Help a gardening newbie 😅 weed or not?

[Username24680]

Tackling the garden for the first time in our new house. Have never seen it in spring/summer so I have no idea what anything in the borders looks like when it’s not dead looking and twig-like 🤣 I’m hoping within the next few weeks I’ll know what’s coming back and what’s not 😅

I am in no way a gardener. Help me with these that are everywhere - weed or not? 😅

@ItsBeginningToScabOverNow Thanks ☺️ I’m looking forward to learning a bit about gardening! We had a decent outside space in our old house but it was literally just a lawn with a big apple tree and I didn’t ever get round to doing anything else with it so hopefully I’ll learn lots of new things in this one! I’ve already been scoping out all the gardens in the street to see whos got what growing 🤣

@ilovemyslippers @loafintheoven I have no idea what any of these things are but I’ll update when the flowers come out 🤣🤣

I'm glad you are willing to let it be this year and see what lovely discoveries there are as the seasons roll on.

You may find that your neighbours are a source of excellent information AND they may be willing to supply you with divisions of their favourite perennials. It is a pleasure to help others and gardeners are a generous lot.

You mentioned peonies - we inherited peonies in our garden when we moved here 19 years ago. They are still going strong and low maintenance. They look amazing but only for a short time - ours are good for 2-3 weeks at most. If the weather is right they are glorious, but if it's windy and rainy as they're coming into flower all the petals get blown off!

I use the plantnet app for identifying plants, and there are a couple of others that are similar. They are so helpful! Hydrangeas are very easy to grow. They like shade and water. Have fun :)

The trouble is, you won’t know when it’s got it wrong. So use it as a starting point rather than a definitive answer, and read around its suggestions

Neither had I! I recognised it from the leaves, those sort of pointed edges are very recognisable

I love hydrangeas and peonies - both just need cutting once a year. However, both would prefer to be in the ground. For pots, you could probably find better options - is it a sunny or shady spot? Don't overlook evergreen plants, for year round interest as well.

@ZeldaWillTellYourFortune Thank you 😊 all the neighbours that we have met seem absolutely lovely so I can imagine they’d be happy to help me with questions and advice 😊

@IntheSnowySnowyMountains I’m probably in the wettest and windiest part of the UK so maybe the peonies will remain a nice treat to buy to brighten up the coffee table from time to time lol

@Gremlinsateit I actually did download that app but as @MereDintofPandiculation has said, I had no idea if it was accurate or not 😅

@Mycatisaqueen we have a lovely bench in the front garden under the livingroom window that would look lovely with a nice big pot/planter either side of it. Could definitely take something that’s a decent size and quite full. Also something next to our front door. The door is set off to one side of the steps so there’s a big empty space to one side that would be ideal for something nice and colourful. All along the front of the house which gets the sun for the vast majority of the day (from late morning onwards) 😊

Do you have any suggestions? West Coast of Scotland so definitely see our fair share of wind and rain too! Would love something that was there all year round and then maybe flowered spring/summer?

We have the same as you (sun wise) at the front. Lavender and rosemary do really well there, as we're in Somerset and it can get quite windy. They look nice all the time, and would be ok in containers too. Both are an annual pruning and easy maintenance too.

The upright rosemary replaced an old weigela shrub which only had a handful of flowers in summer (as it was old) and it was just a tangle of twigs in the winter!

When it gives its answer, the app will usually give a percentage of confidence and other pictures of the same plant, then you can search the name it suggests, so you can use your own judgment - it steers you in the right direction at least :)

Yes, that’s exactly the way to use them

@Mycatisaqueen Thank you 😊 I’ll look at those options!

@Gremlinsateit @MereDintofPandiculation I’ll have another go with the app when things are blooming properly 😊

For all those that wanted an update - we have flowers on one 🤣 and some of the thing in what I’m affectionately calling “twig corner” are sprouting leaves!!

This is all very exciting 👏🏼🤣 so much change in 2 days!

Unquestionably Primula denticulata.

Not sure about first twig. Growth form and stems look like Hydrangea but leaves look very dark for that. Second twig, with the lacy leaves is definitely an elderberry, Sambucus nigra (you can tell from the twigs even without the leaves), and it looks as if it's going to be one of the puple leaved ones, and possible even a cut-leaved one like "Black Lace". A very choice plant to have!

Don't rely on the app - come and post pictures here! Some of us place great store on the daily "gardening quiz", don't deprive us!

@MereDintofPandiculation What a fountain of knowledge you are 😍 thank you!! The first twiggy one has purple leaves too 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’ll come back with pictures as it all blooms! There appears to be a bit of an assortment 😊

The first twiggy one has purple leaves too Yes I know, which makes me think it isn't Hydrangea after all, although I see Crocus has a Hydrangea with very dark leaves.

This is all very exciting! Do keep us updated!

Just wanted to say you can prune that Sambucus now if you want to . They soon get huge without an annual prune . I cut mine back to two buds at this time of year .

Good shout, mine is pretty big already. Will get it cut back a bit.

@Vicliz24 oh that’s good to know! Thank you 😊 I’ve got a day off on Monday and I’m planning to see what I can get upto in the garden so I’ll put that on the list 😊

Sounds like you've got the bug op. Gardening is addictive!