New gardening challenge - advice welcome

Hi. I will be taking over a patch of land, about the size of an average front room, from this spring. The borders are no problem as I will just see what grows and plant some new things for colour there, but I'm wondering when I should begin to prune or cut out any of the dead wood. Would it be too soon to do so in the next few weeks? The lawn is a little overgrown with patches of dead grass and many weeds. I want to keep the lawn as natural and free growing as possible and was considering sowing some wildflower seeds, but perhaps I should begin by mowing the lawn to a workable height? is it a good time of year to take a flymo to it? Thanks.

 

I agree with Loofah and i would also add that if your shrubs are flowering shrubs, I wouldn't touch them for fear that you might prune out the flowering stems.

If needs must! Just do minimal pruning to tidy the shrubs up, and leave the heavier pruning till after they have flowered!