Help for a novice!

[Scandelicious]

We're renting a house with a big front garden full of flowers. It's become completely overgrown and I've decided finally to tackle it - cut it back and get rid of the weeds. But I don't know where to start!! Any guide to distinguishing between weeds and flowers for a complete idiot beginner??

If you post a photo on here, people are usually really helpful at identifying plants?

This one?

And this

And another

And the thing is, this all around the edges. It's basically thick flowers and other stuff in the middle. Should I wade in?? I'll trample everything if I do. This is what the garden looks like

It looks beautiful to me.... weeds are only plants growing where you don't want them - so if they look pretty, it doesn't really matter what they are. I'd just trim down anything that offends your eye. There are a few exceptions - things which are really invasive - it will become obvious that they are taking over and then you can cut them back extra harshly. A light touch is best if you don't know what you're doing.

I think you have so many lovely plants in there the weeds can't even get a look in. I can't identify any of the ones you have posted as weeds.

The best way to tackle this is with photos and a plan. On paper divide the garden to squares and take photos of each square. Maybe 8 - 16 depending on the size of the garden. The best time to tackle a job like this is In Autumn. Without the photos it might be hard for you to remember what the garden looked like.

Next step is to pull out anything you really don't like. Then as each plant finishes flowering cut it back really hard. These two jobs will help you to see the structure of the garden. I think the garden has been a little overplanted. While it probably looked lovely when it was new, the plants are now fighting each other for space and light.

You will notice that a lot of the plants that you cut back hard will start to sprought again in a few weeks. When theat happens, water them well, dig them out and divide them up. Replant about a quarter or a half. This way you will keep the plant but give it more space to grow

I should have said 'dig' out the plants you don't like. You can do that now, to give the ones you do like some space. You will probably need to buy stakes and string or garden supports for the remaining plants. At present the plants are supporting each other. Once you start digging up and cutting back, the others will flop. You will also expose the dry woody underneath of some of the plants, so be aware that the garden might look a bit of mess to begin with.

Thanks for all your help.

The thing is that we're renting for another year and then landlord is moving back. They planted the garden and I just want to make sure I'm doing at least minimum maintenance but won't redesign their garden.

We cut back from the path and very minimally weeded (got rid of dandelions at least!)

Sorry, I should have read the post properly.

Petal that is very interesting advice.

Op, I think your garden looks lovely, but I am also a novice so.....
Mine is definitely more weed that garden, and even with my untrained eye I can now spot the things that seem to appear overnight and take over.

First one, if you mean the green plant in front of shot is eryngium/ sea holly

Second one is also eryngium but sorry can't tell with the rest, the light/ dark makes it very difficult. Can you try them again?