Help, I'm young and completely clueless.
Aly94
Posts: 2
Hi there!
I am brand new to this forum and I'm hoping there is a green fingered angel out there who can help me!
I have recently moved in to a new house, with my boyfriend (aww), and as lovely as it is, it would appear the garden hasn't been looked after for many years. Furthermore, the builders who renovated our house left their fair share of mess. I love being in the garden and it would be a shame to not use it, particularly given we live in London.
The problem is, other than a bit of weeding and digging as a child, I have never done any gardening before; I have no idea where to start!
Can anybody offer any advice?
Being young career people we lack both time and money, so want to do all of the work ourselves. Where possible we would like to minimise cost and use recycled materials where possible.
If anyone could help me I would really appreciate it!
Posts
There are slabs at points around the garden but not everywhere. Some places, such as under the table and the back of the garden, there is just dirt. There is an awful lot of dust around the garden, and the shed is missing a window.
Thanks again
It looks like someone has done the hard landscaping for you. I'd ask around on freegle to see if anyone has any big tubs or troughs that they don't want. That tree might cast a lot of shade in summer I think so you might have to find plants that will ge happy in shade.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Get some books out of the library and read, read, read, You will find lists of plants that will do well in your garden and lots of ideas.
It looks like a place with potential! You could always weed and clean up but othervise there is no need to hurry, I would say. Give the ideas time to appear and mature
. But I have to admit: I thought "climbers!" as soon as I saw your fence. A clematis or two, perhaps?
If you plant anything, dig a big hole and put in lots of compost. Your current soil may be compacted and plants don't generally like that.
And the 'soil' is possibly clay as well as compacted. London clay makes very good bricks!
I got a book called "the small garden" by Susan Berry, it's got pictures of gardens of all different designs, also type in you internet, images of small gardens you get thousands of ideas
Welcome Aly,
As my dear late mother would have said. " act in haste: repent at leisure".
Settle in for a while, watch to see if anything grows, have a look at other gardens, family, friends, neighbours to see what style of garden you like. Inspiration will come.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Aly, I really agree with Hostafan1. If you have time to go to some open gardens somewhere you will find it really helpful. Also watching gardening design programmes. It is ideas you need and then a bit at a time you can transform the area into something you will love. Don't rush it though - take time to get it how you really want it. Good luck.
The new series of Gardeners' World is featuring town garden design . On demand (sky) also on the web.
I would say to feel like you have made a start, repaint your fence panels, it can make a big difference. Also its a good idea to go and look at the reduced trolley in garden centres and other places like B&Q. You can get plants that although they have finished flowering, will be good for next year. I've done this for years and have had some very good bargains.