Advice for a novice please

smiler34

Hi all, I am looking for some advice, I have a big back garden which is mainly grass but there is small patch in it which was previously used as a flower bed and has just been left to overgrow before we moved here and we havn't really done anything with it since. There is also two tree stumps in this patch. Basically I would like to make this patch look nice again, preferably all year round without too much money being spent or having to tend to it too often. We can't afford to have the tree stumps removed so I am not sure what problems these could cause?


Any ideas?


Thanks in advance

I_have_spoken

Glyphosate to kill off the weeds in the patch, then plant ivy as evergreen ground cover and to grow over the tree stumps

forgotmyname

If you want to get rid of the tree stumps eventually, Just keep drilling some holes in it. It will get nice and damp in there and the creepy crawlies will move in and start doing their work. Long term but costs nothing.

Cover the area in newspaper and cover with grass clipping or bark chippings. Ask neighbours for the grass cuttings if they dont compost them.

Plenty available around here since the council started charging for green waste collections.

Get some cheap seeds from the £1 shop or post ones from Home Bargains £2.99.

I have a couple of boxes of wildflower seeds. Got late in the season for £1.

Its mixed with sawdust and you just sprinkle it around and rake it in. But with grass clippings etc you wont really need to do that.

When the seeds hits the damp paper they should start to germinate.

Probably not the answer everyone else will give. But its worked for me. And the newspaper will rot away in no time.

No stringy horrible weed barrier to work through when you change your plans.

Orange_King

Yes, some seeds for annuals and perennials is the way to go. You can;'t go wrong with calendulas, antirhinum, acquilegia, lupins etc. They even self seed readily so you should have free plants year after year if you want.

Also, some good ground cover helps. Look out for sedum varieties which you can pick up for a quid on ebay.

Depends what yoo like really I suppose but you could also drill out holes and in the tree trunks and slot in some plants in them too!

smiler34

Thanks for advice guys, what type of plants will grow in the tree trunks. Forgot to say I am looking to avoid using any chemicals as I have 3 young kids who use the garden. Thanks

smiler34

Also are there any nice smelling plants that would work there, apart from Lavender which I can't stand x