Help me improve my neglected garden!!

[honeybeeq]

So we've just moved in to a rented property that we'll hopefully be very happy in! The actual garden is one step down from our house and it's been very neglected by the previous tenants. How can I improve it? Also, can we clear weeds from outside our house and next doors empty house if it's part of the communal access?? I've attached an actual photo and an advertised photo :/

First, clear the weeds from the steps. Start watering the lawn in the evening...every evening during summer. Yes, you can pull weeds from the communal spots.

I would consider getting planters and big pots with flowers in them. You can put them in corners and where you're going to sit...also either side of the steps.

Ask at the garden centre for good container flowers. You can have amazing shows just from a few little plants bought in a tray.

Yep, start clearing the weeds from the patio and giving that shrub/tree a trim to get it more manageable. It looks lovely in the second photo so you just need to get it back to that, it shouldn't take too much effort.

Whereabouts in the country are you? If you're somewhere that's not getting a lot of rain I'd avoid watering the lawn as it's a waste of water. It will bounce back in the autumn.

Who's responsible for the trees/shrubbery over and around the steps and building? It seems to have grown considerably since the letting photo was taken (years ago?)
To me the trees need thinning this autumn/winter once the leaves have fallen, and/or the canopy raising. Depending on how much they're encroaching I'd be speaking to the landlord.

What is the building at the end and where do the steps lead? Is it still your property?

Pots would certainly brighten things up and you can move them around/ take them with you if you decide to move. They're difficult to keep going in this heat though, need watering twice a day! Bigger/taller pots will help as smaller ones dry out faster.

So the trees and the shrubs by the building are on the road above my garden. The building is a very odd 2 storey shed with 2 doors, and is ours, currently containing the cushions from the previous tenants sofa . I'm going to ask the landlord to sort out the big tree as it's quite big and anything over 6 foot is their responsibility. We're in the Peak District and it's very dry :(

Ah okay! I'm sure once everything's trimmed back/weeded (not too much of a job) it will look great again!

I wouldn't cut back that lovely elder until you have had all the berries and made some elderberry wine.

But yes just hoe out the weeds from the paving and off of any planted area. Mow the lawn. Prune back the elder in autumn. Very little to actually do there.