Never had a garden before!

I do want some grass, yes. But borders sound like exactly what I'm after! But I don't think the garden gets a huge amount of sun bc of the fences (I will take a pic mid afternoon to see) nor ofc do we get a lot of sun in, y'know, England, so how will clematis etc grow without a load of sunlight? Perennials are a def yes. Can you tell me which ones are best to get?

 

No car or access to one! Any plants would have to be delivered - though I suppose if I engage a gardener to do the job initially they can get and bring the plants? I think a trip to the garden centre with the gardener would be a perfect idea.

 

Just under the window there is a concrete path, about 2 feet in depth, which runs the length of the garden - I plan to put a couple of chairs there. But I am basically allergic to the sun (no really, it sounds mad but I get a rash when I go in the sun) so it is a garden for pure beauty to look at, rather than one I would be able to spend hours sitting in. I think a pond would be expensive but yes, I would like birds to come and visit!

As for flowering/climbers, I do like dark colours - purple, dark red, blue, and ofc all green shades. I don't want any yellows and pinks, nothing that girly!

 

Where on FB should I look for plant giveaways? I don't have a car, that's the issue really. I would need to get stuff sent...

 

I posted a compass shot in the thread, so you guys can see where the sun comes in. Not a huge amount of sun it looks like, either in England full stop or bc of the high fences. So you think I should get weedkiller (any particular brand?) before I hire a gardener so they can get started straight away on turning the soil? Your advice is hugely helpful, thank you

 

@LizT I think the main advantage of raised beds will be that you won't have to bend as much and they could help you maintain the space and potter fairly easily.

 

Because I have no intention of spending time in the garden (sun and my skin do not mix) what I want is a beautiful garden to look at and visit a bit, rather than create a space that is for sitting in. The lawn is in very bad condition as you can see from the pix. Should I try to do anything to it before I hire someone?

 

I think having beds on the sides would be good? I don't want a courtyard to sit in really. As for the measurements, I took my tape and measured the bedroom! Which is roughly the same size as the garden. So, it's 3.5m square. I have an idea to have beds on 3 sides and buy nice things to plant in them, stuff that'll become bushes and crawl up.

 

Patience is excellent advice bc it is something I lack sometimes. I need to sit and learn and go to a garden centre and see what I like, and also what is reasonably priced. I don't expect to learn the names of everything but I can certainly choose what I like. Is the first step to get some weedkiller? Or should I just hire a gardener and start planning?

 

I'm not bending at all. LOL! I plan on doing virtually no gardening (maybe the odd prune and snip) but I have a slipped disc so it's going to be me hiring a nice person to garden for me!

 

From the info. you give about the size of your garden and the amount of light/shade it gets and the fact that you do not plan/are unable to do much in the way of maintaining it once done, it may be a good idea to ask around in the locality if anyone can recommend a good reliable gardener. You might find someone on one of those Nexdoor sites ? You can then invite him/her round, tell them what you have told us on here and see what suggestions they come up with which fit your requirements. Make sure they understand that you prefer to be inside looking out so the views from your window are important. Perhaps a bird table or pole with hanging feeders ? A pond needn't be expensive - it would only be a little one given the size of your garden and both birds and insects will take advantage. Alternatively a raised bird bath ? I really do think your first task is to find a gardener first who is prepared to do the initial layout, help you choose the correct planting and is willing to do the majority of the upkeep for you in the future. Meanwhile, you could always get a "basic gardening" book to give you an idea of what is involved.

 

One of the problems with a shady garden is that lawns can be tricky, however you can get lawn seed etc that is better able to cope with those conditions.
If you have any neighbours that are keen gardeners (either that you can see from your windows or walking down the street), it might be worth starting with them, even if you've never spoken before (and you don't mind starting a conversation with strangers).

As can be seen from the responses on here, 99.9% of gardeners love being asked for advice , and may well be able either to give you advice themselves, or point you in the direction of a gardener they recommend. Nextdoor and Facebook can be useful, but in my experience nothing beats personal recommendation.

I agree with @Philippa, the first step is to find someone you're happy to work with. Remember it's not just about the finished design, but the steps they would take to get you there . Preparation every time .

 

My OH just uses a general weed killer @LizT , one that works in 24 hours. You spray it on the leaves. Some weeds may need a second application.
We have found that Griselinia littoralis ( an evergreen shrub) is a good worker in shade or sun. We’ve had them in our last two houses as well as this one. Once settled they grow away quite nicely so will require some pruning. You will need a pair of shears and /secateurs for pruning. Little sparrows play around in ours, flitting in and out and the odd blackbird will go into the shrub for a look around.

 

Hello and welcome to GC. Now we' ve got a good idea of what you want and don't want, here's my two penn'orth. Keep it simple! In that space, I agree with others that grass is going to be a waste of time and money. (Sorry about the mower..can you send it back or sell it on?). When you find a gardener, he/she will have their own equipment anyway. 1st step: Preparation!! Treat whole area with a glyphosate-based weedkiller. Get your gardener to lay out a 1m wide diagonal or curved path. At it's most basic and cheapest, weed-suppressing membrane edged with sawn timber or reclaimed bricks or tiles, then filled with gravel or coarse bark chips. Then the gardener can dig over or rotovate the soil on either side, improve the soil if necessary and you can get planting. Try to resist the temptation to buy or acquire plants until the prep is done. You'll only end up with a load of plants that you'll need to water every day That will give you a chance to research and choose wisely...
As for ponds etc., they require maintenance, especially small ones, so how about opting for an attractive bird feeder or ornament on a pole to give height and a focal point at the furthest corner of the garden, while your new plants and climbers are getting established, gaining height and covering the fences?

 

No.