Help needed very new to gardens

We have just moved to a new house which has a very nice garden. The people who owned it before have obviously spent a lot of time and money over the years. It would be a crime to let it wither. Can anyone direct me to an absolute idiots guide to gardening. I really need the basics like how to identify the plant before I can even start to deal with the care of them. Pictures with names would help. Thanks

A very keen but virgin gardener

 

Ideally, you provide the pics, we provide the names!! If you post some photos, we'll do our best to ID them, and give you some help on how to care for them! Have fun with your camera!! :D

 

there are plenty of very good books on gardening, but as there are thousands of different plant names, it is v difficult to know where to start the learning process, if you can identify those that you like plus those that you already know you can build up from there.
with respect to your established garden , there will be lots of nice surprises, if you keep a diary of thing thats appear and activities you do that will help you in following years.
the first thing to think about is the lawn, which will need regular mowing , don t try to cut it too short, as it is still recovering from winter:
if you spread lawn fertiliser fairly soon it will help with greening and strengthening the grass.

 

Welcome to GC!

Yep, take photos, keep a diary and take notes. As the garden is established all you will need to do in the first couple of years is to prune any obviously dead or particularly vigerous overgrowth but make sure you identify the plant first before you hack it back. Timing can be important. Otherwise, just keep the weeds in check and as Lady G has said, get the lawn into shape. If you can, also get the lawn edges cut with an edging spade so they are nice and crisp - straight lines should be straight and corners square. Free flowing curves should be just that with no ragged intersections or jagged lines. It's amazing the difference that can make to a garden's apearance.

If you have bare areas then plant a few annuals for a splash of first year colour while you wait for your garden to reveal itself. Post here if there is anything you are unsure about or if you need help with ID.

 

Thank you for your help. I will keep a diary and post any pictures if i get stuck

 

I learnt all the basics from reading the 'Reader's Digest Guide to Creative Gardening' - it has sections on perenials, annuals, bulbs shrubs etc. There are beautiful pictures with descriptions, cultivation & propogation instructions and suggestions of companion plants and colour schemes. It will help you to identify many of the plants and shrubs that are in your garden already and give you ideas for others to buy. I was an absolute beginner when I happened to buy this book from a secondhand bookshop and I am hooked on gardening now. See if you can get a copy on Ebay.