SERIOUS help needed! how to turn a jungle into a garden heaven...

[ruthmollymummy]

I have never even held a trowel before - although I know what that is!! In a new house and suddenly I have a passion for creating a nice space for my DD (6months) to play in this summer.

Its a lovely big garden for being in a flat so I really want an area of grass, flowers and a wee veggie patch and maybe some slabs/patio type thing.

The only problem is it was an absoloute jungle, like seriously and i have NO CLUE how to start going about it. It was so bad last week i just killed everything with a spray so I have a blank canvass.

Any help with what to do now? and believe me when i say i am a complete beginner!

thank you!!

I would give all the bare ground a good digging over and pull out all the roots that are left or all the hard B*&tard weeds will come back with avengence, bin thses roots don't try and compost them or they may be resurected.

Plan it out on paper and start from the back of the house (or sunny area) with the patio area, don't make it too skimpy if you plan to put table and chairs on it or you keep falling backwards off it . It might be worth paying a tradesmen to do this as it will last for ages if done right.

If you have lawn already give it a high cut and decide on the boundry lay planks, bamboo or hosepipe washing line to mark out edges and cut along with spade or edge tool. It will smarten it up no end. If laying new turf again mark out area and dig over and level before getting it delivered sso you can lay it straight away, you could do it from seed too. Advice here

The you are left with the beds, mark on the plan which ones get full sun or shade and use thins to help choos plants. If they are wide enough you can do two tier planting with tall ones at the back or climbers against the fence, I prefer perenials as I can't be arsed replanting every year and a few evergreens keep it looking alive through the winter too. You caould add a few bedding flowers like panseys for colour and later in the year bulbs for interest in the early spring.

You might want to fitr in a hut if there is space, even if you are not doing it straight away consider leaving space so you dan't have to dig up plants.

Ask around for cuttings etc people might donate plants etc if they are having a clear out.

Oh you might need to dig in some decent compost if the soil is a bit crappy to give new plants a boost along with some feed.

My favourite plant is my ecuclyptus tree, doing well in a sunny but very windy spot, and my maple, sunny but needs protection from wind.

oh scramble you are lovely! forgot to mention have a shed already - although previous owner plonked it right in the middle of the garden i thought in the shady back corner would be more suitable!? I'm on a budget so hoped to plant lawn from seed myself...
can i dig through all the soil now? i worry about times of year to do things, but i think this is an ok time isnt it? and putting an edge of some sort around lawn etc is a v lovely idea - had never occured to me!! there's a great teeny bamboo fency thing in poundstretcher right now!

oh and that lawn link was just amazing, exactly what i needed!

I meant to use the bamboo canes or what ever just to mark out the lawn, but it is nice to edge it, that would neaten it up too but it is hard to cut the edge of the lawn if there is a fence, but you can use a strimmer for that.

I have some of it edged with the cheap green corrigated stuff, if you sink it in you can mow right over it and it still keeps the egde from spreeding, still have to trim the egd though but I use long handled shears.

I would def move the hut do it now before stuff starts to grow.

It is a good time now that the frost should be past. I would have a look in charity shops to find a good gardening book for seasonal advice or get one of the gardening mags to keep you up on what to do when.

If you are being really organised keep a notebook and when putting in new plants mark there location and note down any growing advice from the label or garden centre staff like when to cut back etc, its easy to forget what to do with what.

POunstretcher is fab for little gardening things, I got my edgeing from there.
Fav tools Got one from poundstretcher.

{{http://www.choiceful.com/choiceful-id-549-Hand-Held-Garden-Claw.html Garden claw is good too]] I have a long handled one too, well I did MIL has borrowed them both, good for digging over beds once they are a bit more under control.

Garden claw is good too

thanks so much. i'll get cracking on going through the soil pulling out weeds and stones and stuff, joy. and there is a distinct possibility i'll be back soon for more advice!