Help a complete gardening newbie?

Noctu

Hi,
We've just moved from a house with a back yard, to a house with a rather large garden :j

As it's coming up to summer, I'd like to start doing some work to the garden and make it lovely.

But.. well.. I have no idea about gardening. Seriously. Absolutely diddly-squat. I couldn't tell you your rhodedendron from your busy lizzie (is that what they're even called?!).

Here's some pics of our garden so you can see what I'm up against!
http://i29.tinypic.com/fw0tba.jpg
http://i30.tinypic.com/ipnk9d.jpg
http://i29.tinypic.com/21b63js.jpg

So we have beds at the side of the garden, which I'd like to put some nice looking flowers and stuff in. It backs onto a stream so I think the soil is quite wet, are there any specific ones I should go for? How about defensive planting at the back - are there any thorny bushes I could plant down there which love wet soil?

What should I be getting started with now? How can I tell what bulbs are in there now, is it just a case of waiting? I'm a bit scared of digging them all up and ruining it somehow!

Are there any books (with pictures!!) that you'd recommend for the newbie?

Thanks for any advice :j

faye1978

I got Alan Titchmarshes book 'the complete gerdener' from the library and I want to buy it now - It's so helpful and takes you thro all the steps of gardening. Also any DK book is usually really good too.

HTH

Davesnave

It's very difficult to advise, as gardening is such a personal thing, but it looks as if you've inherited a better garden than most people do! The lawn looks OK, so I wouldn't imagine that the soil is over wet in most places and the existence of some shrubs suggests all is well too.

Thorny bushes that aren't too fussy include berberis, pyracantha and shrub roses (rosa rugosa)

You may have some summer bulbs or none at all. Just about any bulbous thing will be showing something above the surface now or in the next fortnight, so I wouldn't worry about digging & killing something 'invisible.'

As a design, the current layout is a tad boring; you can see it all easily, so it has no air of mystery or excitement. However, what you can do depends on who will be using it. If that Wendy house is still important then it is likely that children will also need a decent, well-defined area of lawn. If, on the other hand, you're past that stage, then it could be sold off and the area closest to the decking developed as a bit of a screen or as focal interest for when you're sitting there: e.g a pond or whatever. The lawn is certainly large enough to cut into it as your skills & enthusiasm increase, both to make space for more plants and to create a more interesting shape.

Really there isn't much to worry about when growing garden plants, especially perennials which you can chop up and move around season by season. We all get things wrong, but the person who never made a mistake never made anything and a garden is never 'finished.' Just get a basic book such as AT's mentioned above, use the Internet for easy plant lists and go for it! The only thing you need to know early on is your local soil, which neighbours will tell you about: i.e. if it's acid/alkaline and which plants to avoid. (Where I live acid-lovers are a no-no)

Really, the most important thing is for the garden to please you and to meet your family's needs. The people who had your house before liked a clean, fairly open, effect with everything in its own well-defined place and, judging by the gaps between plants, they may have used a fair number of annuals, but as the years progress you can move that towards something that better reflects your personality.

Linda32

Thats a nice garden, I like it.

First off, do you need the lawn, what do you want to get from the garden.

You already have the seating area. Does that area get sun in the evening if thats the time you get to sit out. (If your out at work all day) Do you have children? not being nosy, just wondered if they need somewhere to play.

If not in the first instance I'd make the bed on the right bigger. Make a sort of half circle with the straight side of that against the fence, if that makes sense.

Love the bit at the end, I'd leave that as it is. It looks nice.

The right hand side of my garden is forever damp shade, which lends itself to Hosta, ferns, Periwinkle, hurchera

Do you fancy having a go at veg. You need a sunny site for those, mostly.

Gardenia101_2

First and foremost a garden is to be enjoyed. Keep it simple and avoid making any changes that will require more maintenance.

It's rather fashionable these days to criticise lawns, but they have a lot in their favour, especially for new gardeners (their benefits for families with children goes without saying.)

I would start by reshaping the lawn slightly to make long smooth curves. Lots of corners or tight curves make a lawn very difficult to mow. (I'll try to post a pic. of a suggested shape if this helps. Then get a push mower ( the latest ones are very easy to use) or small electric rotary. Mowing your lawn will then become a pleasure!

BTW Would thoroughly recommend the Alan Titchmarsh book referred to above.

Zazen999

That's fantastic.

Before you do anything - don't do anything.

I know it seems crazy advice; but if you don't know what you want from the garden, or anything about plants; you'll end up putting shade lovers in the sun and vice versa.

Bulbs are coming up now, so you need to let them come up and note what and where they are so that you can either reposition, leave them or take them out depending on what you eventually want.

You have alot of lawn; great for this time of the year but that will need ALOT of mowing come the summer; the cuttings will be great for the compost heap but a mower to cope easily with that lot could be a few hundred pounds so you need to factor that in.

I would spend the summer watching - where the sun comes up, and where it sets. Look at what gets sun and what doesn't. Look at what is wet and boggy and what dries up. Then do some research through books that are basic on the needs of your garden. Is the soil clay, sandy or loamy?

You do need to think about veg in a garden that size - it would be a waste not to. This also means a compost heap, which is the first thing I would start if it was me. Not terribly glam; but there you go.

Yes, it will be a year of planning; but then you can start making the changes needed for next year without having to redesign things/dig up all the things that you did in haste this year.

Make your changes slowly and give them time to change your garden in return.

Join some gardening forums; for veg lovers the Grapevine forum from Grow Your Own is excellent.

Gardenia101_2

>but that will need ALOT of mowing come the summer; the cuttings will be great for the compost heap but a mower to cope easily with that lot could be a few hundred pounds so you need to factor that in.

Beg to differ. I reckon once a week 20 minutes max. with £35 push mower from Argos/B&Q. Lawns are remarkably low-maintenance if you don't expect a bowling green.

Don't get me wrong, my enjoyment from gardening comes from growing ornamentals, fruit and veg. However, I have learned from experience that grass is the easiest way to keep a large part of the garden under control, while you get to work at one small area at a time.;)

Davesnave

Beg to differ. I reckon once a week 20 minutes max. with £35 push mower from Argos/B&Q. Lawns are remarkably low-maintenance if you don't expect a bowling green.

Easier still with a Flymo, if you don't need the exercise!

Noctu

Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for your help, it's really invaluable!
I've put that Alan Titchmarsh book on my wishlist (birthday end of the month).
We do need to buy a lawnmower, would an Argos jobbie (as mentioned) be OK? There's so many different types!
Compost heap is one of the priorities, I always have peelings which I end up throwing away if I have nothing to use them for and then think "what a waste"!

Davesnave

We do need to buy a lawnmower, would an Argos jobbie (as mentioned) be OK? There's so many different types!

With that size of lawn, a £35 Argos push jobbie will soon lose its appeal. Buy a decent medium-sized electric hover Flymo (secondhand if you like) and you'll be less tempted to put off the mowing. A new one will cost about £80.

malus_2

A great book is 'Right Plant, Right Place' - will help you save money on losing plants because youve put them somewhere you shouldnt have!