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Large Garden Advice needed.
jonnynailen
Posts: 5
Hi everyone, advice needed from experienced gardeners! My wife and I recently bought our first house and we're very lucky to have a large section of land at the front of the house. There's a traditional lawn which stops at a wall then there's a large slope that goes down to the river which is currently mostly wild growth of ivy, gooseberries, blueberries, Comfrey and lots and lots of Garlic leaves (Ramson). Pictures attached.
The first issue is there's one sprig of Japanese knotweed but we've hired a professional company to come out and survey this and remove it. I understand this will need done before anything else and will need a close eye kept on it!
Basically though, I think this garden has untold potential as it's already very scenic with the river and trees. I would love it to be a long term project with a variety of colours featured and really make it something to behold. I'm new to gardening but I'm really enjoying spending time in it but I don't really know where to start. I'm also not sure what else will bloom so I'm going to leave it a season and then start to work on it.
Any advice on how to cultivate the soil, what to do with all the garlic leaves (I'd like to keep some in an area but it currently covers the whole land almost) and what sort of flowers would suit would be so very much appreciated! 
The first issue is there's one sprig of Japanese knotweed but we've hired a professional company to come out and survey this and remove it. I understand this will need done before anything else and will need a close eye kept on it!
Basically though, I think this garden has untold potential as it's already very scenic with the river and trees. I would love it to be a long term project with a variety of colours featured and really make it something to behold. I'm new to gardening but I'm really enjoying spending time in it but I don't really know where to start. I'm also not sure what else will bloom so I'm going to leave it a season and then start to work on it.
Any advice on how to cultivate the soil, what to do with all the garlic leaves (I'd like to keep some in an area but it currently covers the whole land almost) and what sort of flowers would suit would be so very much appreciated! 0
Posts
I am sure someone said wild garlic is hard to get rid of and you have knotweed as well.
I think it all depends on your budget but a garden designer might save you money in the long run
Some decent steps down to the area, seating by the river or a summer house.
Not sure if a wild flower meadow would work, lots of spring bulbs.
The knotweed is only one sprig and we're getting a specialist to inject the root so that shouldn't be too much of an issue (hopefully!). Because of Scot's Law (I live in Motherwell, Scotland) we own the section of river that passes our house too but I doubt we'd go that far with the design. A garden designer is definitely something I'm keen to hire - any recommendations?
I did have a designer for one garden but we live in the Midlands. I just searched the internet for their websites and they usually have photos of their work. Looking at photos of similar sites can help as well. Thank goodness for the internet!
As to plants not knowing soil or aspect regarding sun/shade it's hard to suggest anything. You would need plants that deer and rabbits etc don't eat.
Do you think the river floods at all?
While you leave it for a season you can do your research.There are plenty of online plant specialists as the area would suit a natural looking planting, ferns, woodland perennials, hardy geranium for ground cover. snowdrops, aconites, bluebells, garden cow parsley, don't know the correct name, primrose, hardy cyclamen.
It certainly will be challenging and rewarding.
https://www.sruc.ac.uk/download/downloads/id/1126/garden_and_greenspace_design_course_leaflet.pdf