Non green fingered individual seeks advice on state of garden

[thefamousfiveplusone]

I live in a rented property and am fortunate enough to have a decent sized garden except I am useless at maintaining it. It's slipped way down on the priority list what with work, a busy household of 3 children complete with a new baby, but I know it can look lovely when it's been tidied up.

I've attached photos. There should be borders around those edges but they have all become completely overgrown! If it were my own house I would be tempted to throw some money at it and have a complete overhaul. Since I don't know how much longer we will live here (have been here 5 years already and are fast outgrowing the property) I am reluctant to spend a fortune but I'm keen for it to look its best once again.

The garden backs onto marshland and unfortunately we get a lot of weeds/nettles growing especially along the back fence.

Any thoughts or ideas would be most welcome. I am considering sourcing someone to come and do it for me 🙈 not sure whether I would approach a landscape gardening company or someone who has their own little gardening business who knows what they're doing unlike myself

P.s. the frame is part of a gazebo we put up during the hot weather spell! This will obviously be taken down.

Mow the lawn! It's amazing what a difference it makes; gardens always look 1000% better when you have just mowed.

What are you after? Most families with 3DC just want a large area of (mowed ) grass to run around on.

I agree mow the lawn and that get rid of the weeds for a short time.
Dig out a few patches where the flower beds were. Grow some runner beans up the sunny fence and sow, plant some annuals.
As you say it’s rented and you’ve not got a lot of time, so make it neat and easy to maintain.
Let your children enjoy the space.

Thank you @Beebumble2 and @senua your input is very much appreciated.

It obviously gave me the push that I needed because I've been out there and mowed the lawn this afternoon! You're right it does look worlds better.

Next to tackle the edges and monstrous nettles.

It may surprise you to hear that I have very limited garden tools so in your opinion what would be the garden shed essentials?? I'm thinking I should invest in a strimmer at the very least 🤔

When you say 'annuals' @Beebumble2 what would I be sowing? I'm a complete beginner when it comes to anything planting/sowing related

A small domestic garden shouldn't need a strimmer, to be honest :-). Sadly you can buy all the tools you want but you will still need to do the work yourself.

You either need to weed the borders and keep them weeded - hand fork and maybe big fork if things are that bad; you can do the edges with an old kitchen knife or kitchen scissors
Or
You need to forget the borders, let them grass over, and just mow them too so you mow right up to the fence or around the biggest leftover plants, shrubs. In which case a pair of shears would probably help to get up close to the leftover plants.

Op, honestly if you’re busy and not really into it. I’d simoly concentrate on keeping the lawn mowed and the weeds at bay. Strimming the edges will help, and you could add a few plants in the borders that flower.

I’d go for quick germinating flowers such as sunflowers, Candytuft, Clarkia, Marigolds, nasturtiums and Cosmos, if you can get the seeds, just follow the instructions on the packets

Otherwise anything that might be sold in the supermarket at the moment, usually described as bedding plants. They only last until the frost in the autumn, but will only require watering and picking off the dead flower heads.

Another thought is asking friends or neighbours if they’ve any spare plants that they’ve divided or sown too many.

If you want colour without hassle forget weeing the borders - let them grass over and put some bedding plants into pots.

weeding!!!

Also - because weeding the patio is a pain I invested in a small, cheap flame thrower from ebay. I just burn of the weeds between the slabs every week or so. Much quicker than hand weeing and quite good fun.

I don’t know about your rental agreement, but most of them require that you maintain the garden to at least the same standard it was when you moved in. If it was looking “at its best” when you moved in and now looks like that due to 5yrs of neglect, you might have to get it back up before you move out. Check your rental agreement/contract.

Be wary of flame throwers, I know a chap who years ago thought that, burnt his garden to the ground and his ndn’s prized rose collection 🤣

I am very, very careful with it!