Teach me

[gardenforce]

How to be good at gardening ? We're getting our garden done and I want to be able to plant things that I don't kill! What's good for beginners? Also cat friendly plants maybe. Garden is north west facing so does get a decent amount of sun where we plan to have the borders but down by the patio is mainly shade but I would like some pots too
Any advice would be lovely

So what are you having done? who will be using it? For what?

Nothing extravagant ! Small family garden, Big patio and some grass with a couple of borders but would like them full of shrubs/flowers. Also want some sleepers and pots. One thing I do have is a Japanese acer tree in a huge pot, wasn't originally mine so I know nothing about them and I surprised it's still alive but I know it needs reppoting but don't know where to start, I'm worried it'll die if I take it out

buy a few books - I like these two

www.amazon.co.uk/New-Small-Garden-Contemporary-principles/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

www.amazon.co.uk/RHS-How-Garden-New-introduction/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

For things like shrubs, do your research & decide what you want before you go to the garden centre. crocus.co.uk have a good website for searching according to the size / sunniness of your site. Their plants are sometimes expensive but you can sometimes get the same elsewhere.

For bedding & veg & quick pretty stuff, just buy whatever looks nice in the garden centre and shove it in.

Try having potted plants if you're feeling unsure. You can move them around to suit their needs and, I've found, they don't suffer pests as much as plants in borders. If they're not working for you, you can start again without disrupting the rest of your flower bed. Enjoy your new garden!

Re Acers, they don’t mind being pot bound, but if you are repotting it you must use ericaceous compost. Easily bought from a garden centre.
The best time to repot is in April, just as it’s coming into leaf.
If you put it in the garden then the soil should be acid, usually found in wooded areas. You could get away with adding loads of ericaceous compost to a flower bed.

Thanks for the replies. I planted some seeds last year and nothing happened, at all! So I'm not very confident but sure I'm capable once I know what I'm doing !
I do have a few ceramic pots that need filling - what is best for pots usually ?
The acer needs reppoting as the pot it's in has fell apart and full of weeds etc, so it likes acidic soil? I will ask at the garden centre
It's beautiful when it comes out as it changes colour I just don't want to kill it by moving it