Maintaining a big garden when cash- and time-strapped!

[gretagrape]

We moved into a house 18 months ago with big front and back gardens lovingly tended by a retired RHS groundsman - unfortunately it's been a bit neglected as I got pregnant a month after moving in, so I am only now started to get to grips with it.
As of March I will be back to work full time, so the only time I am going to have is 10 mins in the evening to water any pots/pick veg, then hopefully 1-2 hours each weekend for pruning, planting, maintaining, etc.
Can I be a frugal but quick gardener? I'm not going to have the time to be doing things like taking cuttings from everything to avoid buying costly plants, but I also don't have a lot of cash to replace all the plants I'm having to take out because they are either diseased or too out of shape to recover from hard pruning. I have two compost bins and 4 water butts so shouldn't need to spend money planting and watering things.

I suppose I want tips to help me use my time and money well:
-what plants respond really easily to taking cuttings without too much TLC needed?
-what are your top easy veg to grow? I've grown some stuff in the past (courgettes, dwarf beans, carrots, peppers, with varying success), so will do various salad leaves and spring onions, but ideally a couple of other things for the first year while I get going.
-if you have a nice garden but only have a couple of hours a week,tell me what sort of garden do you have?

Thanks all
x

[EmNetta]

You're right to limit veg growing if short of time, but cut/come again lettuce is really worthwhile if you can defeat the slugs. DH used to grow sweet peas, but they were so labour-intensive I've not had them myself. I wouldn't have another lawn either, at least, not a real one needing mowing, but would suggest you give dc a small plot each and encourage them to grow annuals, learn about weeds etc, or maybe be in charge of one item in main garden, if old enough to look after it.
Garden should get easier by the year - good luck!

[gretagrape]

I know what you mean about 'gardeners' as well - luckily the elderly neighbour next door has someone who keeps her garden looking really good, so if I get really tight on time I can always chat to him about doing some work for me.

[gretagrape]

It's really good to hear from someone who was in a similar position to me - gives me hope and inspiration!

Well, this weekend has been very productive. After looking at Gardeners World website for advice, I've managed to prune a 30ft row of hardy fuschias down from their straggly height of around 4ft to about 6" so hopefully they will start to grow into nicer shapes for the summer.

I've also pulled out a load of weeds (thought they were actual plants but my neighbour put me right about that) that were in a big patch in the middle, so all of that, along with getting rid of the pampas grass, gives me a really clear view of the whole garden so I can start to get an idea of what I am working with.

I've also decided I'm going to grow just salad leaves and peppers this year - after looking at our food spending, the cost of peppers is horrendous (and my son is allergic to toms so I use lots of peppers to make sauces) so I reckon that will save me a few quid as well as giving me a gentle introduction into growing this year. I've grown peppers before and they were easy, so hopefully they will work for me again.

So, time for feet up with a cuppa ready to take 12 bags to the tip tomorrow!

[MyAngels]

Hi
Am in exactly the same position (much loved large garden, lots of plants (around 200 different types), got a bit neglected (before we moved in 2 years ago, previous owner got older), I have no time, two small kids..etc).

Spent the first year cutting nearly every shrub to ground (so I could see what was there), then last year redoing all the paths and crucially - laying more lawn. We can now see the wood for the trees and I can now start planting in the holes where I dug ugly/overgrown things up.

I have divided quite a lot last autumn (irises, penstemon, campanula) and took a few cuttings (penstemons were really easy), and am trying to reuse lots of plants that I already have.

I have a small veg plot so only did courgettes, tomatoes, peas - all really easy and grew well. If its cheaper to buy veg in the supermarket (carrots), then I consider too much trouble!

I also filled a hole with a rhubarb, which I'm hoping I haven't killed, but that should be pretty easy to look after.

We too had a greenhouse which we sold (sorry!) - it was looking a bit in need of help, with broken panes and so it went (DH fancies the space it was in for more parking (sorry again!), and its space is currently home to a huge pile of rubble (from the old concrete paths we had to dig up). I would have liked to have kept it, but really I didn't think I'd have the time for it for years, with the kids more grown up, to be honest.

I have finally found a reasonabley priced, knowledgable gardener to help with some of the more time-consuming or specialist jobs (digging up hideously suckered rose bed, pruning the pear tree), but it was tricky to find him amonst the large number of "gardeners" around here who just want to mow lawns and nothing more taxing.

But, as a result, I have developed a growing obsession with gardening - owning this garden has enriched my life. Even if some days and I love it and others it overwhelms me.

Sending loads of encouragement...I hope you can get to grips with it - I would love to hear how you get on.

[gretagrape]

Thanks for your opinions - I don't really want to sell it, as I was shocked at how expensive they are if I get time in years to come to use one, but I wasn't sure about the viability of it during the years that time is short!

I'm not too worried about our son with it - we're going to put a little picket fence up to surround the greenhouse and the eventual veggie patch so he won't be able to actually hit it/run into it by accident.

I think you are right and it will really be a false economy to sell it just because I don't have time right now. I'll look into that auto-watering system and see if I can afford to go for that, as that would make it worthwhile. In the meantime, I'll put one of our garden chairs in there and I can pretend to be designing the garden to get a bit of peace!

[Mirage]

I'd keep the greenhouse.I'm a gardener and have some customers who I go to for 2 or 4 hours a week,and some who ring me when they need help,perhaps only 2 or 3 times a year.You might be able to find someone locally who can do something similar.

[Pannacotta]

I would keep it even if you wont use it for a few years. I'd love to have a greenhouse but no money or space for one. As Wynken says you can just use it for storage and sitting in for now but may find you love having it in years to come (and your DCS may enjoy using it too.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

My view on this is yes but you would need to spend a bit of money to get it up and running. I use Autopots for my vine crops which are an automatic watering system that doesn't need electricity. They have a water tank which needs filling every few days depending on how big the plants are.

The plant feed just goes into the tank so you don't have to worry about feeding. So ever few days it's just a question of nipping out side shoots, topping up water and picking ripe fruit. You could be pretty self sufficient in tomatoes and cucumbers for the summer. I was lucky and given mine to year before last. Last year there was a crisis with Mum in the summer and I had very little time to spend on the greenhouse but still did well out of it as everything was in the Autopots.

Has you greenhouse got Auto openers on the windows ? I find these work well until it gets to the point where the door needs opening in morning and closing at night. Then it gets to the point where the doors are left open all to time which is easier.

If the glass on the greenhouse is going to be an issue with DC then sell it now. If not I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry as would cost a lot to replace and even if you don't use it for a few years you might be very glad of it in the future. Maybe set up an old table as a potting table and store pots, bags of compost etc for now so it is doing something. And put a chair so you can occasionally sit out when it's raining having a cuppa.

[gretagrape]

So, I've been having a think about the greenhouse - it's about 15x8 and bearing in mind how little time I've got I'm wondering if I should sell it? I've never grown anything in a greenhouse and from what I've read it takes a lot of effort in terms of keeping it bug/germ free and obviously daily watering, damping down, adjusting ventilation/light levels.

What's everyone's honest opinion? If I only have a few mins to spare each evening am I going to get the best use out of it and produce decent plants?

[gretagrape]

Well I'm starting to think that we aren't really going to get a winter as we've probably only had 3 or 4 frosty mornings so maybe I'll give it about a month to make sure then divide them.

I know what you mean about pampas - I'll be glad to see it go. I remember a comedy a few months ago where the bloke was convinced that having pampas in your garden is a secret sign that you are a swinger!! Can't get that out of my head now, surrounded by all my lovely elderly neighbours!

[funnyperson]

Generally you can divide perennials in the spring and again in the autumn. 'spring' is a variable depending on the warmth of your soil and the absence of night time frosts.
I've come to think that spring is a better time because there is a longer growing season for your divided plants.
I don't really like pampas grass at all- it seems a very dated plant,and takes a lot of sun and space.

[gretagrape]

I'm really lucky because I can see even from the small amount of time I've spent out there this weekend that there are hardly any weeds apart from tiny ones with almost no roots and the odd dandelion. There does seem to be a lot of well-rotted bark down, so it looks like that has done the job really well. There are only a couple of odd stems of thorns so they shouldn't be an issue either.

I like the idea of buying a different hellebore then seeing what happens when they mate!

I found a sedum below the pampas grass - this is great, like getting loads of free presents every time I go out there! I've had one of those before and split them successfully, so I'll split that one and replant. Do you split perennials after they have flowered as a rule, or during a specific season?

My aim is to not actually spend any money on the garden this year - just prune, remove, and take cuttings/divide what I have time to do, then see what I've got next Spring, otherwise it's so easy to go out and buy lots of pretty plants without really looking at what I've got.
I think the Gardening section of MN is going to be my best friend now!

[LadyMetroland]

We have similar issue - huge garden, no time.
I like wild gardens so letting it go a bit hasn't bothered me too much
Biggest issue, of course, is weeds! Putting bark over the borders and just leaving major shrubs is something I've been toying with but don't even have time to do that (3 kids under 5).
Last couple of years we've ended up getting gardeners over to blitz the place once a season but of course that can get very expensive.
Watching for further ideas!

[gretagrape]

You've all given me some really good ideas. I did gloat at the garden centre as they had loads of the hellebores at £10 a pop. I'll cut the black leaves off then have a go at splitting in a month or so. I also had a good look around my Mum's garden and will be hoping to steal some cuttings of hebe's and grasses as they are also really expensive.

I've just starting hacking at the hideous half-dead pampas grass that is in the centre of the front garden - I can't wait until that's out then I'll be able to get a perspective of the whole area.

I think you're all right about the veg - I was keen to do it so my son would grow up knowing about it all, but he really won't take it in this year so I think I'm just going to concentrate on what's already there and what needs taking out, then hopefully start on veg next year (there is a 15ft greenhouse which has just been used to store our bikes and wheelbarrow, so hopefully that will get a bit of use next year!)

It's funny, but it's not until I started this thread that I really thought about my motives and realised that I was trying to preserve what the last owners had built up, which was a lot of pressure, so I feel really relaxed now about taking my time to make the garden work for our own family.

Thanks for all your advice - the sun is shining for what looks like the next 20 minutes or so, so I'm off to do some more hacking!

[CatsAreLikeChocolates]

Ooh! Those helebores are lovely. They're also called Lentern Roses. So pretty! We've got loads of them in our inherited wilderness, which like yours was once a well loved garden. They come in all sorts of colours and will cross-pollinate so if you buy some others in different varieties you might end up with your own unique hybrids. I bought some purple and some lime green ones last year and this year have some rather natty stripy numbers which I definitely didn't plant. As others of said they divide really well too.

In terms of keeping up with a big garden I would recommend ordering a truck load of bark mulch asap, pulling out all the weeds you can see (like brambles, etc), then putting bark over all the beds to stop the weeds going too mad once the spring comes. I think that really full beds of shrubs are actually easier than lawn, but then I really do hate mowing! Leave the shrubs to do their own thing as much as possible; I don't believe Titchmarsh and co, and I've found that most things don't really need that much pruning. As for veg, which whilst fab it is v hard work, I would go for raised planters filled with bought in irradiated, weed-free top soil for a few salad leaves, spring onions and beetroot. All other veg is so cheap in places like Lidl that I would only bother if you have lots of time to look after them.

Mostly, just remember that it's your garden now and needs to be a happy place for you and yours, not just a burdensome shrine to the previous occupant. Enjoy it!

[Pannacotta]

Yes why not get a good gardener to come and help you work out a plan of action and look at what you have there so know what plants are there. Someone RHS qualified will know their stuff, is there a horticultural college near where you live where you could ask for names?

Cut off the black leaves of your Hellebore btw as this will prevent infection spreading, also means you can see more of the lovely flowers.

Also worth looking at gardening books for ideas and identification.

Btw not all gardeners are male!!

[LadyGardenersQuestionTime]

hellebore is perennial and you can split it. When you get to the garden centre look at the prices of flowering hellebores in pots and gloat a bit.

[LadyGardenersQuestionTime]

Lovely, hellebores. But if you want them as cut flowers indoors then they will droop, need water very close up to their necks.

If you don't already have a veg bed already and you are horribly time strapped do you need to start growing veg? Pots work out expensive and the plants aren't necessarily cheap (although this month's gardener's world has a good article on veg that save loads of money) and you have to be religious with watering some of them.

[gretagrape]

Oh, that picture isn't great is it - here's a close up of the flower!

[gretagrape]

Oooh if only bringing the last owner back was an option - unfortunately they moved a 4 hour drive away! I could look at getting a local gardener in for one session of pruning/clearing and try to get as much info as I can out of him, but I couldn't afford for it to be a regular thing.

I'll have a look at your suggestions for plants that are easy to look after - I'm off to the garden centre in a minute to get inspiration (WITHOUT my purse!).

I've taken a picture of my surprise plant that I found yesterday - it's about 12" tall x 16" wide - it looks more like a perennial than a shrub as it's very green and fleshy rather than woody. There are a few black leaves on it, but I'm hoping it's ok as the rest looks healthy. What do you reckon it is? It would be good if it's something that could be divided because I'd love to have a few more of it for spring colour.

[whereisshe]

If you want to fill gaps cheaply, other than seeds, plug plants are a good option. They do need a bit of attention until they get established but if you pick your moment in early Spring that's quite a quick process. Other things that are hard to kill and don't need much maintenance include aquilegia (will self-seed), some of the geraniums, Icelandic poppies (although a bit invasive), violas (the small native one- will self seed happily), pachysandra...

[funnyperson]

Yes I think i*pannacotta's suggestion is a good one- I once left a 'gardening diary' behind when I moved house: it was a month by month diary of what came up when and what work I tended to do: sounds grand but there were lots of bulbs and perennials and things and all of the planting wasnt immediately obvious to a new comer.

[Pannacotta]

Have you thought about asking him to come and do some gardening work for you?
Perhaps just a few hours at a time until you have it under control?
A proper gardener can get a lot more done than an amateur and it might save you time and hassle in the long run.
He could also talk you through what is there and perhaps you could ask him to create a maintenance plan as a proper RHS garden would have.
No need to keep it as it was but you can build on the foundations.

[gretagrape]

Yes, it's hard when the garden was so 'designed' and lovely - the tendency is to try and maintain what is there, but I do need to adapt it to suit us rather than just leave it as a memorial to the last owners.
One problem I have is that my Mum is one of those people who could literally just chuck a load of mouldy old seeds out the back door and she'd have something worthy of the Chelsea Flower Show all summer, so when I ask her advice, everything is easy!
I think the sweet peas will be a nice idea then - it will be a nice little task for my son to help with when we get home from work/nursery, and I think they will add a nice bit of colour and scent while the rest of the garden is looking a bit sparse from my pruning/hacking this year!

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

I think Milly has a good point about shrinking the beds and gardens evolving. We just had a few big shrubs in our back garden that were not appropriate in the space and needed grass for the DC's whilst little. Now they are older we're digging up a bit of grass fir borders now the climbing frame etc has gone

Sweet peas are pretty easy but need picking regularly I think to keep flowering throughout the summer or they set seed. However a nice job to do in the evening and flowers for the house.