Never had a garden before!

Unless you already have plants which are showing signs of suffering thru lack of water, then you are just wasting it. Let your gardener do his work - as far as your intended bit of lawn is concerned, if the ground is to be de weeded, rotovated and seeded, that's when you will have to worry about watering if this present dry weather comtinues. The gardener will no doubt also be preparing the ground for the borders - again let him get on and do that first. That is what you are paying him for after all. It's understandable that you are impatient to create your first garden but it isn't going to happen in just a few months. Get the basics done first and then enjoy yourself choosing appropriate planting and looking forward to it as it matures. You may find yourself wanting to change things in the future but that's normal for most gardeners. Good luck

 

However, if you do want to start doing something prior to all the gardening work by your gardener, you could always purchase a decent sized pot and some annual flowers, compost and pot them up. Then you would have something nice to water.

 

He's going to dig the garden up, beds around 3 sides, then reseed the lawn in the middle. The plants have arrived and he's doing it next week. Ofc, weeds come back, this is unavoidable!

Btw, I just pricked my hand on a rose thorn. Trust me to unpack all the plants and immediately do that. Any advice on how to keep an eye on it? It is itchy. So annoying!

 

Wash your hand thoroughly and dab the spot with disinfectant cream, TCP or Dettol. It pays to be careful with rose thorns!

 

Might be worth checking that your tetanus jabs are up to date, just to be on the safe side .

 

I have news! The garden has been created. I am SO thrilled. I can't believe it really. I found a wonderful gardener called David and we worked it all through together. I designed it and he did it. It's been a long week! One more thing to come, a trellis for the back fence. But look at this.

First the pix of before and during...

 

And now it's done!! I'm amazed. I have to water the hell out of it for a couple of weeks. lol

 

Plants used were:
CA lilac
Red robin
White lavender x 2
Jasmine x 2
Purple lavender
Fuchsia
Geranium
Mexican orange (choisya)
Heuchera x 2
Euphorbia x 2
Campanula
Rose bushes x 2

I used Thompsons of Crews Hill for the turf, compost, soil, and they were excellent. Lawsons for the trellis (chaotic customer service).

I would like to get a bird feeder also, what say you guys? I want one that squirrels won't steal everything from. One that goes on the grass rather than something that needs to be dug in?

I appreciate SO MUCH all the help you've given throughout this process, it's been so great. Now I just need to maintain this garden, you know, forever. LOL

 

I have a wrought iron feeding station, held in place around the base, with matching metal hoops, with a squirrel baffle which I bought separately. It cost £15.00 online. It is like a metal icecream cornet turned upside down and clipped onto the central post very easily. It works brilliantly to stop rats climbing up the post as well. I have used feeders with cages around them to stop large birds, squirrels, rats etc., taking the food.

 

What a transformation @LizT , well done! As you get to know your plants you will learn how to care for them and maybe, even add some more as time goes by! Good on you for turning what was a piece of waste land into a lovely garden for yourself.

 

That's looking really lovely @LizT , what a joy for you

 

What a transformation @LizT, no wonder you are thrilled.

Now to keep up on the watering!

 

I don't suppose you have a link to where I can get these things? This sounds good!

 

Hurrah! Thank you. I do feel a bit worried about maintaining it all, bc as I said right from the start, I don't have the time or physicality to be out there much. I know a beautiful garden doesn't happen by magic (despite the fact that this one did, due to someone else tho). I do plan more plants (which he will plant) in autumn, but I need to have a sort of guide of 'how to do the bare minimum and still keep your garden gorgeous' sort of manual, LOL!