Hello!

I'm Ben from Reading. I'm a very novice gardener, but keen to get our run down Victorian terraced house in order - front and back! Seems like a friendly forum and looking forward to frequenting here regularly.

 

I should add by "novice" I mean, having literally done no gardening at all before having bought our current house. So learning as I go!

 

Hi Ben....welcome to GC

 

Welcome to the forum Ben!

 

Welcome!

 

Hiya Ben

 

to GC @Ben James you've come to the right place; I have learned so, so much since I joined this forum and while I have had some let downs in growing terms they have been very few and far between (= save £££'s too).

Victorian terrace: so do you have the long thin back garden and small square front?

Some things you may need to know before you can even begin to get plant advice and that is:-
~ which way does your garden face? Do it look to the North, South, East, West or inbetween?
Knowing this helps to understand how much sun your garden is likely to get and where the prevailing wind direction will be (usually from the West though )
~ soil type: heavy clay; light and sandy; alkaline/acid?
And a couple of things to think about before you put your back into digging:
~ what style of gardening are you hankering for? Flowers? Tropical? Fruit and veg? Trees and shrubs? Mix of two or more?
~ how much time can you realistically spend in the garden just keeping on top of things?
~ do you want it to be an extension of your indoor living? E.G patio for entertaining? Outdoor lighting?
~ how "practical" do you wish your garden space to be? Washing line/rotary? Shed? Greenhouse? Children's play area? Sunbathing? Beer festivals? Mud wrestling? BBQ's? Backyard camping? Pond?

I know that sounds like a lot to think about but, thinking about it now could save you wasted time, energy and money in the longer term

Looking forward to getting to know you around the forums and watching your knowledge grow and your garden evolve

 

Hi Ben,



Welcome to Gardeners Corner

I'm sure you'll find all the help you need here, just remember to take it one step at a time. It will seem less daunting that way

 

Welcome to GC Ben. Everyone here will help you along the way with your gardens.

 

Cheers for the welcome!

I do indeed have a short front garden M - you might have seen my post in the thread I've created in another sub-forum.

We've already done a bit of work on our back garden (I'll post some before and after photos at some point so you can see!) during the past year - it was horrendously overgrown with Ivy, etc. We cut that all back and have bought/planted a few things. The backgarden flower beds (I say flower beds, I think they were flower beds around 30 years ago ) are awful choked with weeds, the worst being bindweed, which we've tried to deal with as best we can (by weeding, although I know there might be better methods to deal with it).

Anyway thank you for the welcome, I'm quite intrigued by gardening and can see the appeal of the more you do the more you get back, whilst increasing your knowledge of things (e.g. I am now well versed with many varieties of clematis and fuscias, amongst other things!).

The garden is my domain and the interiors are more my girlfriends... that's what we've agreed anyway, so re: the garden the pressure is on!

Thanks again all for the welcome!

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

 

Hello Ben, and welcome to GC !

 

Sorry it's late, but welcome from me

 

Hello @Ben James