How can I restore my garden to its former glory?

Well ... I think there is a lot that doesn't work with the current layout ... but ... the old adage applies which is to live in the house and garden for a year before you start changing anything.

Take photographs regularly and store/mark them by/with the date. You will then be able to look back and see how it look month-by-month. You might find that there are plants that bloom, or bulbs that come up in the Spring, or water that sits and fails to drain away when it rains heavily, and that putting the washing out is a pain when XXX happens ... make notes of all of that, and then you will be much better equipped to decide what to change after you've lived with it for a while.

Also note where the sun shines / casts shadows, where is sheltered from the wind, places that are "cosy" to sit out, and so on.

Tidy up, maintain it, and think about what works, and what doesn't; what you like, and what, after a few months, you find you want to change.

One thing you can be sure of: if you ask two gardeners here you'll get three opinions!

 

Now you've done it Admandii ... adding your two opinions to the list !!!

 

Thanks a lot for all the help, guys!

I like the idea of regularly taking photos of the garden month to month to see the improvement too. I'll try and keep you posted on how it's going!

 

What' it all about Alfie

 

Hey!

I know I posted here about this a loooong time ago. I just wanted to say thank you again to everyone who helped me. I've taken you advice, and have started to make the garden into my own - and actually starting to really enjoy doing it!

What I've done:
- dug out all the old weeds in the flower beds and put new flowers in, will get more in Apr/May time to plant.
- a lot of the grass had weeds in it, so I've taken a lot of them out and put lawn seed down to grow
- Repainted the deck (it was looking really ropey)
- Replaced the shed and the left fence. (My neighbour's fence blew down in the recent storms, and she's being really rude about getting it replaced - not sure if that will happen any time soon!)
- Started to put some 'white picket' edging around the flowerbeds, but not sure if they look any good - I'm considering using something else.
- Bought new plant pots and threw away the old ones, and bought a couple of ornaments.
- Cleaned the patio area!

My iPhone camera skills are pretty weak - the pano came out pretty weird - the patio is actually like a semi circle, not like that semi oval it came out as!

Let me know what you think, and if you can recommend anything else

Thanks again for all your help/advice!

 

Cheers Wiseowl,

I've tried knocking on her door a few times, which she's purposefully ignored every . I wrote a note saying I can help if needs be, no response. My fiancée went over to ask as well, to which she just got an unnecessary ear full from her.

We both knew people who can help her putting panels up etc if needs be, but she's just been aggressive, for what we can see is no good reason(!).

But I guess that's an issue for another time