Wow lots of great advice on here - and typical British weather it is throwing it down with rain already. I think it is like anything I just need to start doing something rather than seeing it as an overwhelming task. I think I will take the opportunity of rubbish weather to make a start on planning out what I would like.
I love the idea of wildlife although my 12 year old cat might not be as keen on things inhabiting his garden - he likes to look at the flowers
Hi Gulliver, there's been loads of great advice posted on here but I thought I'd add my two cents (as another newbie who's just planned - but not implemented yet - two gardens).
I started out by drawing up a list of what I needed from the garden and what I wanted (essentials and none essentials). I then spent heavens knows how many hours trawling the net looking at garden designs (www.houzz.com is a great resource for designs). Anything I liked I saved in a folder on the pc - don't think about it too much at this stage. I then went back and examined each saved image deciding what I liked and disliked about it. Some pictures I then decided I didn't like very much so I deleted them. This helped me to identify what styles of gardens I liked the best and also to pick out some really great ideas. From there I started designing my own. I used google sketchup as I have two awkwardly shaped gardens and most of the freebie garden design programmes don't really cope with funny shaped gardens. Pen and paper works well if you can draw at all - I'm hopeless though, much better with the computer lol.
One of the things you will need to bear in mind is what areas of the garden get the sun/shade and whether you need to build in shelter from strong winds (I live on quite an exposed site) or shelter from the sun. When it comes to choosing plants you will need the sun information, along with what your soil is like (i.e. sandy, loam or clay) and what pH it is to help you pick plants which will thrive.
Have fun with it. I find its best to think of it as a work in progress. Even though I've come up with a design I like I'm still open to new ideas and once its started the only things which I wont alter (for a long time at least) are the patio's and paths we've already laid.
In addition to all that I've got some information in word (taken from places like BBC - Alan Tichmarsh has a good guide on the BBC website, Gardeners World website and tv programmes) which I've looked at numerous times. I'd be happy to send you my collected information if you'd like it (bearing in mind its not my own work - pretty sure I've put links or references on the documents as reminders for me).
You are going to have a lot of fun! Great advice already on this thread so I won't add too much more (you'll drown!). All I'd add is to do it bit by bit - you won't crack it all at once. When we took on our new big garden as complete novices, we had a vague overall plan but we decided that each year we would have one bit that we'd 'develop' (that is, reclaim it from jungle!); one bit that we'd 'maintain' (just keep tidy - usually the bit we'd 'developed' the previous year); and everything else we'd pretty much ignore until the following year. It meant that there was always at least one part of the garden that we were really proud of and excited about!
By the way, how long have you been in your place? if you've just moved in then it is a really good idea to do as little as possible for year, so that you find out what you've got / see what comes up.... because most of your lovely plants will be hidden underground right now.
I am still feeling overwhelmed lol but I do know what kind of garden I want. It wants to be a nice place for us to sit out in Summer.
I have been in the house about 3 years but still no idea what happens in it lol.
I know there are a few problem plants with the accursed ivy and I would like to address that as the neighbours complain when it goes into their garden.
Also the paths are a bit overgrown so maybe they need addressing first as well AGGGHHHH where to start
Start by getting out there on the next nice day (today?) and removing some ivy. Don't overface yourself. Start where it goes through to the neighbours if that's a likely source of problem.
Hello Gulliver, You could make a list of small projects, e.g.
1.Clear left side of ivy
2.Use old knife/trowel to clear weeds around path, or use weedkiller......
make sure that each project only takes 2 or 3 hours, leaving you time to clear up afterwards. Bag up the weeds and take them to your local Council Dump. In future you could compost the annual weeds before they set seed, but you cannot do that with perennials. For large garden projects break them down into small jobs.
Don't forget to tick each one off as it is achieved
Hi Gulliver, I've come across some old video's on You Tube which may be of interest to you. Alan Titchmarsh did a tv show about 10 years ago (ish) called how to be a gardener. There's two maybe three series available on You Tube. About 8 episodes each, half an hour long per episode. The first series goes into the basics of gardening (know your plot) and he plants a really fabulous annual border as well as a perennial and mixed borders. The second series is more about the design of different style and size gardens (although he touches on planting plans and design in the first series as well). If nothing else I'm finding them highly motivational. Can't wait to do my garden now lol
Posts
Wow lots of great advice on here - and typical British weather it is throwing it down with rain already. I think it is like anything I just need to start doing something rather than seeing it as an overwhelming task. I think I will take the opportunity of rubbish weather to make a start on planning out what I would like.
I love the idea of wildlife although my 12 year old cat might not be as keen on things inhabiting his garden - he likes to look at the flowers
Hi Gulliver, there's been loads of great advice posted on here but I thought I'd add my two cents (as another newbie who's just planned - but not implemented yet - two gardens).
I started out by drawing up a list of what I needed from the garden and what I wanted (essentials and none essentials). I then spent heavens knows how many hours trawling the net looking at garden designs (www.houzz.com is a great resource for designs). Anything I liked I saved in a folder on the pc - don't think about it too much at this stage. I then went back and examined each saved image deciding what I liked and disliked about it. Some pictures I then decided I didn't like very much so I deleted them. This helped me to identify what styles of gardens I liked the best and also to pick out some really great ideas. From there I started designing my own. I used google sketchup as I have two awkwardly shaped gardens and most of the freebie garden design programmes don't really cope with funny shaped gardens. Pen and paper works well if you can draw at all - I'm hopeless though, much better with the computer lol.
One of the things you will need to bear in mind is what areas of the garden get the sun/shade and whether you need to build in shelter from strong winds (I live on quite an exposed site) or shelter from the sun. When it comes to choosing plants you will need the sun information, along with what your soil is like (i.e. sandy, loam or clay) and what pH it is to help you pick plants which will thrive.
Have fun with it. I find its best to think of it as a work in progress. Even though I've come up with a design I like I'm still open to new ideas and once its started the only things which I wont alter (for a long time at least) are the patio's and paths we've already laid.
In addition to all that I've got some information in word (taken from places like BBC - Alan Tichmarsh has a good guide on the BBC website, Gardeners World website and tv programmes) which I've looked at numerous times. I'd be happy to send you my collected information if you'd like it (bearing in mind its not my own work - pretty sure I've put links or references on the documents as reminders for me).
You are going to have a lot of fun! Great advice already on this thread so I won't add too much more (you'll drown!). All I'd add is to do it bit by bit - you won't crack it all at once. When we took on our new big garden as complete novices, we had a vague overall plan but we decided that each year we would have one bit that we'd 'develop' (that is, reclaim it from jungle!); one bit that we'd 'maintain' (just keep tidy - usually the bit we'd 'developed' the previous year); and everything else we'd pretty much ignore until the following year. It meant that there was always at least one part of the garden that we were really proud of and excited about!
By the way, how long have you been in your place? if you've just moved in then it is a really good idea to do as little as possible for year, so that you find out what you've got / see what comes up.... because most of your lovely plants will be hidden underground right now.
Have fun and let us know how you get on!
Rosie
Hi All
I am still feeling overwhelmed lol but I do know what kind of garden I want. It wants to be a nice place for us to sit out in Summer.
I have been in the house about 3 years but still no idea what happens in it lol.
I know there are a few problem plants with the accursed ivy and I would like to address that as the neighbours complain when it goes into their garden.
Also the paths are a bit overgrown so maybe they need addressing first as well AGGGHHHH where to start
Start by getting out there on the next nice day (today?) and removing some ivy. Don't overface yourself. Start where it goes through to the neighbours if that's a likely source of problem.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hello Gulliver, You could make a list of small projects, e.g.
1.Clear left side of ivy
2.Use old knife/trowel to clear weeds around path, or use weedkiller......
make sure that each project only takes 2 or 3 hours, leaving you time to clear up afterwards. Bag up the weeds and take them to your local Council Dump. In future you could compost the annual weeds before they set seed, but you cannot do that with perennials. For large garden projects break them down into small jobs.
Don't forget to tick each one off as it is achieved
Hi Gulliver, I've come across some old video's on You Tube which may be of interest to you. Alan Titchmarsh did a tv show about 10 years ago (ish) called how to be a gardener. There's two maybe three series available on You Tube. About 8 episodes each, half an hour long per episode. The first series goes into the basics of gardening (know your plot) and he plants a really fabulous annual border as well as a perennial and mixed borders. The second series is more about the design of different style and size gardens (although he touches on planting plans and design in the first series as well). If nothing else I'm finding them highly motivational. Can't wait to do my garden now lol
Hi SamJP
Oh they sound perfect I am deffinitely going to check those out they sound a great place to start. Thank you
G
Hi Gulliver,
I'm a garden researcher and would love to hear more about your project. Please can you email [email protected]
Thanks!
This sounds like a good opportunity Gulliver!
From experience if you get a film crew along you'll have a great day!!...
Best
Higgy
http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.com/