Best way to clear a neglected garden before planting

[Onionsalad]

How would you tackle this? We're moving and the garden has been so neglected.

We want to put plants in when the weeds are clear.
TIA

What is this tool called please, @MabelAnderson ?

Yes I'll be digging plenty.

I'm not going to use the cardboard. We'll dig and weed then jet wash the slabs for now. We have decorating to do etc so will gradually do the garden. Although I do have a tendency to get impatient and plough on with things. I have 2 grown strong sons though who can help.

We have a weed covered flower bed, and recently roughly chopped it all back, covered with a membrane, bark chips and pots on top

May cut through the membrane to plant some things later in the season but this was a very quick way to go from total mess to tidy garden - it’s the same principle as cardboard/sheets etc but looks better I think

Thanks. That sounds great. Did you take before and after pics? This is something I always forget to do but will this time.

Water it so that as much as possible germinates & the soil doesnt get hard and dry

Then cover with thick black plastic sold at builders merchants as damp proof membrane and leave till next spring

We've had some heavy downpours lately so no need to water.

I’d definitely get that conifer out

Please don’t do anything with the conifer (except a careful chop back) until you are sure there are no active bird nests in there. Also please check for hedgehogs before using any strimmers. They are one of the main causes of hedgehog deaths and leave horrific injuries.

Yes I've already thought of all that. I love wildlife. Apparently there's a pond in the back garden somewhere? There's a pond pump switch inside? Once we get clearing we should find it...or not.