How to create a blank canvas!

[Mrs86]

Hi..any advice would be much appreciated.

I have a big-ish patch of garden at the front of my house. My plan has been (for years ) to get rid of everything in between the trees that grow on it. I would like to start with a blank canvas so I can plant flowers/shrubs (tulips/hydrangea etc) which require minimal effort and grow year after year. I want it to look ever so pretty!

I am by no means a 'gardener' but I do the maintenance (if you can call it that). Just neatening everything up and using a hedge trimmer to try and get rid of as much that is possible. It's just a massive overgrown mess. It's sort of semi (very loosely use the word) dead because of winter. The brambles on here are horrendous. No matter how much I tidy they come back with a vengeance. I want to get rid of it all. I will try and attach a picture.

My question is, how can I do that with minimal effort? Can I put down that plastic stuff you get and cover it with rocks? Is it weed membrane I think? Will it get rid/kill off everything? And is now the best ish time to do it when it's a lot barer than come spring/summer? I know it won't be ready quick or even any time soon but that's ok. Digging/pulling it up and using the hedge trimmer etc is so hard and back breaking.

Lives here nearly 8 years now and I want it to look lovely, but want my own stamp on it.

I've got ideas for the patch but need everything gone first!

Thank you.

Pics attached.

Pic

There is too much shrubby growth for covering with black plastic or something else to work. You need to cut everything down to the ground first and dig out all the shrubs. They should come out pretty easily with a spade. You might even be able to give them away for free and possibly someone may help dig them out?
The best way to get rid of brambles is to cut the growth off and then dig the big knobbly bit out that they grow out off.
Then you could cover with plastic, or stick some cardboard down and cover it with a thick (10cm) layer of compost. That would mean you could plant straight into it but would get too many weeds for a while.

you could hire a person to dig it all up - it is not a job that requires much brains.

or you could cut things back but you will still have to dig out all the roots - putting down plastic will not work on plants that big.

Bear in mind the soil under evergreen trees may be acidic, dry, and shady. What grows will be limited by the soil conditions.