My back garden project

Greetings all,

Following on from the posts here:

http://gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/new-members-introduction/35717-greetings-all.html

Have started this thread for advice and tips on my garden project.

I will start by adding some photos below so members can get an idea of what I have to deal with.

 

More Pictures

And some more.

 

Front Garden

This is the front garden, I cut the lawn today and dug and sieved the borders and put some bark chippings on top in readiness for plants.

Not sure yet what to plant in the borders so any recommendations.

The lawn is looking tired so I think I am going to have to aerate it and put some grass seed down.

The rose bush under the window has buds but will not flower any ideas for that please.

 

Need a new fence panel at the back corner so maybe worth doing that and painting the fence before I lay new turf.

The wooden garden shed also needs a new roof covering and painting again and the patio slabs need a good scrub clean and I was thinking of painting them another colour as there are two different sets of slabs

As you can see lots to do, but very much looking forward to getting stuck in tomorrow.

 

Hi Pompeyfaith,
Lets deal with the front garden first. The lawn doesn't actually look too bad. Don't re-seed at this point but try a weed and feed on it first and see what happens. If you use a granular one you must water it in. With the dry spell we're having again at the moment it would be best to keep it watered to, that will help the weed and feed do it's work.

The rose bush looks like a young one, try pruning it a little, that may promote blooming. Roses also like sun, is it in shade?

Work out what type of plants you would like in the borders eg. shrubs flowers, climbers and then come back to us.

Now, the back garden! From what I can see you haven't got any plants there, but weeds. I think the best thing to do is dig out as many of the weeds as possible and then use a systemic weedkiller, something with glyphosate in it, you can use that on the paving too. It will kill everything, roots aswell. Be careful, not to use it in windy weather as it may drift, and it kills everything it touches, so just be aware of your neighbours plants too. When it's dead, clear the whole garden of the rubbish and weeds.

Meanwhile work out what you want to do with the garden eg. lawn, plants etc. and come back to us for ideas.

Hope this helps, happy gardening.

 

Yes the rose is new in that I cut it right down last year as it was getting out of control the front garden is east facing so does get sun mid morning.

Yes the front lawn is not to bad a few weeds in it, its just when I cut it, it never stays green and goes browns it is also a bit bold in patches.

Regards

 

What type of soil do you have?

 

Well I am not sure how I would grade it, however it is not sandy nore is it the clay type.

If I dig a lump up and bounce it on the fork it breaks down nicely.

Looking here I would say it is Loamy

Different Types of Soil

That is probably why the weeds grow so well and high lol

 

Armandii,

Thanks, my wife brought a bottle of lawn feed today not sure what it is like as it came from the 99p store lol it is the one cap full to 3.5 ltrs of water.

Ill give it a few goes though and see if its any good if its no good ill go to wyvendales and get something better.

The border soil under the bark chippings is all lose and ready for planting, however I want to get all the hard work out of the way first so will leave that for now and make a start out back with the weeding.

If I can clear all that soon as it then gives me a clear base to plan a layout.

Oh forgot to mention I do have a dog she is very good though and if she needs to do a woopsy she does it on the bit I shingled, however will need to be careful and keep her away from any weedkiller.

Regards

PF

 

That is true, my main concern at the moment is getting rid of the weeds and putting down a new lawn, once that is done I can then as you say take my time.

Regards

 

Greetings All,

Just got a Mantis mini tiller with attachments and instructions free from Havant Freegle.

Looks a nice piece of kit and will be of great help in my overgrown garden.

It is the SV-4 model and have a look at it it needs a service so have ordered the service kit here

Mantis Makes Gardening Easier

The guy said he had trouble starting it and to be honest I am not surprised as the air cleaner is very dirty, he has sandy soil I noticed so that is probably why.

Soon as I get the kit and serviced it we will be ready to go and churn up that soil nice and fine.

I am well chuft as that is a good bargain for nothing.

The guy I got it off lives in the wilderness nearest house to him is 0.5 mile he has a lovely garden but due to the osteoarthitis in his hands he cannot get out there much so I have offered him a few hours a week free.

The way I look at it is if I can get a few cuttings and his knowledge out of him that does me and in return I will maintain his garden for a few hours a week.

Regards

 

Looks like the hard work starts here then Pompeyfaith. Updates would be good as you progress please. Good luck!

 

Sheal,

Thanks M8, I got quiet a bit of the weeds down today with just a fork before I collected the tiller am off to emsworth now as someone has answered my garden tools wanted ad on havant freegle and they are giving me a dutch hoe, rake and an electric strimmer the strimmer may come in handy out back to cut the small weed down low and then use the tiller to much through the soil.

Right must go and get to emsworth before 9 pm

Regards