New build mud pile, I mean garden

[user1484247439]

Hi

I have just moved into a new build and have a 120m2 garden, there's a small patio to one end and the rest is mud/stones with the odd but of broken glass !

I've never had a garden and have no idea where to start. Budget is extremely limited which doesn't help.

Ideas are very welcome and any ideas on how to start a lawn would be greatly appreciated!

For a lawn you can either lay turf or sow grass seed. If you can afford it, probably best to do turf - you will get an instant lawn to look at - with seed it's cheaper, but it will be bare for months until the seedlings get established.

I'm assuming it's something like 10m x 12m? Do you want things growing round the edges in beds like flowers and shrubs? Vines on the fence lines? Do you want to grow your own somewhere? Trees? Is it flat or sloping? What fun to have a completely blank canvas! 

I just found this while googling the best time to lay a new lawn - looks like now is ideal! More information than you could ever need on a new lawn: www.lawnsmith.co.uk/topic/creating-new-lawn

When we moved in to something similar we went over it and removed as much stones/glass and rubbish as possible, then hired a rotavator (was very compacted underneath the top soil they had spread) and layed turf. We left the sides bare for flower beds but you could turf right up to the fence. Have later added a larger patio, changed layout etc but that was quickest/cheapest way to a usable garden.

You could also use grass seed (after preparing/levelling and compacting) but would take longer. Soil is likely to be full of weed seeds but these will diminish with regular mowing.

It is worth taking the time to get rid of as much builders rubble and whatnot first, before starting a lawn, as unlike flower beds, once it is down you can't get at the soil underneath again!

Sometimes builders leave an awful mess behind, old planks, bricks, and the worst can be where they've stood their cement mixer, you need to try and get rid of as much junk and concrete mixed in the soil as possible.