Where to start

1. Looking for advice on where to start

 

Just jump in.
Most people do.

 

Thinking of rotavating then levelling ?

 

So do you want a lawn, I think we would need more info on what you want to achieve.

 

I think you need to decide what you want, lawn, veg plot, fruit, flower bed, rose garden, play area, greenhouse, barbecue area before you even think of switching the rotovator on.
Sketch out a plan add paths, post on here for suggestions on various parts.
It would be helpful if you could post your location, soil type and orientation of garden.
You could go radical and grow as a wildflower meadow with paths cut in with a mower or strimmer.

 

Yeah a lawn to make the ongoing maintenance less , location is bridge of Allan in Scotland, garden is south west facing

 

With the exception of Annual flowers a lawn requires much more maintenance than a mixed border of shrubs and herbaceous perennials, a bit more work to set up initially perhaps.

 

Nice part of the world @PapaAldo1872 , although I've not been there for a long time.
The problem with rotovating is - if there are any perennial weeds in there like dandelions or buttercups etc, you'll end up with more of them, as they'll get cut up by the blades, and any bits of root will just regrow.
I assume you'll want more than just grass though? It's a good idea to draw up some simple plans first, and mark out roughly where beds/borders would go, plus any hard landscaped areas - patio for example , if you don't have one. Hard landscaping is best done before anything else.
Then see what space the lawn would take up, and whether you want a geometric one or a circular/oval one, or just want a more irregular shape. Bear in mind that awkward corners and angles can come about if you have an irregular shape, so that's where a bed can help even things out. How you intend using the grass is also important to think about. If you have children for example, and need swings, sand pits or slides etc.
The trees/hedging nearby is also a factor, as it's harder to plant successfully nearby, and also grass can struggle, so it can often be easier to keep the grass edge further away from that, and use the nearest areas for woodland style planting. If you do that, the ground would benefit from being beefed up, so that any new plants get a good chance of thriving. You'd get help with that too, if you decide to do that. Alternatively, as you have a shed there, that section could be screened off and used for storage, compost bins etc.

 

Looking at the size of the washing on the line and the toys, I am guessing there are small humans around. If so, forget about a beautiful garden for a few years. Clear any debris and keep the whole area mown regularly. The weeds will eventually give up and die, and you will have a lawn of sorts, ripe for use for cricket, football, etc. When the kids are too grown-up to be interested in playing outside, you can move in and create the garden you want, without having the hassle of moaning at the family for damaging your precious plants, etc. They will never keep to their part of the garden; also, kids often come with pets that chew/dig up newly planted treasures.
You can spend the next few years researching and planning the garden of your dreams.
Keep mowing, and good luck.

 

Thinking a lawn, as this would reduce maintenance and upkeep in the longer term, would rotatavating be the way to start then seed ?

 

I think you have the startings of a lawn there already, unless you are looking for a bowling green I just improve what you already have.
Rotavating it all and then seeding is going to be a big task, unless you are ready to take that on long term I'd stick with just some grass to mow and sort out the borders with some interesting shrubs.

Really it's about how much time you have and what you want, never had a proper lawn myself, just grass.

 

Lawns are a desert when it comes to wildlife and require a great deal of maintenance so, as you have small people about for now, I would stick to keeping the grass you already have mowed regularly so any weeds don't set seed and spread. Nothing wrong with having a few daisies, self heal, clover and so on.

The next thing to do is clear away any rubble, rubbish and unwanted bits of stuff so you have a clear playing field. Then observe how the sun passes over, which are the sunniest parts and the shadiest, which way the prevailing winds blow and where most of the rain comes from. That will help if you need to plan a shelter belt, sunny seating/dining area, shady seating area and then, later on, the best place for siting any fruit and veggie beds.

Measure your plot and draw it to scale then doodle with paths, terrace, seating area, pond, shed, greenhouse/polytunnel/cold frames, ornamental beds, fruit and veg.

Start a compost heap to mix grass clippings with brown stuff such as hedge and shrub trimmings, cardboard so you have material to imporve the soil when you do start making beds.

Look at gardens around you to see what grows well in your local soil and climate and research plants that like your conditions so that when you do buy, you invest well. Don't be afraid to ask questions here. Lots of friendly folk to guide you.

 

I can't see any toys @Goldenlily26 - I must be looking at a different pic! Certainly, if there are children, trying to keep grass 'perfect' is a bit pointless - they very quickly make that impossible!
I disagree with a lot of what gets said about lawns though. They're very useful for certain types of wildlife, especially many birds who need shorter grass to get worms/insects to eat.
I'm like you @pete - I have grass rather than a lawn, and I don't cut it too short. It stays green here anyway, but that also helps. It has bits and pieces of low growing, fairly green 'weeds' like Veronicas and Prunella, but I keep it tidy. It gets a very occasional feed, but that's every few years rather than several times a year. There's plenty of other places in my plot that are perfect for all sorts of wildlife, but my grass is at the front, and I believe in having it neat, as it's a residential area. In more rural areas, you can generally do what you like, but even in a small site, you can have a wilder area and a tidier one, so it's perfectly possible to have variety.
It's your garden @PapaAldo1872 , so it comes down to what you like and want. You can amend it later if you like - and most gardens change as time goes on anyway because it's a living thing, and will alter as plants mature or die off. Totally different from decorating your lounge - the cushions and lamps stay the same size no matter how long you keep them!
The amount of time you have is important, as others have said, so you may want to keep it simple until you see what else you want to have.

 

Thanks , thinking that to work with the existing lawn is probably best for now