Like any other hobby, we all started knowing nothing but built up our knowledge by reading, watching and doing. Yes, we have all made mistakes but the good thing about gardening is that our mistakes are not irrevocable. If we plant something and it dies, 9 times out of 10 the fault lies with us - did we neglect it, kill it with kindness or was it the right plant in the wrong place? Talk to people at work, find out the gardeners amongst you and pick their brains; talk to the bloke down the road who's cutting his grass; read any gardening book you can get your hands on; visit gardens, garden centres, local plant fairs etc etc. If you are really interested then learning will be fun and enjoyable. And the joy when your seeds germinate and produce flowers or the joy when a plant grows. And start small, a little at a time. If you had taken up photography, you would not go out and buy a camera at a couple of thousand pounds, would you? You would probably have started with a level entry camera at a couple of a hundred pounds and still felt you were out of your depth. ....
Enjoy!.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
Buy one plant you like. Plant it in a plastic pot. Water it and care for it. Watch it grow and feel proud of your acheivement. Move it around the garden to see where you think it looks best and then read wverything you can about the plant before you decide what to finally do with it. Go to charity shops. They always have gardening books there really cheap. Then, when you are ready buy another plant you like and do the same. Just reading about one plant you like can give you a lot of periphery knowledge and further questions you want answered. This way you can focus only on the little bits you need to know, step by step. Have fun seeing your knowledge expand and your garden evolve. That's all part of the process. If however you want an instant garden, then you may need to pay an expert. Relax, Rome wasn't built in a day, enjoy the journey and don't try to jump straight to an end product.
Watching it grow is part of the enjoyment though, it's what makes it satisfying for people who garden as a hobby. I definitely get impatient when I see other gardens but mine has changed for the better in the 2 years since I started it.
I started planning mine in winter to plant in the spring, so I spent 3 months deciding on plants. I started by making a Pinterest board to save plants I liked when I saw them and see what they'd look like together. I narrowed it down by removing anything that wasn't suitable for the conditions.
From what was left I tried to pick plants that look good in all seasons, because I wanted a year round garden. What I ended up with is lots of evergreen shrubs and autumn colours. Since then I've been filling in any gaps in the shrubs with perennials.
I've made mistakes and some things haven't done well, but if anything goes wrong or doesn't look as good as you hoped you can just change it. It doesn't have to be perfect straight away.
That's how to start. A list of what you like will become enormous and offputting. Ruling out the dislikes is easier. Don't forget other things that aren't 'plants' related - seating areas, washing, storage etc. Those things are just as important for garden and often difficult to sort later once you start with plants.
You're worried about the eventual look. Have a look at other things you like to get a general feel of your 'style' Do you like ornate, patterned things or simple, monotone things? Loose, colourful and flowing, or symmetrical and geometric? How you dress, how you have your home, the colours you like and dislike. Those same things will probably be the same influences in your garden, so look for a similar feel. Keep it simple - it's easier to add than it is to keep taking out.
Start near the house with just a little job or two to tackle once you have a better idea of those likes and dislikes, and remember it doesn't all happen in a few weeks. Pauline's right - take photos and those will encourage you when you're disheartened.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Pauline has a good idea in documenting what you've got and have done. I know you have a blank canvas at the moment, but that is a good thing. You can start from scratch without clearing weeds and rubbish away. You will be surprised that even doing a small section will lift the soul. I hope you are able to enjoy this And the fruits of you labour.
Thinking of fruit - would you like to be able to pick an apple or pear from your tree and eat it? There are local varieties of apples for example that are unlikely to be commercially grown that are local to your area. E.g. Worcester Permain Was originally grown in Worcester. Others grown for their specific location like altitude, some may not thrive at higher levels. A bit of time researching and getting a good local fruit tree will give you blossom, autumn colour and a crop too. And can be used as a starting point for one area of your garden.
What style of garden do you want Is also a consideration.
I hope to stay in this house forever so I guess there really is no rush. I've already got a patio and a shed. There's also a small bit of lawn already, and I have a Camellia in a big pot which I really love. It would be nice to plant that in the garden eventually as I think it would be happier than in a pot. Although I keep the house very neat and I can't stand clutter, I don't need the garden to look formal. There are 6 very large cherry blossom trees right beside my house and they shed a huge amount of leaves every autumn so I don't think more trees would be a good idea. I love those cherry blossoms though. They are well worth the mess!
I think I'll get some books to start with. I'm feeling much better about it now. It's meant to be fun and relaxing so I know it's ok to just take my time.
There you go ripply - the cherries and the camellia are staying. That's your first decision made. It'll get easier now
To be honest - patience is the thing gardeners need to cultivate as much as the plants in their gardens, but we often still lack it , no matter how long we garden! It's an ever changing, enjoyable, frustrating and delightful hobby.
Good luck with what you decide to do. Keep asking questions, and take as much time as you need to make the garden work for you. I
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know that over whelmed feeling as well. Do your gardening one small area at a time. I had the beds raised in my garden late last year and it looked dreadful but I started replanting, a fence panel length at a time.
I grew a whole lot of London pride from self seeded off sets and stuck them and into the bare bits of soil. Also plant Ajuga reptans aka Bugle that is also good for ground cover as it keeps the weeds down and looks ok.
You will get there! Just keep remembering you cannot do it all at once and no gardener expects you to .
Posts
Like any other hobby, we all started knowing nothing but built up our knowledge by reading, watching and doing. Yes, we have all made mistakes but the good thing about gardening is that our mistakes are not irrevocable. If we plant something and it dies, 9 times out of 10 the fault lies with us - did we neglect it, kill it with kindness or was it the right plant in the wrong place? Talk to people at work, find out the gardeners amongst you and pick their brains; talk to the bloke down the road who's cutting his grass; read any gardening book you can get your hands on; visit gardens, garden centres, local plant fairs etc etc. If you are really interested then learning will be fun and enjoyable. And the joy when your seeds germinate and produce flowers or the joy when a plant grows. And start small, a little at a time. If you had taken up photography, you would not go out and buy a camera at a couple of thousand pounds, would you? You would probably have started with a level entry camera at a couple of a hundred pounds and still felt you were out of your depth. ....
Enjoy!.
Buy one plant you like. Plant it in a plastic pot. Water it and care for it. Watch it grow and feel proud of your acheivement. Move it around the garden to see where you think it looks best and then read wverything you can about the plant before you decide what to finally do with it. Go to charity shops. They always have gardening books there really cheap. Then, when you are ready buy another plant you like and do the same. Just reading about one plant you like can give you a lot of periphery knowledge and further questions you want answered. This way you can focus only on the little bits you need to know, step by step. Have fun seeing your knowledge expand and your garden evolve. That's all part of the process. If however you want an instant garden, then you may need to pay an expert. Relax, Rome wasn't built in a day, enjoy the journey and don't try to jump straight to an end product.
Watching it grow is part of the enjoyment though, it's what makes it satisfying for people who garden as a hobby. I definitely get impatient when I see other gardens but mine has changed for the better in the 2 years since I started it.
I started planning mine in winter to plant in the spring, so I spent 3 months deciding on plants. I started by making a Pinterest board to save plants I liked when I saw them and see what they'd look like together. I narrowed it down by removing anything that wasn't suitable for the conditions.
From what was left I tried to pick plants that look good in all seasons, because I wanted a year round garden. What I ended up with is lots of evergreen shrubs and autumn colours. Since then I've been filling in any gaps in the shrubs with perennials.
I've made mistakes and some things haven't done well, but if anything goes wrong or doesn't look as good as you hoped you can just change it. It doesn't have to be perfect straight away.
That's how to start. A list of what you like will become enormous and offputting. Ruling out the dislikes is easier. Don't forget other things that aren't 'plants' related - seating areas, washing, storage etc. Those things are just as important for garden and often difficult to sort later once you start with plants.
You're worried about the eventual look. Have a look at other things you like to get a general feel of your 'style' Do you like ornate, patterned things or simple, monotone things? Loose, colourful and flowing, or symmetrical and geometric? How you dress, how you have your home, the colours you like and dislike. Those same things will probably be the same influences in your garden, so look for a similar feel. Keep it simple - it's easier to add than it is to keep taking out.
Start near the house with just a little job or two to tackle once you have a better idea of those likes and dislikes, and remember it doesn't all happen in a few weeks. Pauline's right - take photos and those will encourage you when you're disheartened.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Pauline has a good idea in documenting what you've got and have done. I know you have a blank canvas at the moment, but that is a good thing. You can start from scratch without clearing weeds and rubbish away. You will be surprised that even doing a small section will lift the soul. I hope you are able to enjoy this And the fruits of you labour.
Thinking of fruit - would you like to be able to pick an apple or pear from your tree and eat it? There are local varieties of apples for example that are unlikely to be commercially grown that are local to your area. E.g. Worcester Permain Was originally grown in Worcester. Others grown for their specific location like altitude, some may not thrive at higher levels. A bit of time researching and getting a good local fruit tree will give you blossom, autumn colour and a crop too. And can be used as a starting point for one area of your garden.
What style of garden do you want Is also a consideration.
I hope to stay in this house forever so I guess there really is no rush. I've already got a patio and a shed. There's also a small bit of lawn already, and I have a Camellia in a big pot which I really love. It would be nice to plant that in the garden eventually as I think it would be happier than in a pot. Although I keep the house very neat and I can't stand clutter, I don't need the garden to look formal. There are 6 very large cherry blossom trees right beside my house and they shed a huge amount of leaves every autumn so I don't think more trees would be a good idea. I love those cherry blossoms though. They are well worth the mess!
I think I'll get some books to start with. I'm feeling much better about it now. It's meant to be fun and relaxing so I know it's ok to just take my time.
Well you know where we are when you need advice - good luck
There you go ripply - the cherries and the camellia are staying. That's your first decision made. It'll get easier now
To be honest - patience is the thing gardeners need to cultivate as much as the plants in their gardens, but we often still lack it , no matter how long we garden! It's an ever changing, enjoyable, frustrating and delightful hobby.
Good luck with what you decide to do. Keep asking questions, and take as much time as you need to make the garden work for you. I
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know that over whelmed feeling as well. Do your gardening one small area at a time. I had the beds raised in my garden late last year and it looked dreadful but I started replanting, a fence panel length at a time.
I grew a whole lot of London pride from self seeded off sets and stuck them and into the bare bits of soil. Also plant Ajuga reptans aka Bugle that is also good for ground cover as it keeps the weeds down and looks ok.
You will get there! Just keep remembering you cannot do it all at once and no gardener expects you to .
As I have to keep reminding my self.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'