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Beginner with overgrown garden - help!

GreenRightHand2022GreenRightHand2022 Posts: 8
in Problem solving
Hello! 

I have moved into a Victorian terrace house with what I presume is a standard terrace garden. I am an absolute beginner to gardening and so have no idea where to start with this haven of overgrowth! It truly has been left to run wild.

It’s north facing and there are some nice existing plants that seem to be doing ok, namely (from what the PictureThis app tells me are): common jasmine, China rose, sycamore, elder, common holly.

In the summer we had gorgeous viper bugloss and loads of poppies! 

I really just need tips on what/how to tackle this overgrown garden in November in preparation for winter/next year, how best to tidy it up without disturbing too much of the natural habitat. For any bits that I cut back is it worth making some sort of compost heap rather than going to the dump?

The aim next year is to remove the brick path and have grass in the central part with one side of planters for growing flowers, hopefully some veg and hopefully save the rose bush, Holly and jasmine that’s already there. 

Any tips for a beginner on starting with an overgrown garden and what to get done in November to prep for next year would be amazing! Basically what would you do if this was your mess to sort?

Thank you in advance! 
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @laurahelenamurphy86-HWITx - I'd post some photos of the individual shrubs here - a wider shot and a close up of foliage, and you'll get accurate IDs. Most of these apps are a bit iffy, and you could be heading down the wrong path with care/pruning etc. 
    Just do a few at a time though - it gets a bit tricky if there's too any on one page. 
    Some shrubs/trees can be cut back quite easily at this time of year, and some are best left until spring, or after flowering, so the correct IDs are quite important.  :)

    With the aspect and the size of the plot, I'd reconsider grass. You'll be a slave to it, because it'll be shady, and the planting will also contribute - both with shade, and possibly competition for moisture and nutrients, depending on whereabouts you are.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I'm inclined to agree about the grass. It's a nice brick path and you need to be able to get up and down the garden with dry feet, especially in winter. You could still have your flowers/pots on one side and your veg on the other, and definitely a compost area at the end, maybe under that tree.
    You definitely need accurate IDs too. If you have got sycamore and elder, they are quite likely self -sown. Sycamores are lovely trees, but grow far too big for a small garden and the shade and amount of water they take up would make growing anything else much harder. Elders aren't as big and can be pruned back, but they can be a nuisance with continued self-seeding. They aren't unattractive, but there are other things out there that you might like better :)
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Basically l agree with what has been said previously :)
    Personally l would keep the path, it takes a direct route from A to B and is nicer looking than many others l've seen. A compost heap is a very good idea, it is one of the best forms of recycling and there are lots of ideas and information online - or of course on here !

    It may be that you want grass for whatever reason, children, pets etc. but a garden without a lawn can encourage just as much wildlife through planting. Also if it's North facing you may find there's a lot of shade and the grass will struggle, although you can get shade mixes in grass seed.

    You have the Winter to decide exactly what you want from your garden, things such as where to put the compost bin and maybe washing line etc. but l would definitely start with confirming the plant identifications. 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree too, that's a very nice path. I would keep it and not bother with grass if it's going to be in shade for half the day.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    From my point of view, it could be a whole lot worse. I've seen a lot snarlier tangles than that before now. I wouldn't worry  too much. What you have is lovely. Compost bins at the back will help. The rear accesss looks handy. A nice elder which should give good flower and beries - good for wildlife. Lots of intentional looking planting. An interesting raised bed. I love the brick path too.

    I agree about concentrating on IDing for the moment. Just get to know it. Get to know what the soil is like, how the sun moves through the day and changes through the day.  

    Maybe spend the winter reading up and looking at flowers and finding out what your dreams and desires might be for a garden, if you don't know yet. Spring bulbs can be a good, gentle easy way in to start off and now is a good time to plant. Maybe find some tulips, or mini iris that you like. Pot up some soon to bring your own colour to your spring.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I also think the path is lovely. It would be a shame to take it away.
    A simple way of having a different outlook to the plot is screening across it to divide it. It can be done at 90 degrees to the side boundaries, or on a 45 degree angle.  The path would remain in situ.
    This sort of idea - just play around with ideas

    Screening means you can hide things you don't want to see, and allows you to have views and plants you do want. They can be left as they are, or have climbers on them, or vertical perennials depending on the aspect etc.
    You can use what you already have in the garden, if you like them, and add others that you like as you go along. A couple of simple statement plants [like the Elder for example if you like it] that you can work around, is good in a small space. 
    Work out what you need in the space too - washing lines aren't bonny, but are necessary in most gardens.  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Think everyone has covered the bases. Where are you situated? mess,that's not a mess. The first place my hubby and I had together was owned by an elderly lady,hadn't been touched for years. We couldn't even get down the garden. There was huge brambles, wooden structures that had collapsed under their weight,an Air raid shelter
     A car bonnet. Later we found brick paths and a pond.
  • GreenRightHand2022GreenRightHand2022 Posts: 8
    edited November 2021

    Garden

    Thank you everyone for your feedback, loads of tips for me to get on to and think about! I’m based in Margate, Kent so we get some great light even though we are north facing. 

    Wow I wasn’t expecting such a positive response to the path! To me it felt like it split the garden too much in half but I agree it’s probably useful to keep.

    In response to not having grass, I guess I’m struggling to think of what to put instead. It’s hard to see but there are actually beds partitioned off running down on both sides of the fence. (I’ve added a photo with purple to indicate where the beds are) This, I guess, is where the original owner had done all the planting and then grass either side of the path. Maybe we could have some gravel or stones there instead.

    We did love the overgrown poppies and other random wild flowers and were very proud of all the insects and bees that came to feast in the summer (I harvested some of the poppy seeds to re-sow as we were thinking to mulch or put grass down) so we want to make sure we keep lots of goodness for the wild but also make it a nice sociable space. 

    I’ve been looking into putting mulch (maybe cardboard?) down now as we have a lot of nettles in the bedded areas. 

    I’ll definitely take the winter to think about what to do next year which is exciting but so many options and decisions as a beginner! 

    Also added some photos of the majestic summer growth.

    Thanks again everyone!!! 😀


  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    It has the look of a garden that's been cared for relatively recently, and maybe let go for one growing season. There's every chance that there a bulbs or other plants that had done their thing for the year before you moved in waiting in the wings. I would go for a light touch for now - take out anything that's obviously weeds, ID the shrubs and see if any of them should be pruned in winter or early spring (there's a nice dark-leaved elder down at the bottom left, maybe "Black Lace", and if you make new posts with closer pictures including overall shape and details of leaves and any fruits/berries, people on here will help with other IDs), maybe cut what's left of the grass on the left of the path, pull out any dead poppies (they're annuals and will have already set seed so you might get more next year).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Gosh.. Are they literal photos of your garden above? If so I wouldn't touch a thing now and would wait a year so that you find out what's there. It's stunning in my view. I thought at first maybe you had photoshopped it.
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