Clueless beginner with weedy, uneven garden
Lewis8
Posts: 3
Hello, I've just moved into a new build and I'm wondering how best to sort the garden.
I'm completely new to gardening; this is the first garden space I've ever had. I'm getting an info overload when I google solutions/techniques so I thought I'd post on a forum to ask kindly for some suggestions!
As you can see from photos, it's got plenty of weeds and it's quite uneven.
Here's my current plan: (please let me know if this sounds like a logical and effective process, if there are any clear problems with this plan and if there are better ways of doing it)
- dig out current weeds, rake the ground to even it and to remove any stones etc, lay more topsoil if necessary (why would it be necessary or unnecessary? unsure on this)
- leave a border around the sides for plants
- lay grass seed (probably September)
- put new patio down behind the garage (it's a good sun trap).
Any advice on this work would be really appreciated.
I've attached some photos for info.
Lewis
Posts
Also, I forgot to say, the housing developer said they'd rotavate the garden when I want it rotavated.
Is that a necessary step? What will it do and when should I get it done?
Lewis
Hi Lewis. I would get one if the weedkillers that is neutralised when it hits the soil. An example of one of these is 'Round Up'. This will clear off the weeds yet leave your soil ok for lawn seed sowing etc. Once the weeds have died, if you think the garden needs rotavating then by all means have that done then but I would be careful as there are some persistent weeds which, if all chopped up will produce new plants from even the tiniest piece of root left behind. Rake up all the dead stuff and put it in the council green bin to get rid of it. Level the soil by raking and tamping down gently - remove any big stones. Decide where you want your borders and on the shape of your lawn and sow the lawn seed in September.
I should have added that the patio should be the first job so that you are not carrying stuff over a newly sown lawn.
Last edited: 07 August 2016 15:34:37
Topsoil is the nutritious, fairly fine soil which lies on top of the subsoil. Most plants want to have their roots in topsoil in order to grow well, although trees and most bushes will cope with the tougher subsoil. Grass, however, needs topsoil, as do most of the more delicate flowering plants. Topsoil is anywhere between 10-30cm deep, depending how lucky you've been, but it's very common for builders moving onto a new site to strip the topsoil and sell it separately. It's also rather common for them to leave all their rubbish behind - bits of wire, brick, roof tiles and plaster - and cover it with a few shovelfuls of soil. When you kill the present greenery, you will need to have a look at the bumps and peaks and see what's causing them. You may find that you have quite a few barrowloads of rubbish lurking which will leave holes that need filling; you may also find that the soil is extremely poor, so you might want to consider buying topsoil to improve matters.
Last edited: 07 August 2016 17:05:35
Thank you both for your helpful replies!
decide on where your beds are going and give them a good amount of organic matter (compost or well rotted manure is best) and dig it in well,
get them planted first, then do your lawn, otherwise you'll have to walk on your lawn before its grown enough to take the damage.