Newbie Help!!!

As some of the others have mentioned........"Soil Preparation" is paramount as skimping on this can be your downfall!

Once you have prepared the area by digging it at least one spit deep ( spade depth) and adding copious amounts of organic matter you should be able to add any of the following;

 

If I were in your shoes I'd get a soil testing kit from a good garden centre. Choose one of the bigger ones. They don't have time to get 'personal' with the customers. Test kits don't cost the earth, and the instructions are easy to follow. At least you would then know what soil/s you have, and by default, what you can best grow in them.

HTH

Take care
John