Garden frustrations

[EssentialHummus]

We’re lucky enough to have a large London garden - over 80 sq m - but since moving in 1.5 years ago it’s been one demoralising thing after another. I’ll write everything out - help on any/all would be so welcome. I’m sorry if it sounds like a giant moan.

There’s a huge amount of lawn, with a lot of weeds mixed in. I think it’s better than it was - I was pulling out stuff the size of cabbages - but I don’t know whether to just keep on or try something else. Weedkiller? Pulling them out and hoping to get the roots? Three/four different kinds of weeds.

A whole lot of stuff that I planted just didn’t grow, even though I followed planting instructions. Some other stuff did grow, in planters made of tyres that I built, in poor light conditions, but with new soil. Which makes me think that our soil is the issue. I'm thinking that raised beds are the way to go?

Foxes dug up the fruit trees I bought and planted, I think because there was blood/bone in the compost (my neighbour's theory). Resolved, at least so far, by having my husband pee out there. But I don't know what compost to use/whether that was indeed the issue.

Two months ago in the bad weather the next door neighbours’ large apple tree fell over onto the main growing bit of our garden, and wiped out a lot of the plants that were doing OK. A few more went in the tree surgeon chainsaw massacre.

I bought some grass (seeds and turf) last year to deal with shady gaps but while it's better only about half the turf has "taken" (again, I think I laid it correctly) so that needs more attention. Maybe shade turf?

Basically the only things growing at the moment other than weeds are mint, sage and various shade-loving plants in tyres. And I managed to grow chillis.

Last year I was out there daily for an hour from April through September doing stuff, and tbh it looks like a lot of it has been a waste. A lot of the area I cleared and planted is now overrun with weeds again.

Ours is a flat so I don't have direct access, which means (especially with a one year old in tow) that there's no "quick popping out". All I want is something low maintenance but with a bit of colour, a weed-free lawn and, as a bonus, some courgettes.

Where do I go from here?

Not everyone's choice I know but I would lose most of the of lawn to gravel. If you have poor light everything thing will be difficult.

How large were the plants that failed? Sometimes it’s better to buy a more mature shrub so that it can establish itself more quickly.
If I buy a small cheap or reduced plant I nurture it in a planter until it makes new growth.
The go to plants for brightening shady areas are Cranesbill Geraniums which at least would give you some flower colour.

Gardens have a will of their own, I'm afraid. I've found it best to work out by trial and error what my gardens likes and then just grow that.

Compost, sun and water are the most important factors. Do you have somewhere inside to start plants off? London soil means masses of slugs so you will need a vicious slug-killing regime.

Agree that hardy geraniums are great in shade and spread of their own accord.

OP I am also in London - SE- in a flat with no direct access to garden .Which we can't even see from our windows .

The garden is surrounded by trees - sycamores - and untended plots with ivy ,ground elder ,mares tail ,bind weed .

But it is lovely and private ,a haven .

I am v v far from an expert but things I've learnt

get the right plant for the right place - shade loving is a must if light levels are low

improve the soil - mulch with wood /bark chippings has helped mine ,I also try and compost leaves in black plastic bags .Not much success on that one .

I'm turning more and more of my grass into beds with shrubs .Grass just won't grow ,lots of moss .I suspect also that large areas have v old degraded tarmac underneath .

I'd have raised beds if I could work out a cheap easy way of doing them,I tend to edge an area as best I can using large branches I've sawn off overhanging trees plus cheap green lawn edging stuff and pour soil into the area .

I wish I'd actually planned my planting - I wish I hadn't tried to make a flower bed under the privet edge where the most sun falls .I wish I'd extended the grass there and made a shade bed on the opposite side.

Grass seed for shade does work better than ordinary seed .

I don't know if any of that helps . Try not to despair ,try to keep it simple .It must be v v hard with a one year old . I couldn't have tackled my garden with a little one .

IS THIS A NEW or new-ish build? I ask as that could account for poor soil. BUIlders are notorious for dumping all waste, rubble etc in the garden and very little will grow with that underneath.

Thank you all - I'm reading through and making notes.

well no - 165 years old!

Do you have somewhere inside to start plants off? Yes, luckily windowsills with plenty of light. I have some courgette and salad leaves growing there now.

Thank you peridito. Most of the garden actually gets a good amount of sun, but like you I don't think I've so far planned very well. Though I'm heartened that my shady bit with tyre planters seems well - I'll try to get a photo later.

How large were the plants that failed? They were "3 litre potted fig/raspberry/blackberry plants" from Thompson and Morgan, so quite large when they arrived. I deliberately chose plants and varieties described as being very easy and hardy, which makes their failure even worse!

Also in London, my soil is clay.

I feel your pain. I’ve given up 100 sqm to a patio, very shady area next to house. The rest is mostly lawn and old established fruit trees. Nothing grows in the bit next to a wall underneath the trees, I’ve tried hydrangeas, jasmine, firethorn.

Sorry I’m no help. Placemarking for ideas!

Hummus I have learnt that it's harder for me to grow stuff in the side of my garden that is sunny than it is in the shady side .

The soil is more clayey ( think sticky yellow lumps that you could make a pot out of ! ) plus it's near long privet hedge ( not my doing ! ) so I'm realising that the ground bakes .

Probably not the same for you but thought I'd mention it .

Our place is c 150 years as well but I think there were glass houses and hard standings plus rubble dumped from converting the house into 2 flats in the 1970's . So much c**p in the ground ,sometimes I wonder if glass is actually some kind of creeping weed ,the amount I dig up .I've almost given up on digging ,especially in some areas and use planters .And just dump mulch on top of other areas .

Photos here of the shady bit doing well, and one sunny bit looking like a dog’s breakfast.

Those heuchera are beautiful. Sorry no help, just admiring.

Photos here of the shady bit doing well, and one sunny bit looking like a dog’s breakfast.

Whoops! user I don’t know which those are but thank you!

Ah, have Googled.

We gave up on a lawn in the end. Even after returfing and rotavating it ended up a pile of weeds. We paved the lot except for boarders and then built up planters from sleepers. Filled with good quality soil, plants are doing a well.

Also got loads of pot plants, most are surviving!