A very new and inexperienced gardener

Hi all

I moved into a house with my own garden a couple of years ago for the very first time. I've always wanted my own garden but with my lack of experience I'm often completely stumped about planting and growing.

More than half of the back garden was under concrete and paving slabs when I moved in. So far I've taken up the slabs in half the garden, keeping only a little bit of patio in the far corner for an arbour, extended the lawn, built a path using the recycled slabs and ornamental gravel (of which there was also an abundance) and created a couple of small veggie patches which I started planting this spring.

I planted from seed - parsnips, lettuce, radishes, spring onions, broad beans, and peas. I got no spring onions or peas at all! I got 50% return on my broad beans (one hardly grew and another came up all yellowish and anaemic and then passed on), 3 parsnip plants (still there) and did quite well for radishes and lettuce.

From the market I got some plants - runner beans, dwarf beans and 2 courgette plants, all of which have done well, especially the courgettes. I've also planted raspberry bushes in the first year, and in the second I planted a blackcurrant bush and also I dug up another patch of concrete in a sunny spot by the fence, tipped in a bag of ericaceous (or however you spell it) compost and planted 2 blueberry bushes - yum yum. Didn't get many raspberries, the birds seem to get there first. They are growing quite vigorously but didn't produce that much fruit.

I love climbers and have a yellow rambling rose over the arbour which seems OK, some clematis, and this year I planted a new Jasmine after the first year's died but it hasn't grown much yet. I think the first one can't have been hardy enough plus we had that really big freeze that went on forever.

Alongside the path I created a new flower bed as well and have been adding things from the garden centre throughout the summer. I also created 2 large containers using the old paving slabs and I've planted lupins and other stuff in them, they look great but I should have tied the slabs together with something as they have parted slightly, even though I buried them 8 inches deep.

I've also created a nice little spot in the front garden. I really enjoy trying out landscaping ideas though it's hard work. I love the little spot in the front garden but seems to have been raining a lot since I did it! I have the best views in the front.

I will upload some photos so I can post them. In the meantime I've got loads of questions which it would be great to get answers too gradually over the winter, so I'll be all clued up next spring!

See you around...

Jennie

 

Forgot to say I live in South Lakes, Cumbria. Will try to add some pics!



This is the garden as it was before!



The path after it was first done.



The veggie patch just planted.

Next ones are taken a bit later when things have grown a bit!





Couldn't add the last photo so will start a new message!

 

Actually it did add it! Last few:





The dog sleeping off a hard day's gardening!!



The jasmine when first planted, it's a bit bigger now but not huge - can I hope for flowers next year if it survives, I wonder??



The front patio built, took me days to do this. don't think I'll be taking up dry stone walling as a profession!

 

Good evening Jennie and welcome to the site.:gnthb: You seem to be coping quite well without our advice,:gnthb::D well done you, it is all looking very nice indeed.:thumb:

 

Hi Jennie,

I am impressed, you must have the touch.

 

Hi there and Welcome.