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New to gardening and overwhelmed!

Hi everyone The title says it all really! Moved in to a new house with front and back gardens, beds and borders are over run with weeds! The only plants that are meant to be there (I think) are some bushes and roses (which I hate and want to get rid of!) The only flowers I like are the wildflowers on one patch of weeds ha! And me? Well I've never kept a garden before. Or mowed a lawn. Yes really... Where do I begin?!

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  • Good morning Snapsnaps image  You've begun at the right place - we'll give you a hand image

    Can you take some photos of your garden and post them on here for us to have a look at - then we can get some idea of your options.  To post a photo you need to click on the green tree icon on the toolbar above where you type your post, and follow the instructions.  Sometimes it can be a bit slow, but if it doesn't work let us know and we'll try to help.  Some photos of individual plants will be good too, so we can identify them and then you'll know whether to pull them up, or whether they're going to be smothered with gorgeous flowers in September image

    Also, we'll need to know whereabouts-ish you are, which way your gardens face (North/South etc) and what the soil's like - lovely dark loam / sticky clay or something in between etc.

    And what you can do is make yourself a cuppa and have a look at some gardens - in books or online (have a wander around this site) and try to decide what sort of look you like - don't be too fussed about individual types of plant yet - more the sort of overall look. 

    And what do you want to do in your garden - grow veg, entertain your friends etc, have you children who will need a play area, are there family pets who will use the garden too?

    This is going to be an adventure image

     


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Great advice from Dove - the other thing I'd add is - how much time do you have to spend in your garden? Always a mistake to take on too many projects or high maintenance planting if you have a full time job or a family to look after etc. The garden needs to be enjoyable for your needs image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • The other thing is, while you plan and allow things to grow to find out what to do with them, plant a few pots with plants. You can place them anwhere to cheer things up a bit and you get a feel what you like about gardening. It is no good planting a whole garden with high maintenance plants when you find you don't want to put in the work or the other way around.

  • MarygoldMarygold Posts: 332

    Don't rush into anything. I'd do something temporary (such as Gardenviking's suggestion). Then step back and live with it for a while. At this time of year you don't know what treasures might be waiting under ground. You can also work out where the sunniest bit is or where it's always shady etc so you can then work out where to put things such as patios, sheds play areas etc.

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