idiots guide to having a garden!

sisbod

ok I moved into a rented flat last year that was overgrown grass with equally overgrown borders!! So last year was reclaiming the garden from the weeds and grass! I plan to be here at least 5 years but not forever so dont want to leave a garden that will require lots of maintainance as would hate to see it go to rack and ruin quickly

My guess is that 5+ years ago it was rather nice with a shed on a concrete base and a nice border on one side with a large sprawly type tree that 'falls' to the ground with its branches - not a weeping willow or cherry more spindly and very fast growing! and some spikey thistle'y looking plants ( i know they are plants cos local park has some!) and a grassy lawn.


Now there is a 6ft 7 ft concrete base, a large 6ft x 6ft patch of ex bonfire style soil, an uneven grassy area about 24 x 24ft. a slightly raised narrow border where the tree is and an undefined as yet border opposite side where blackberries dominate down the other side of the garden. I have started to fill the soil area with odd plants - lavender, a buddlea and a cherry tree (although thanks to the weather and my pet dog - none look particularly healthy at the moment maybe it is hibernation? Would also like to get a hydrangea - do you think that mix will work? I am trying to start a compost heap in a very shady corner that protects a butlerstyle bath with frogs! My window that looks on the garden faces north west but sun hits it in the afternoon so not sure if it is a south east facing garden or if it is a north west IYKWiM
The best amount of time I can put in is an hour a night once it dries out a bit! I am rather fairweather so until the weather picks up and is bright and cheerful it is all planning!.
I am very skint so it is a case of freecycling and borrowing.

Any hoo the questions are:

what are the basic essentials to really get going in the garden - I am assuming spade, fork, rake and loan of a lawn mower (that I have!) and hopefully recycling plants that others are fed up /overgrown with!

what is the easiest /best way to get a more even lawn

should I rid myself of the blackberries - not keen but know they are a bit of an imposter if not careful.

What should I be beg steal or borrowing ok not steal but certainly looking out for?

Im thinking bricks for borders, a few concrete slabs for creating a path on the lawn, wood for edgings something to prevent cat,dog and local fox from digging up the garden (any ideas what):cool:

DaftyDuck

If you are new to gardening, and in need of plants, one of the best ways is to talk to near neighbours with lovely gardens, ask their advice, and tell them how lovely their plants are... you'll more than likely get a bit of good advice alongside a cutting or some spare seeds. It will be stuff that grows in your soil and locality too!

For the lawn. You'll not be cutting it for a month or two. If it is as wet as mine, simply avoid walking on it at the moment. If it dries out a little, raking or brushing worm casts and the like will help improve it. You can lightly rake a little soil into holes, and spread a little grass seed if needed (but small fills of 6" will infill with grass anyway). You could, in a month or two, use the garden fork to aerate the lawn... jab it in deep, wiggle it around, and lift ever so slightly. It will dramatically improve drainage, reduce moss, increase grass density. It's a bore, but does work.
Regular cutting of just a little at a time is key to a good lawn... never cut too low, an easy beginner's mistake. Bowling greens can be so short and perfect only because of intensive work beforehand.

If you are skint, remember seeds. They can be cheap, and give brilliant results. Lidl and Aldi do great ranges, and they start at around 27p (last year). They'll be out in the shops in a month or so.

Remember the Pound shops. They sell a cheap and cheerful collection of plants and quite a few fruit bushes. Yes, they are common plants, and most will grow from cuttings and the like if you manage to cultivate a gardening friend instead.

Frankly, if you're up to it, I'd dig the blackberrys out. Highly invasive, not that productive, and not decorative. Now is a good time for that job, messy, but you can see what you are digging, and the cold spell we are about to have will help kill the roots.

Freecycle is great for bricks, slabs and the like. Also for plants. So are skips :rotfl: Got some great stuff from skips!

Cats & foxes will dig when the soil is dug, and best thing for that is to establish plants .. but they'll still dig!

Other tools: small trowel and fork for planting. See if you can stretch to those costing near a tenner; they'll last a lifetime, and work much better than the real cheapies. You'll need some secateurs for those brambles as well

sisbod

Daftyduck
thank you so much I have now printed off and will use it as my plan for the next few months!
It is perfect and simple - cant ask for better!

Helen2k8

Try carboots for gardening tools - I have destroyed two modern trowels but none of my inherited stash

You might be able to borrow a lawnmower, don't buy one just yet

If you can, move the compost bin to a sunny spot - it needs heat to get going (especially in winter).