HELP! Overgrown garden in the south of France

Hello,

I am about to move into a new house in Marseille. The garden is quite large and FULL of shrubs, trees etc. it needs to be controlled and trimmed and I need to create borders, etc.
I have no idea where to start. There is gravel all over the central part of the garden, ie, no grass lawn. This gravel has weeds growing up through it. I somehow need to clear it but don´t know how.

I also need to know which plants are good for this climate...hot and dry, windy, and sometimes humid in the summer evenings. There is also a huge tree in the middle of the garden which shades a lot of it.

Where do I start? What tools do I need for all this cutting down, uprooting, and clearing?

I need all the help I can get because I love this garden but its too wild now spring is here and its all overgrown.


Thanks!

 

Just like a Number 11 Bus another question like this has just come up, and my answer there may be of some help to you too.

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21841

The absence of a lawn might be because its too hot down there to support one? Are there other houses with nice lawns? (If so then the previous people just didn't like them, or the work involved; if not then the climate may not be suitable)

You could put weed killer on the gravel, or get a flame-gun and burn them off, or pull them up by hand.

 

Hi Lizzip,
I'd ask the neighbours. They'll probably know a person who will know it all, what to do, where to hire tools and whom to employ. The downside is, the person will most likely be the uncle of the neighbourgh's cousin's wife and maybe not selected only for his professionalism.

My limited Italian gardening experience tells to forget the lawn but start to plan wonderful pergolas covered with bougainvillea and vine, pelargoniums and lemon trees. And herbs. And comfy seats here and there.

( Oh dear. Prepare the guest room and put the G&T pitcher to fridge, I'm on my way. I promise to dig. )