Best way to clear this... pic included

[NotVeryGreenFingers]

Moved in to new place this summer and would like to make borders in the same shape as the weeds have successfully taken hold.

What's the best way to clear it all to actually make the flower borders? I was wondering if it's most sensible to wait until everything is dead at the end of autumn and then dig it out or do it now before the roots can grow further in the next couple of months.

I should say that money is a problem so can't afford a gardener to do it for me, a lorry of soil, or even plants to put in. It's going to end up being wildflower seeds for a few years I think. Oh, and, I've got MS so my physical strength is also limited which is why I need the physically easier solution. I assume lawn friendly weed killers won't be possible if I want future wildflowers to grow there?

Oh, I just thought of another option which could be to mow it like the rest of the garden and then dig out the turf in the shape of the border I want next year. If I do that then would it be wise to cover the border shape all winter to kill off week roots like thistles underneath?

The easiest solution would be to mow it, put down cardboard (wet it) and then cover it in bark mulch over winter.

Came on to suggest mowing and covering too. Old carpet is effective.

I would do the mowing. You probably need to strim it first to get the length down. Then don't do anything until you're ready to plant it up.

I'm clearing some borders at the moment, I'm planning on putting down a good layer of bark mulch to suppress the weeds until I plant in the spring. Any areas I don't get around to weeding will get a layer of cardboard.

Yep, strim it down, mow it short, and then cover in something light proof - card covered with another layer is good.

I was wondering if it's most sensible to wait until everything is dead at the end of autumn
You mean 'wait until after the weeds have set seed'? That's not a good idea!
As PP said, strim before then.

Yes, I'd strim and mow, cut out the border shape and turn the turves upside down and cover the lot with something.

The idea of using wildflower seed may not work well as there will doubtless be a lot of coarse weed seed in the soil and it may be too rich for the nice 'meadow' plants.

. I assume lawn friendly weed killers won't be possible if I want future wildflowers to grow there?

If you decide to use a weedkiller, you'd want one which killed any grass in the border area too. Glyphosate for instance is supposed to be deactivated when it hits the soil but that needs to be applied to growing plants.

I would advise against carpet - it's great for smothering but can be full of god knows what chemicals and lifting wet, crumbling carpet off the bed next year will be truly grim (been there, got the muscle strain).

Another vote for strim, mow, cover with cardboard where you want the bed next year. Photo below of a section of allotment with grass that was covered with a couple of layers of cardboard over winter then a layer of weed membrane on top - the right side is 'before'. Still needs the weed roots taken out but definitely much less work than digging.

Wait, are you sure there's no good plants there?
Aren't they flower borders that have just got a bit weedy, or was all the garden like that and you've mowed and sorted the middle?

They aren't very big so I'd dig the weeds and roots out then manure/compost, and then over for the winter so nothing grows back in the autumn.

It's a new build so loads of builder rubble beneath the lawn - in some areas badly dry and shallow, other areas lush and deep. Very patchy.

The lawn was all over the whole garden, only laid 6 months before moving in as seen in the photo and it all had grown to knee height between the sale offer in January to completion this summer.

A strip was mown for the ease, and they became the lawn with the 'wildflowers' in a border which gave me much joy! Now of course it's awful. But I simply can't afford to buy plants so am a bit stuck for now.

The pictures of your summer border look glorious!

If you decide to strim/mow first and dig out new borders later, might I suggest that you carefully cut off and chuck all the seed heads before you start, otherwise your enthusiastic toiling will spread the seeds all over the place!

Thank you - though it was nothing to do with me but quite by accident! Had I not had this awful disability I'd have probably mown the lot and I'm glad my moving in helpers only mowed the strip of lawn to help me out. It really paid off!

I’ve already done that... if you zoom in on the first set of pics you'll see all the thistles and dandelion heads have been lopped off and sacked up.

@NotVeryGreenFingers Ah, you see - your abilities belie your username already!

If only! But thank you for your vote of confidence, every little bit of encouragement helps!

I feel like I’ve forgotten everything about gardening - it's been so long and I’ve been incompetent for so many years it's exciting but scary to deal with a garden again.

Of course, what you have there is wildflowers. Just not the ones you want.

Clear it, sow your selection of wildflowers. But you’ll have the existing seedbank to contend with, so you’ll need to selectively weed. Once you’ve got your selection of wildflowers growing, you may not need any more seed, just keep the soil clear over winter so the plants you want can germinate in spring.

Here's hoping you have many happy years in your new garden.💐

The thistles will have deep roots, mulching over probably won't kill them and they will come back next year, you need to dig them out. They also seed themselves everywhere if you let them flower.

I know weed killers aren't always the best option but as digging thistle roots may be tough for you, selectively painting something like glyphosate onto thistles and the like as they emerge may be pragmatic.