where to start......

Hey all, I have been thinking about what I am going to do with my garden and I simply have no idea at al. I've had a look at a few books about urban gardens etc but I have VERY limited knowledge about anything green!! I literally have no idea where to start.

ANY suggestions on how to choose a beautiful garden and make it work for a newbie much appreciated!!

 

Hi mz t,

I had the same problem, personally i think the only rules to follow are:

Are they suitable for your soil type and do they need shade, sun etc., otherwise anything goes. Try looking on the thompson and morgan link, might give you a few idea's

http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/product/81524/1

 

cheers!

 

Hi mztrouble. Its not so long since I started gardening from scratch. My suggestion is to buy some packets of seed like first year flowering perennials. The catalogues will tell you what are first year perennials. This will give you lots of plants for little cost. Its expensive buying single plants at �£6 or more if you don't know what you want. I would grow them initially indoors in seed trays, and transplant them into small pots when they are big enough.

I would plant them in groups in the garden and enjoy them. I say this for two reasons. 1) It could give you a stupendous display in the first year, with the knowledge that they will come back next year - you don't have to do it all again. Perennials can always be moved at a later date. and 2) the very process will get you interested, and hopefully you will look things up on the internet, get involved with the forum and buy a couple of books and you will learn so much during the first year, that you will be in a much better position to answer your original question for yourself.

I have been gardening for 5 years now, and I feel I will soon be able to answer the same question for myself. :D

 

Hi mztrouble, i agree with PeterS advice thats how i started, reading books with plenty pics and starting my own seeds on windowsills.(i didnt have a greenhouse)just follow the instructions and one more thing... dont be afraid of them , plants are tougher than you think, they want to survive same as us, and try there hardest :D

 

PeterS,

I did that with some Mexican Sunflower seeds, such tiny seeds, they are still in bloom now and 5 ft tall (they are in garden pics section).

 

great advice! Cheers

 

Start by being patient.

When I started, I was so impatient, I wanted a garden and I wanted it NOW. It turned out to be a very expensive desire.

Before you think about planting anything, test the acidity of your soil (you can pick up testing kits in Homebase & B&Q etc). Some plants, like Azaleas,Pieris and Heathers won't thrive if your soil is alkaline.

Then work out how much shade there is in your garden. Plants like lavender need lots of sun.

Does it drain well? A plant that likes dry,sandy soil won't thrive in your bog or vice versa.

Once you've worked out what kind of environment you have, you can then choose what kind of garden you can have.

And most important, before you plant, improve your soil. Dig in lots of compost and then dig in some more.

And be patient, expect it to take a couple of years before it starts to look good.

 

Ooh another thing, if you're an absolute gardening beginner, then I highly recommend 'The garden expert' book. It's a great basics book, how to mow a lawn, how to double dig, notes on planning, what plants like what situations. It's brilliant and it's on Amazon for �£6.00.

I read it cover to cover and then completely ignored it when I started which is why I made such a hash of it.