Clearing the garden

[eggofmantumbi]

We bought our house from a retired couple who had a lot more time to take care of the garden than us.
They called it a country garden. Basically it has now got overgrown, some with weeds, some with 'proper'plants.... But we'd like to just kill it all and start again. Can we just put weed killer on everything?

Also it has a small veg patch.... So we need to be careful what we use on there if we want to grow on it again?

That's a terrible idea, OP and you will throw out loads of valuable beautiful mature plants. As everyone, has said, gardens look awful at this item of year. Give it a few weeks and tackle it bit by bit. Don't, whatever you do, weedkiller everything.

Oh I like that Una!

Just snapped the bed this morning, we did a lot more work on it after that pic! Dug it out and used a load of stones that once made my long dead Grandma's rockery to build a tumbly wall (there's a lot of cement in there!) And give us a flat bit as before most of the earth rolled onto the lawn. Ripped out the remaining heathers, cotoneasters, and (accidentally) a weigela (oops) . Planted a weeping crab apple.

It got properly planted last Spring/summer so I am itching to see what re emerges

I didn't realise my post had had more responses. Thanks everyone- so helpful!
I love the idea of dividing it into sections as it just makes it seem more manageable. And now I look at these photos again, it doesn't feel as horrendous as I thought!
What tools do I really need for it? I reckon we probably have them but just checking really.

And don't worry, I'm definitely convinced against weed killer!

Buy the best quality you can afford when it comes to gardening tools. mine have lasted over 30 years. A heavy duty pruner would be my first purchase. However, don’t do any Heavy Pruning just yet. You can tidy away any wispy, damaged or deceased wood from your shrubs, and if something is giving you grief. Prune it back slightly or take a thick stem our of the centre of the plant.

My Gatden looks all twigs and leaves at the moment, but it will soon give a 10 month display of colour.

Loppers for pruning branches, a decent set of secateurs, heavy duty gardening gloves!

I honestly would leave it a bit until at least April, just getting rid of ivy, brambles and obvious weeds (I am waging war on goose grass that is appearing at the moment). Maybe edge your lawn to make it more defined?

Beautiful in each picture Doctor

When taking over a new garden that has been cultivated before, I try to do nothing in the first year except for weeding and cutting back any plants that are getting in the way. Take lots of pictures and notes through the year so you know what you'll want to change for next year, and sit back and wait to be surprised by plants poking up from the ground to delight you!