My first ever garden of my own and it's full of weeds!

[BabyLord]

We have just moved into a place and I have my first ever garden all to myself! It's a good size with various sections of 'green' but it is pretty much all weeds. Nettles dandelions and some other things i cant identify but i need to basically start over again.

As its my first garden i have no idea what i'm doing but would love to just get stuck in. I have dreamed of my very own garden for so long!!

Where do i start?! I'd be really grateful for some advice.

Measure and draw a plan, then plot the sun so you know where it is in the morning and afternoon.
You can then decide what style you want and what elements are important. For example cottage garden, vegetable plot, somewhere to sit or children to play.
Practically news the time to get rid of all the weeds, before they seed. Are there any plants to keep? Winter is a good time to dig over the beds and prepare them for spring planting.
It all sounds a lot, but is best done in stages. Enjoy!

I'm in the same boat OP, garden on my new home has been left alone 2-3 years and needs work! I've cleared heaps of nettles, groundsel, dandelions, thistles and bindweed. There are some plants here - several fuschias, some roses, a very woody rosemary, a dead looking hydrangea and a mystery bush. I'm going for a policy of severe pruning and see what they look like next year before deciding what to keep.

PS the RHS website seems useful for tips and ideas. I have no idea what I'm doing really but so far it's fun.

If you are keen to get stuck in I would buy a really good quality fork and some garden garbage bags. You can see the weeds clearly this time of year and with recent rain it should be easy to remove them. Dig deep to get them out with all of their roots, otherwise they will just multiply. Once it is cleared I would get a spade and turn the soil. Leave it for a couple of weeks and you should be able to see any roots that have been left behind.

Meanwhile look on Pinterest "Landscape Garden" ideas. Screen shot any thing that really appeals. As you browse your screen shots you will see a pattern of your preferences emerging. Maybe colours keep recurring, shapes, evergreens, grasses, cottage, formal,
vegetable garden or fruit garden.

Although I have never read it, MN always recommend the, Alan Titmarsh How to be a gardener, book for beginners. Lots of gardening books on Amazon are just a couple of pence, but I would decide on your style before you spend money on books.

My only tip. Is to buy the very best garden tools you can afford.

It also helps to get a soil tested from a garden centre. Different plants thrive in different soils. If you want to plant any bigger trees or hedge, then late autumn/winter is a good time as they are dormant then.

I heard if you throw a load of nettles into a bucket with water, put the lid on and leave it in the sun, in a fortnight you will have lovely stinky fertizer tea for the garden. Maybe someone else knows a bit more about It!