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Overgrown back garden

Martin JAMartin JA Posts: 3
in Problem solving

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum & just wanted a little advice on how to deal with my overgrown back garden. I've just moved into my first property & having limited gardening experience i'm wondering how i would tackle the lawn & what jobs i would need to do first.

The grass has completely overgrown & has turned into a yellow/straw appearance. There is also quite a lot of weeds and moss underneath the grass. I've attached some photos of the lawn below & would really appreciate any advice to help me on my way.

Cheers

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Posts

  • Bunny ...Bunny ... Posts: 3,471

    Im no expert on lawns but sure someone can advise how to deal with that. Are you having beds and borders or just lawn ? image

  • cairnsiecairnsie Posts: 388

    I inherited a garden similar to yours but much more overgrown and i had the lawn removed and the garden rotavated top soil added and returfed. However you may be able to rescue yours but someone much more knowledgeable than me will be able to tell you that.

  • sotongeoffsotongeoff Posts: 9,802

    Martin

    When it is dry-just run a mower over it-you might have to do a couple of runs-then decide if you want to keep all that lawn and if so a combined weed feed moss-killer will do wonders but do not apply that until things warm up a bit-so not now

    On the other hand you could create a whole new vista with beds running around the outside and just lawn in the middle-if you want lawn??

    You have a virtual blank canvas-what do you fancy?image

  • Martin JAMartin JA Posts: 3

    Thanks for the replies guys.

    I'm hoping to save the lawn and not re-turf. I'm looking at having borders on the outside & beds at the back & keep a reasonable amount of lawn. I'm also wanting to lay a decent size patio area at the front to hold a bbq, table and chairs etc. I guess i'll just have to wait for some drier weather.image

  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    I would stain the fence first as it is looking like it needs a coat first.

    Second, as above has said, if you want to add borders then plan them now.

    Lawn - I would rake over the whole lawn taking all the thatch out. I would then go over it with a garden fork and aerate the whole lawn then get some sand mixed with compost and throw that in the hole created. Leave the lawn for a few weeks. By that itme it will be March and you can throw some grass seed where it needs it.

  • Gardening GrandmaGardening Grandma Posts: 1,746

    Aerate meaning to use your foot to drive the fork straight down into the lawn every few inches, so that it has lots of little holes. Then, when you throw the sand and compost onto the lawn it will go into the little holes and improve the drainage of the lawn and allow some air to get to the soil. Have a great time planning and creating your garden!

  • Martin JAMartin JA Posts: 3

    Thanks again for the advice people..i will certainly be busy this Spring/Summer trying to make my own stamp on the gardenimage

  • Bunny ...Bunny ... Posts: 3,471
    Good luck , post some pics of your progress image
  • Johnny Boy CabbageJohnny Boy Cabbage Posts: 6

    1. Paint/ Creosote the fence

    2. Scrap the lawn, rotovate the lot with as much organic material you can lay your hands on. 

    3. Plan borders , lawn, bbq areas depending on which direction your garden faces.Circular lawn in the centre, borders, think about hight, climbers up the fence      

  • reusereuse Posts: 3

    remove lawn sedd a wildflower meadow better for nectar and also for sitting laying in

    Use palnting list from RHS http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Sustainable-gardening/Plants-for-pollinators also their template for wildflower garden http://www.rhs.org.uk/search?cx=partner-pub-6402928726328738%3ampzwff-w8oa&cof=FORID%3a9&ie=UTF-8&q=nectar+rich+plant+list&sa=SEARCH

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