Flower bed from hell

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

2nd time I've tried posting this. Last one just disappeared.

Basically I am clueless about gardening. We are very lucky to have a large garden with loads of lovely, tall trees. It's quite pretty in parts. And yet, despite having easy/cheap access to outdoor plants (relations own market gardening business) we have no plants outside. Been here 6 years. So lazy.

There is, however, a long, bricked, flower bed in one corner of the garden that is ridiculously overgrown with weeds. It borders 2 fields, one of which we also own, which is also a mess.

What can we do to clear these weeds en masse? I'm not against removing the whole thing and starting anew somewhere less awkward.

More pics.

I think you probably need to hire a gardener!

Otherwise I would pull out all the weeds and then look for some hardy perennials or small bushes.

In all honesty if you don't like gardening I would pay someone to sort it out for you.

Ohhhh you have precisely the same problem as me! It’s my first year in this house, so I’ve let the beds “do their thing” so I can see what’s in there....

Have decided to rip all out, rotivate, and establish medicinal herb garden on one side- and creeping shrubs/cottage garden flowers in the other. Undecided on the bit under the trees at the far end of the garden. May let go wild (within reason!) and out some bug houses etc in for DC...

Dh is generally very good in the garden, he just ignores this area though. 🙄

I'm not opposed to hiring someone to do part of it but was just wondering if there's anything we can do to start it off? Partly to take the bad/6 years of neglect look off it.

Rotavators just churn up the soil don't they? Is there a similar tool for weeding? Blowtorch?

I would clear the border and then put in some low maintenance plants like rosemary or lavender which you prune just omce a year after flowering. They will fill the border in no time. You could add some tall plants in between like agapanthus or japanese anemone for a bit of height.

It all looks quite dry under the trees there. Wait till it rains ( some hope!)
When the ground is softer and pull out the weeds using a garden fork. In the mean time remove the heads of flowering weeds so they don’t set seed and create more weeds.
Then plant in some low maintenance plants for semi shade, such as Cranesbill geranium, which will spread, Hydrangeas that will fill the space, and creeping plants such as Persicaria.
The RHS website lists other suitable plants for dry semi shade areas.

I live in NI so it's due to rain today for a bit.

I am just put off by that mass of differing leaves in the middle. I'm not that concerned with having plants in it this year. Just getting it cleared. Would attacking it with a brushcutter work? And then pulling up whatever is left and covering it well maybe stop the weeds for now?

I'm liking the plant suggestions by the way. I would love a bit of colour over there. So much of the garden is just flatish grass, which is great for the ds playing football, and the trees are pretty, but we have next to no colour otherwise.

I would treat all the plants with a Glyphosate-based weed killer, and once they've died down clear it and then put a good 3 inch layer of mulch on top, bark would look ok, to suppress any seedlings. Personally I would then fill it with spring bulbs, knowing there would be something to look forward to in the new year. Meantime, start planning what permanent plants to put in & order them for next year to put out.

Its mainly brambles isn't it? We had that when we moved in to our new place last year. When viewing the house, we could only get less than half way into the garden due to them! We pulled up what we could and then I have spent several days, going over the border by hand pulling out as much bramble, ivy and bind weed root as possible. Its still coming back but its weaker, and it will take time for it to go completely. Its quicker to use a strong weed killer, but it is harmful to wildlife and as that is struggling at the moment due to the weather I wouldn't suggest using it right now. The only place I used a weedkiller, was in a retaining wall behind our garden log cabin as I wouldn't be able to get there to pull them up. So far seems to have worked.

The weather here today is nothing like England. Wet, wet, wet. It's dried up a bit this evening but it's due to be cloudy the rest of the week with rain Thurs and Fri.

So nobody recommends going at it with a brushcutter? I realise that may spread some weed seeds but it's just the mass of brambles that is intimidating me.

I don't need it to look pretty Just yet. I'd settle for less ugly.