Hi all, from the reluctant gardener!

I will look forward to seeing them don't let the weeds get you down if they keep popping up, I've learnt we are not ' trying to be gardeners' without them lol . Mine wait for me to go to bed and shoot up and say "you didn't get all of me out did you" I'm sure you will do well and with summer coming you can have your nice strong cuppa in the sunshine

 

Hi

I missed this post from you

thank you for liking my daylilys

 

Hi Anzia,



I'm in the same boat as Spruce, I don't know how I missed this.

And, thanks for all the likes you've given me

Better late than never......

 

Thanks @Spruce and @Anthony Rogers for the welcome! And for sharing your lovely plant pics for me to admire while my own garden is still in limbo!

 

I missed your intro too (unlike @Spruce and @Anthony Rogers I do have a good excuse, because I was between weekends away: Shineyland and son's 21st ).

There *is* a place in the gardening world for someone who likes (really? You LIKE it?) detail loving forward planning and you are at the right stage now for just that

You already know your soil, you already know the direction your garden faces.

Have you measured both of them? Accurate *detailed* measurements? (See, I'm trying to go with what you enjoy here )
Have you decided where you want a path laying? How long? How wide? Maybe a patio?
Have you decided where you would like a shed? Perhaps a greenhouse? Maybe a water feature?
Outside laundry drying?
Pet area?
Child friendly area?

All of those fall into the "detail-forward-planning" camp

Now you need to consider the style of garden which appeals to you (although you could incorporate different areas to reflect a couple of different "styles" if you wish): contemporary; wild; cottage; jungle/exotic; productive; eclectic?

Any particular preference for colour schemes? Hot? (Oranges/reds) Cool? (Whites/blues)

When filling an area with plants, it would be wise to know the planting distances based on the eventual spread of the plant.

All the above "planning" will save you agonies of time and money over the forthcoming years and doesn't need to be completely inflexible, but a skeleton for you to put the flesh onto with a few embellishments along the way

 

Aww; thank you!

 

Hi @"M" and thank you! I've already got it all planned like you recommend - apart from the exact details of the planting, though I have broad themes in mind. I feel like a bit of an anorak admitting it, but I measured the gardens (front and back, that is - it's not a mansion ) and used Google Sketchup to plan them out. I'm on v8 for the front garden and think I'm finally happy with it! And a guy should be coming in a week or two to quote for the hardscaping which is but also financially painful, ha ha.
The back garden is causing more of a headache as it's an odd shape and NNE facing but I see it as an opportunity to do some exciting shade planting in the worst areas and maybe some shade tolerant veggies in the slightly better areas. Positive mental attitude!
Thanks for the welcome and the super informative post!