Ideas/help/advice for my garden please.

[ImFree2doasiwant]

I'm a really (really) novice gardener. I have what could be a lovely garden but just have no idea what to do with it or how to manage it. I spend my time weeding it. Its not huge (not small)but a lot of work. (Working single parents to 2 small children) its long and narrow.

I really want to get the flowers beds properly planted, with plants that don't die after a season, so will come back each year. Perennials? I like a cottage garden look.

I have a couple of areas of ground elder. I've dug abd dug but one area is around a small pond and I'm not sure how to get rid of it there. Pond is long neglected, no wildlife. Needs an overhaul.

Can anyone help with how to kill the ground elder, and what to plant (and where! ). The garden has some lovely old roses that have survived my efforts. One side has trees so shaded underneath. A beautiful peony that is big and needs to be moved (if that's possible?) And random scattered tulips, daffs, aliums.

I know this is a lot to ask. All advice people have given me is always really vague. I will do a diagram!

The wall is high (6ft? Can't see over it) and white washed. There are a few old roses in the blank area. A shrub in the corner (no idea what, dark green shiny leaves, gets red berries) I want to fill the blank bedding area.

Next part....the bedding area next to the hedge is completely blank.

You spend your time weeding it partly because there are vast blank spaces for the weeds to spread! I'm not the most systematic of gardeners but I'll kick off here with some random thoughts.
I'd go to the garden centre about once a month over the next year and buy at least one shrub that looks fabulous when you buy it (and is suitable - labels will tell you things like position, soil type, hardiness and height/spread). That way you make sure you've got year-round interest. Shrubs are the best things in terms of creating your garden vista in my opinion. Also perennials, yes, but it's the shrubs that are going to give your structure and backdrop. And small trees. Think about an acer or two. Things in pots are nice and you can move them about if they're not too big.
Can you post some photos? Someone will be able to identify your mystery shrub.

I cross posted with your third post - I'm confused as to how the two pics relate, looks like 2 different gardens? Or is it a huge garden in 2 parts?

Thank you, the first pic is directly behind the house, there's a gate to the next part.

And yes, I do want to fill the spaces! In the first part, there are a couple of small trees on the right. I just feel like if I can fill the spaces, I will feel a bit happier about spending the time gardening. At the moment, its just wedding really which us ok, I kniw ill still have tobdo ut, but I want it to look nice too!

I really want to get the flowers beds properly planted, with plants that don't die after a season, so will come back each year. Perennials? I like a cottage garden look.
You could get some rapidly spreading ground cover. Be warned that their positive is their negative: if they like your garden too much they can become a bit thuggish. But they will fill a hole until you have the time to be more organised and discerning.
GardenersWorld
GoodHousekeeping
RHS

PS Can you get some shape, form and flow in the garden? It's all a bit rectangular, especially the first picture.

Crocus have a feature on their website which might help give you some ideas. Its a 'ready made border' which allows you to choose aspect soil type etc then it gives you planting suggestions...

www.crocus.co.uk/ready-made-borders/

Don't be afraid to get stuck in - its the best way to learn! And even if you have been gardening for years, plants have to be changed and updated as they get too big or don't suit their position. Its an imperfect science and that's half the fun of gardening!

Is there a reason for having a 6ft wall in the middle? Or can you knock that down & connect the two bits of garden better?

I agree with pp that you want to put in some low-maintenance shrubs. Cotoneaster & choysia are good.

if you walk past other gardens in your neighbourhood, take a look at what shrubs grow well in your area. get a quick photo & someone here can ID it so you will know what to buy.

The wall is only 6 ft along the side, the bit that goes across the middle is , I don't know how high but low enough to see over. Its a victorian end terrace house, all of the gardens are like this. The wall is really nice, and also helpful for containing my small children.

I really want a bit of colour. I like a cottage garden look, and it would suit the garden as it is.

The first bit of garden is rectangular, I'm happy with it, its where the children play and the layout suits them. I can't afford (money and time) to make drastic changes,its the planting of the borders im keen to sort out

@tealady thank you, that link is very helpful! I might just head to the local nursery tomorrow and but some plants!

It helps if you can put some stuff in to get your confidence up. Plants mostly like to grow. And if after a year they don’t look happy you can move them. Plant for the conditions.

Bleeding heart, Solomon’s seal, host as, heucharas, astilbe all love shade. But if the soil hasn’t been worked for a while you’ll probably need to add some well rotted manure to the beds.

Plant some self seeders like aquilegia, poppies. If you’ve got a sunny bed, take out the big weeds, rake the soil and sow some calendula, borage, cosmos and nigella now.

Put a Note in your calendar to order bulbs in a couple of months, plant daffodils and tulips that come back each year www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/tulip/longer-lasting

The beauty of a border with a lot in it is that there’s far less weeding.

It’s all confidence, choose easy plants now and build up. All the walls would be fantastic for climbers, clematis, jasmine, roses.

Apart from shrubs, low growing perennials that are easily maintained would be the answer. I don’t think you’ve said where the sun shines during the day? As others have said, filling the spaces stops the weeds.
Crainsbill geraniums, known as hardy geraniums are lovely cottage garden flowers that will eventually spread. Astrantia, scabious and Hebes would do well. Day lilies grow well, but need the sun, as does lavender.
How about some hydrangeas and roses?
Peonies don’t like being moved, but can recover, do it after the one you’ve got has finished flowering.
Ground elder is very difficult to remove digging out is the best method, but you do have to get all the roots. I have a patch, I dig out the roots to keep it at bay, but I have found planting crainsbill geraniums over a cleared patch does smother it.

And watch gardeners world and look on the bbc website for tips. www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwi_obqA4eHwAhUk5uAKHZYVB-oQFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gardenersworld.com%2Fplants%2Fplants-for-colour-in-every-month%2F&usg=AOvVaw318TM9lOKUXKP5Su-EIx_N

And if you have gardeners who are friends they are likely to have plants to give away.

Thank you! Very helpful. The sun rises pretty much at the bottom of the garden (so the top of my pictures) so is on the garden most of the day. Only the left side is shaded because of the trees.

I've cleared loads if the elder over the years, the remaining bits are in really hard to dig over areas.

I think i'm going to work my way down the garden. The front garden is pretty much done,just need to add a couple more plants. But I'm happy with it.

I'm going to go to a garden centre today and see what I can come up with! I've lmdobe a lit if looking up online, abd made a list which includes the suggestions above.

I'm quite excited to get going!

I have horses so well rotted manure is in abundance!

If you've got lots of horse manure - lucky you - then mulch the beds really well.

As you plant more things that will edge the elder out and make it easier to keep under control (some people like it and use it as ground cover )

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=215#:~:text=To%20get%20rid%20of%20it,in%20clean%20soil%20or%20pots.

I spent a fortune putting plants in my front garden last year - all from scratch. Also I got some perennial plug plants on line from Thompson and MOrgan and hayloft - much cheaper. So a verbena bonaseries that would cost you £5 in a big pot - you can get 15 for £6.99. And they soon catch up.

Also if you buy something like asters - have a google, buy a decent sized one and divide it when you put it in the ground. So you'll get 2 or 3 from one plant.

Or divide it after a year if it looks healthy.

I just want to say that while PP is right in that plug plants are better value for money, they also aren’t as robust, they can be more prone to insect attacks often needing potting on and keeping indoors for a bit until bigger.
I always try to get bigger plants if I can rather than plugs.
Morrisons is often a absolutely fantastic for cheap, decent sized, healthy plants as is Aldi and Poundland.