I'm ashamed of my garden

[doggiesayswoof]

I have no idea what to do with it. Have lived in this house 4 years and the garden's been neglected. We have very little time or cash to spend, so I'd really like it to be low-maintenance but still pretty, with living things in it... ie I do not want to slab it or monoblock it or put down decking like all my neighbours have.

Any tips for

1. clearing out and tidying - it is a real mess currently
2. things I can do to make it easier to maintain

TIA

For cheap plants try:

-WI Markets (now called Country Markets I think)
-fetes/car boot sales
-Woolworths

or try putting a wanted on freecycle as I occasionally see plants and cuttings offered on there

I love fuchia. They are very hardy too. We had one that must have been untouched for 15 years and was growing over the top of the out house. We thought we had dug it all out by the roots, but either some of the cuttings or very small shreds of roots must have remained, and we ended up with a couple of lovely little plants growing. I moved them to where I wanted them and they are great now.

Yep, I've got one like that, takes hacking very well