.

Oh and also wandering round garden centre can be good as you'll find the same plants appearing there as in your garden, easy way to find out what they are!

Ask neighbours etc if they can recommend a gardener, or look for cards in your local newsagent etc. Googling "gardener" and your village/town will probably throw up some larger companies. Garden centres sometimes have a place where local gardeners pin up their cards, or the staff there may be able to recommend someone. Many gardeners would be happy to come round for a one-off twenty quid or so.

if u go to the garden centre and recognise some plants then take a photo and a photo of the plant and label together. come home and Google!

Thanks Rhubarb. It's good to know it's not something totally 'off' to want.

Rice - thank you. The plan idea is really good. We've been in the house since Christmas and have been basically just weeding until now to try and see things through the year as you suggested. What I thought was a clump of dead grass turned out to be a beautiful Iris, so it was worth it!

Letit -photo on the phone is a good idea. I never remember which plant I thought was which when I get home. (your name isn't that awful Cbeebies tune is it? DD1 loves it and the song is now going round my head!)

yes it is. it was in my head that day too!