New to the world of gardening

Hi everyone I have been absent for quite a while but thought I would update this thread. Some progress has been made the grass has thickened up a bit and Saturday just gone I have applied evergreen 4 in 1 to hopefully make the grass a uniform colour and also remove some of the weeds. A neighbour was also getting rid of a load of shrubs so I now have a few Apple Blossoms and Hebe Autumn Glory in my borders

 

Thanks I have managed to source the majority of my current plants for free or less than £10 This years focus is the grass the dark spots are from using Westland lawn thickener in the spring, which I put down using my hand so obviously missed a few bits. When I bought the evergreen 4 in 1 I also bought the Evergreen Handy spreader to hopefully achieve a much more even spread and hopefully a more even colour across the garden

 

Hi @Paul Raybould ,

Welcome back to GC , I can't believe I missed this thread.

What a nice blank canvas you have to work with, I'd give anything to have that opportunity. You've made a fantastic start... keep it up.

Have you thought about just broadcast sowing hardy annuals ( now is the perfect time ) in your borders. They will germnate now and give you some green in thr garden over Winter and then flower next Spring/early Summer. Then you can pull them out and replace with more permanent plants as you go along.
Examples would be....... calendula, Cornflower, Poppies ( Look out for both Papaver and Escholtzia ). There are many more as well. Just look up " Hardy annuals to sow now ".

Good Luck and keep up the good work

 

Thank you the blank canvas is nice but would have been nice to have mature plants to plant around.

I hadn't thought about hardy annuals will have to look into that. I will be putting some Allium Bulbs in this year ready for next year.

 

Thanks I agree that the garden will evolve over time and I actually stated to the wife that we would take the free plants to fill the borders in until we can decide, which plants we want in. I like the idea of a buddleia (grown from a cutting that I am planning on taking - just need to research when the best time is) to bring the butterflies into the garden as my girls love watching butterflies. I appreciate anyone giving me advice on how to proceed.

 

Taking shape nicely Paul

Keep us posted as you develop your garden

 

Thank you for the info yes looking at those types rather than the dwarf ones and could also use one or two to disguise the shed, which is out of sight in my latest photo.

I appreciate all advice and recommendations

 

I put down evergreen 4 in 1 last Saturday and can’t believe the difference. A nice even colour and it has started filling in some of the gaps. Will put some more down in April and continue with feeding after that so happy considering that last year it was just mud

Before treatment


After 7 days

 

I hope everyone is staying safe and well.

Well after spending the last few months collecting paving slabs I finally had enough to replace the bark seating area so this weekend I made a start on it. The soil that I removed when leveling the seating area is being used to fill in the path after removing the bark. The path will then have sunken 2x2 slabs as stepping stones to the seating area and I have some grass seed to put down between the slabs. The pink box just has the pebbles out of the belfast sink water feature to be put back in when I get round to it.
Slowly getting it sorted now.

 

Thank you.

Forum member @pete kindly sent me some caesalpinia gilliesii seeds last year and they are just starting to germinate now so will hopefully have a couple to put in the raised border behind the patio as that area gets the most of the sun.