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Project - overgrown garden
judSmith
Posts: 10
Hi,
We've moved into a new house with a very messy and overgrown garden and wondered if anyone could advise where I should start?
So far I have cleared old leaves from the borders and we have drained a small pond (I have a small child), but I have no idea where to start to get it into shape!
Back garden is south facing, but the grass is very boggy and the borders are overgrown. I don't know if these are plants or weeds! The front is north facing and really boggy. There is a big woody mess of jasmine which has almost finished flowering. Also a mix of shrubs, leylandii, tall/bare rose, but it all looks a mess!
Can anyone advise, or can I post some photos?
Many thanks in advance!!
0
Posts
Pansy give him a break! First thing Jud is let it dry out a bit first. Then go round and identify what you have, what you'd like to keep for now and what must go now. Use the forum to ID anything you don't know. There's no immediate rush and clearing will take a while. Just getting some order is the priority for now. You will find that some things you initially don't like will turn out out to be something you should have kept and vice versa. The Common wisdom is to see what happens in the first year. You may have hidden treasures. Posting pictures will bring a wealth of suggestions and advice. It's up to you to pick which advice you take. You've made it safe for the little one so just a mowable lawn for a play area this summer would be a good start.
You say the ground is boggy, several possible reasons for it but the usual cause is clay soil which has its own separate solutions. Try to decide what you want from the garden and although you have North and South aspects you'll have shaded area as well. These aspects will dictate planting as will soil conditions.
You've !made a start that's the main thing. You'll get more free help on here than you can imagine so never be shy in asking questions. Yes post pictures you can upload them by clicking on the green tree icon in the toolbar. So get out the camera/phone or whatever you use and the advice will follow.
Thanks everyone! Yes, I don't want to disturb birds or wildlife and want to keep the shrubs/something at the front as it is the border between me and next door. Unfortunately I couldn't keep the pond for safety reasons as my son was very inquisitive.
We seem to have a lot of slugs and snails in both front and back - is this just because the soil it wet? Also, how do I tell the type of soil we have?
I'll post some photos tomorrow as maybe that will help. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed as there seems to be so much to do and it isn't metely maintenance - and I have no idea where to start!!
Thanks again!
Dave has given good advice. I would wait a bit too, until it is less boggy. You don't want to compact the soil by walking on it, wet clay is very difficult to dig and you don't know what plants will be coming up. When it's dryer you can remove obvious weeds and send photos for the forum to identify if you aren't sure.
Clay soil can be improved by digging in compost and well rotted manure, but not when it's too wet.
Slowly by slowly by slowly! It's still too early and too wet to do alot but wait - there maybe wonderful things in there waiting to delight you.Big dandelions and such can be pulled out if you can reach them without standing on wet soil, if not, try and dead head when they set clocks. Otherwise, wait for nature to do her thing, she will, then you can lend her a hand. Once the ground is dry you can begin to see what you have got, it sounds as if the garden has been loved at some time so it is worth having the patience. You can cut back brambles if you have some, again wait till the soil is dryer and does not compact under your feet. Hopefully you will have the garden for a long time, so rushing in now will not really gain you alot.
Once the grass dries out a bit keep it cut, trim any really straggly shrubs back a bit.
But apart from that, sit back and watch, see what pops up over the spring and early summer and get it identified on here. then in summer you can see what you've got and start planning any changes you want to make in the autumn.
shrubs can be removed at any time of the year just make sure you check them really well for nests.
Thanks everyone! OK, so I'll just wait and watch for a bit and will ask for help again when things start to grow. I'm probably just a bit too keen as I want to get the garden in shape but, you are all right, I should wait and see what grows before I set about digging and pruning! Thanks for the advice!
I agree with most of the above advice....wait. Meanwhile some pictures would be helpful.