I'm new... and feeling lost!

Hi all!

I'm new, so thought I'd better introduce myself.

I'm 27, living in Liverpool, and an absolute beginner at anything plant-related! I have no idea about gardening, as my parents have never been into gardens. Subsequently, our (small) front garden is an absolute embarrassment and our back garden is just about passable.

Well, I've decided to take on the task of prettying up the front. It's small, so hopefully won't be too painful! It's just bare soil so I've basically got a blank canvas to work on. I will try and get some photos posted this week so you can all see what I'm on about!

I've only just become interested in gardening, and have been surfing online for help and advice. I've also visited several garden centres, but I usually come away feeling even more confused than before I went in! I think the problem is too much choice. I'm a bit daft - I feel too scared to ask for advice - firstly because I'm not really sure what I would ask (!) and secondly I don't know any of the details regarding soil type, sunlight etc etc - as you can see I'm a bit clueless!

So, basically I'm just here to learn. If anyone can give me any 'Golden Rules' or 'Ten Commandments' of gardening I'd be really grateful!

Thanks for listening!

~Debzy

 

Hi Debzy, I also am a newbie to the growing side of gardening, wishing you all the best with the front garden.

Leadbelly.

 

Hi there you ... Debzy ...

Welcome to GC and thank you for choosing us ... you may regret it but I think not! :D

There are lots of us here and between us we can talk about flowers, veggies, soils, bugs, critters ... you name it ... we even have photo comps and chat about out personal lives (heaven forbid) ...

Welcome to the forum ....

 

Hi there...my advice in big lines is: keep on sowing/planting, and see what survives.

 

hi im new as well so just pick the wise old heads off this site and you cant go wrong

 

Hi Debzy welcome to g c I'm sure we can help.

 

Hi Debzy. There ain't any golden rules of gardening (oh, except don't put weed killer on your favourite plants. :eek: ) . That's why it's such fun.

Garden centres are very intimidating, especially as many of the staff don't know a gorse from a gooseberry, and if you ask for advice here then you may get several people giving advice which looks like they are all contradicting each other. Actually, they are all usually right, depends what you want.

So get the advice, and decide which way YOU want to do it. Then just do it. Have fun. Plant plants that YOU like. If you like plastic pagodas, then use them. Just have fun. It may cost a few (very few) quid in mistakes. But the person who never made a mistake never made anything.

Welcome to GC from another junior member. Just enjoy. :D

 

Yes, it's all about trowel and error (sorry for the pun). You learn as you go.
When you decide what you want in the front garden, do a bit of reaearch.
You can get a soil testing kit from the garden centre and this will give you the pH reading of the medium you have.
If it's alkaline, you will know to avoid acid loving plants, unless you put them in pots with the required compost and vise versa.
Read all labels that come with plants before purchase. This will give you info on requirements for said plant and finale height and width.
You don't want to put a shrub in that will crowd you out of house and home!
The labels will tell you if they require full sun partial shade etc.
Look up soils on the internet to see if you have heavy, light or impoverished soil and then make the recommended changes needed to it.
Place plants in there pot on in the garden untill they look right in there positions before planting.
And finally, enjoy! Best of luck.

 

Hi there Debzy welcome to our wonderful friendly forum, I'm sure you will have plenty of fun and loads of advice with your gardening adventures.

My way of thinking is if a plant is happy it will grow, along the way you will make mistakes like Sarraceniac says but who doesn't, it's all a learning curve!

Google images might be a good place to start by looking at what others have done with small gardens and get some ideas for your own little patch.

Above all everything else enjoy your time spent in your garden. I'm sure in next to no time you'll be done with the front and on the back and wondering what all the fuss was about. :D
Helen.xxx.

 

Everyone else has given so much advice that all I can add is -

Welcome to GC Debzy and let us know what you finally decide on planting. Good Luck!

 

Wow, thank you all for all the warm welcomes! :D

I think perhaps I was stressing a little bit too much - I feel much happier now you've all advised me to plant what I like! It seems almost too easy an answer lol!

Being a beginner, I don't want to spend out too much in case the worst happens (!) so I've been keeping my eyes peeled for bargain prices. Just wondering what you all think about buying plants online? Or is it advisable to actually see/touch before buying?
For example, this website seems cheap... any thoughts?

 

Welcome to G.C. Debzy,my best advice is go to the library and read their books about gardening.

 

Welcome to G C .

 

[ 03. September 2007, 09:47 PM: Message edited by: strongylodon ]