Complete beginner!

[OrangeChock]

Hello all.

I moved into a brand new house towards the end of last year, therefore have got a brand new garden to go with it! It is all turf and patio so far but would like to start creating some boarders where I can then plant flowers etc.

Can someone offer some guidance as to how to create these borders and some easy to care for plants for the coming years please?

I have some basic gardening tools so I'm hoping I could make a start with what I've got, rather than waiting to make a non essential trip.

Thank you

How lovely to have a brand new garden project.
First draw a plan of your garden and plot where the sun falls throughout the day. Some plants prefer sun, shade or semi shade. Then think about where you want areas of hard standing, shed or greenhouse . You may not be able to get theses things at the moment, but they need to be in a plan.
I’d also consider what you want to use your garden for, do you have young children, do you want a BBQ area, do you want to grow veg in raised beds and are there areas where you want screening for privacy? Plot any of these on your plan.
Soil is important, new builds often have poor quality soil mixed with builders rubble. You may need to dig in soil improver, manure.
Pinintrest is great for good ideas, especially for small gardens. Watch Gardeners World on Fridays and if possible get yourself the magazine.
Loads of others will be along with good ideas soon. Above all have fun and enjoy your garden.

@Beebumble2 thank you so much for your guidance.

I've done a quick plan - attached. I know where the sun comes in the morning and goes throughout the day, is that what you mean or do I need more detail?

In usual times I am out of the house Monday to Friday and my 2yo DD is with family or nursery. I don't plan on having big toys going on the grass as grandparents have big gardens for this, plus we have lots of parks nearby where we usually would go to get out.

We have just been playing on the patio area with a picnic blanket. I'm still not fully happy with the grass as it's patchy in places so try not to go on it. I have got 4 in 1 miracle grow to try and use on it but a bit unsure what to do.

In terms of vegetables I would like to start with a small project for that as I want to be able to have time for it. My DD also is very interested in plants and growing things as they do this at nursery.

Thank you again

No advice but best of luck OP!!

Hi again,
It sounds like you’re on the right tracks. If your planning raised veg beds then they should go into the sunniest spot.
You don’t have a great deal of gardening time so perennial plants and shrubs that are easy to look after would be the way to go.
Don’t worry about getting a perfect lawn, few people have them and it’s better just to have some green for your little one to play on.
Again
Digging up the beds might be a hard task and when you’re able you may need some help. I’ve done this with a neglected garden and did it slowly over winter, so the frost could break up the soil. I then added many bags of soil improver.
You could have plants in large pots this year, ready to plant in the prepared beds next year. Just a thought.
There are specialists lawn food products, cheapest from Wilco, on line. Which spread onto your grass will improve it. But all lawns look a bit iffy at this time of year.

Plan

So your garden faces east and the sun works it’s way round. Which is good the right had side is south and will be a good place for the veg beds, the left side will be facing north, which is not ideal, but there are plenty of plant that grow in shade or semi shade.
Lovely to have two walls one facing west the other is north, I grow a climbing rose Golden Showers on a north wall.

It’s a good time to ask friends and relatives to divide up snowdrops and grape hyacinths. They could pot them up till you can collect them. Then next spring you’ll have a good start on bulbs.