What can I do with my garden? It is really in bad condition.

Greetings to everone from a new member!
My garden is about 12 feet to 18 feet. The soil is clay, therefore I have many cracks on the ground from drying out. There are too many weeds (perhaps 2-3 on every square feet) and moss (some parts are almost only moss) and many bold grassless parts on the lawn. Unfortunately, I cannot uplod my pictures yet from the camera, but the condition is really bad.
I want to improve my garden. First of all, get rid of weeds. What is the best way to get rid of them? I used weed killers from Homebase or B&Q, but they are not powerful enough though they kill grass. I also thought to replace top soil, cut top soil along with weeds and get rid ot it, but it is going to be very expensive. I thought to bring in topsoil if I poison lawn first, but I do not know how to calculate how much top soil or fertilisers I need.
What is the best way to rescue my lawn? And where to buy materials at acceptable price?
Thank you.

 

If you can give us a better idea of what is growing there and the conditions and your location.

Down here in the south-west the ground is very dry and everything looks parched.

If you are trying to resurrect a lawn you need to consider if it is worth it or should I try for a new lawn or something else.

 

My Dad gardened on clay so thick that at one time, a potter friend actually made my Mum a lovely coffee set out of it!

You're lucky because clay soil is highly nutritious to plants, all you need to do is provide them the means to get at it and that involves breaking up the 'clods'. The answer is to dig roughly in autumn preferably with a fork rather than a spade and allow the frost to do some of work over the winter, then after that add as much manure, compost and organic matter as you can beg, borrow or otherwise acquire. There's no 'quick fix' to turning clay soil into that 'friable loam' we all want, it can take years, but it can be done.

If your weeds are particularly stubborn you could try something like SBK Brushwood killer (the stuff that comes in a red and yellow box), but any weedkiller containing glyphosate will work eventually although you might need several applications and I've no reason to believe that the stuff bought in the DIY sheds is really any different from that bought in a more expensive garden centre - I've had really good results from using Wilkinsons' own brand weedkiller for which I paid about £2.50. You could also try covering the ground with black polythene although I know some people hate the idea because its unsightly. You can also buy selective weedkillers which tackle the weeds without damage to the grass.

My own personal view, for what it's worth, would be that to buy in topsoil would be the very last resort. If your garden is only about 18' max., then my choice would be to dig up the lawn area, get out as many weeds as you can, dig in the aforementioned organic matter (maybe even some grit) and re-lay with turf or seed. As for the non-lawn area, if you can avoid walking on it particularly when its wet, then do so and, after the weedkiller has done its work, look for plants which will tolerate the soil type (there's loads of suggestions on 'the net'). The only other thing I'd say is that although plants on clay soil will often do very well once established, they can take up to twice as long to actually get established.

Having said all that, I'd swap my sandy soil for your clay any day.

 

I managed to upload files, please see photos of my lawn. Very bright green patches is not grass but moss. I looked better on my lawn - there is more moss than grass! My wife killed a lot of weeds last year, therefore I have so many moss patches on the lawn.
Any more ideas for the upcoming season, or should I stick to the advice of Fidgetsmum? I want to have my lawn looking good, the faster and cheaper the better. Also, perhaps you oculd have some ideas how I should landscape it? I want to have grass, not shingle or stone garden, but not in the corners where my lawnmover cannot reach. Something easy to maintain and that looks good.
I live South West England.

 

I think I should start new lawn, what I have is not a lawn at all. What should I do first? I intend to start as soon as possible.
Thank you.

 

Why not turn the garden over to flower beds and borders and lose the grass altogether? With that small a space, it's almost not worth getting the lawnmower out to cut it!

 

Wife's hayfever prevents having flowers. Also, I like to be outside in the summer, therefore I need a pice of grass to sit around.