Help needed with garden covered in chip stones !

Cat72

Hi
I wonder if anyone can help. I have a VERY large garden that is covered in red chip stones. The previous owner obviousily was not green fingered and covered the entire area.The area underneath the chips has large blue plastic- which is partly ripped so weeds keep growing. Its very messy looking.
I would love a nice green garden with some vegetables planted.
However I have no gardening experience and have arthritis so cant dig/ carry to much.So things would have to be done slowly.
I also dont have a lot of cash.
Can anyone suggest what I can do to get some grass down and at least make a small area that is presentable, and maybe grow some vegetables.
Many many thanks .

RAS

Cat

I would start by joing https://www.freegle.co.uk , sign up for your local group and offer those red chippings gratis to the first person who takes them away. one huge job that you would not have to do.

Then start looking on freegle for free plants. And oter things - you could make raised beds out of stacked old tyres for instance.

Would you be able to dig up the perennial weeds yourself? Have you checked whether there is a local volunteer gardening service for your area, who might help get the bones in place?

WestonDave

There is a scheme around which teams people like yourself who have big gardens they can't cope with, with people who want some space to grow vegetables (Hugh Fearnley Wittingstall was behind it). http://landshare.channel4.com/

I think the idea is that they do the work and give you some of the produce in return for letting them have the space they need. Within reason they may be willing to help with the other parts as well especially if perhaps you are on site to do watering etc to make it more of a partnership.

dreaming

I would start by pulling back a small piece of the blue plastic,so that the stones roll back (and stay tidy), and then digging/planting that area. You could do as much or as little as you could manage. Even a border of a foot or so would make a difference, and probably spur you on to the next foot or so. That is how I tackled my garden. I just kept most of it as tidy and weed free as possible and concentrated on a smallish area. When I came to do the next piece I found I had some plants "for free" from the ones that had grown well in the first area and could be divided. I also got loads from my sil when she was tidying her garden (in fact I call one piece of it Jenny's (sil) patch) so ask around - I've found gardeners tend to be very generous people.
When I got a bit disheartened about the messy bits I just used to turn my seat round so I couldn't see it and look at the good bits.
Last year I felt it was finally finished (after 10 years) and guess what? Yup, I am shortly moving house, so I can start all over again!
Good luck.