Garden inspiration permalink
Desperately need advice!
This discussion has been closed.
-
Message 1.Â
Posted by Amanda (U14613152) on Wednesday, 1st February 2012
A year ago I was lucky enough to be allocated a 2 bedroom housing association home with a garden. This was so appreciated as my 9 year old son is autistic and unable to play unsupervised outside, the enclosed garden we have is a nice size and big enough to contain a trampoline which is fab for helping improve my son's core strength and strengthen his hypermobile joints. However.......
...although the house is only 9 years old the garden has not been cared for since! The lawn (if you can call it that) is full of weeds and uneven, the side bed is sunken and full of weeds. I filled four black sacks with rubbish after I moved in as the previous tenant had trashed the house and garden before being evicted (:O)
So I am at a loss as to where I start with the garden, I feel like I need help with it and have been looking to see if any charities exist which might help. I can do some of the work but having the time while caring for my son makes it really difficult. I am planning on starting with the side bed and attempting to dig it over but am feeling overwhelmed by the amount there is to do. It doesn't help that below the initial soil level is a great deal of rubble and the whole garden needs a massive amount of work.
So - where would the experienced gardeners advise I start? I feel depressed every time I look at it which is not how a garden should make me feel is it? I am SO grateful to have it and really want to try and turn it round from the neglected state it is in to something I can feel proud of and where my son can play and feel happy. -
Message 2
Posted by Palaisglide (U3102587) on Wednesday, 1st February 2012
Amanda, this is more to give you some heart than a gardeners teach in because gardeneing from scratch is hard work and costly.
I am assuming money is tight so look in the supermarket for one or two cheap plants in pots that will go outside.
Then pot them into anything you have not too big but slightly larger than the pots they are in, you will need a small bag of compost to do this but one plant smiling at you will lift your spirits.
Now try your local help arera's they will be one or more who will advise you on free help in the area for clearing gardens plus lawn cutting and borders our council do give some help in this for the aged or people in need.
Collect boxes or pots from friends or family some Garden centres give away pots, you can only ask then in a month or so after the cold weather is over start sowing cheap seeds, flowers Vegetables, whatever you fancy, it will not all come but some will, which you can pot into larger containers and get a show.
Ask people for cuttings or plants they no longer need and dig a hole to put the mature plants in weed just that small area for now and keep it clear of weeds.
You sunken borders need some soil putting into them, costly buying bags of compost although often people have spare soil or compost, nothing like putting the word out that you could do with some, you could possibly get too much.
You can be growing plants and even fruit bushes or mini trees in no time at all by doing a bit at a time, it will not be a thing of beauty although the first taste of a carrot you grew yourself will make up for that.
I am a gardener and know other gardeners are always ready to help, you can only ask if they say no OK move on, many will help knowing your circumstances, there is help out there it takes some finding, if you have the guts to ask on here then you have the iron in you to find some help for your garden.
Good luck and I hope this helps get you started, it will take a lot of time, a lot of work, start small and very slowly you will get there.
As a PS it is still too early to be sowing most seed unless you have an inside window and watch out for cheap and cheerful cut price plants in the shops, one plant a week and take cuttings you will soon have lots.
Help in taking cuttings sowing seed just ask on here there will be plenty of advise given.
Frank. -
Message 3
Posted by also (U14824616) on Wednesday, 1st February 2012
Hi Amanda.
You have a big job ahead of you, but as the previous answer suggested, take it slowly and do a bit at a time. Don't expect to get the whole garden ship shape this year as that is expecting too much, unless you can get lots of help from friends/family.
You may like to try your local Freecycle website as most area's have one.
You can get all sorts of things from them. Things that people no longer require. i.e. garden tools, lawnmowers, plants etc. just ask and wait for the response. If not successful the first time, keep trying and something will become available.
All the best of luck
Al -
Message 4
Posted by nooj (U13729031) on Wednesday, 1st February 2012
What would your son enjoy helping with.?
Most kids are amazed by sowing some sunflower seeds, or perhaps watching the growth later on? -
Message 5
Posted by Kleftiwallah (U13700999) on Wednesday, 1st February 2012
In your position Amanda, I'm sure there are charities near you that would be willing to start you off on the right foot, especially if it will help your lad. I'd start off by looking in your local library (if you still have one).
How about some of these "Community service" oiks ? ? ? Cheers, Tony. -
Message 6
Posted by As-If (U15116884) on Sunday, 5th February 2012
I always say do the daydreaming bit first.
Instead of seeing it how it is and feeling unhappy about it, I`d daydream about the kinds of shrubs and flowers and other things that I`d love my garden to have in it for myself and for my son. Maybe write that down in my diary.
Then I`d begin by doing a small area at a time, probably the area closest to the house.
Gardening, a bit like housework, is an on-going thing. It`s never "done", but the doing of it gives lots of pleasure. Your son will enjoy helping you. -
Message 7
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Monday, 6th February 2012
Amanda,
Some good stuff there from Frank. I'd be interested to know what size the garden is, to get a feel for how big the job is.
Consider whether the layout of the garden is what you want. If you would like things to be different now's the time to do it, rather than wasting time and energy improving, but preserving, what's there.
Joe -
Message 8
Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
1. Check the garden over for existing plants as you will probably wish to save these and perhaps plant them in the border.
2. People are often digging foundations and so on. and have soil to spare. They might lend you a wheel barrow to barrow it to your border.
3. Borrow a motor mower and with the blade set to it's highest setting, cut the grass and weeds. Then lower the blades and get the grass to a managable level. You will now have a blank canvas with which to plan your garden.
4. This just leaves the border. Pull out all of the weeds and dig the ground and add the soil you've been given. mix it all up as the soil may not be the 'top soil' you want. Don't spend money on buying soil. Save money for plants.
5. Get speaking to friends and neighbours and see if they have plants they no longer want. My wife hates Spotted Laurel so I dug ours up and transplanted into a verge across from out house. I've planted various Lilac, Buddlias and Viburnums over there too.
6. Learn about taking cuttings - plants for free. Hardy fuchsias are a good start and will grow quickly. I have a lovely double white lilac which I've grown from a cutting taken twenty years ago. She's now 12ft tall.
7. Seeds are cheap and are often given away in magazines. Once the soil in the border is level, sow the seeds as advised on the packets for quick colour in the summer.
8. When we moved to this garden fifteen years ago, I dug up quite a number of conifers (cemetery trees) as there were drab and many were leaning over at 45 degrees. I then planyed a new tree every year for the next few years - Prunus 'Kanzan' (Japanese Flowering Cherry), Robinia pseudoacasia 'Frisia', Catalpa bignonioides (Indian Bean Tree) were my first three trees.
9. Get hold of an old shed - I've got two 'free' ones as people are often giving them away. They might need a bit of carpentry to make them sound but you'll have somewhere secure to lock away your mower and garden tools.
10. Plant shrubs such as honeysuckle and jasmine to start to cover those ugly fencing panels.
11. Don't get dispirited. Gardening is a marathon and not a sprint. Do a little but often and the garden will soon come to life for you and your son. -
Message 9
Posted by daintiness (U3887838) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
You have got some good advice. Some places you can go for help -your local freegle site, you csn sask for plants if people are splitting them in the spring or you will see them offered. They often offer top soil if digging an extension etc; what about your son's school? Do they have a sensory garden and you could speak to the people that care for it or do they do plant sales? Local allotments are also a good source of local knowledge and often freebies. Children often love touchy feely, bright and smelly plants - lamb's ears are easy to grow . Ponytail grass (and many others) can be grown seed and many people split grasses in spring. My local pound shop have four packets of seed for a pound at the moment - marigolds, nasturtiums etc
-
Message 10
Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
It's worth asking for free advice from trustworthy gardeners. An hour or two talking about it with someone who knows what's practicable and sensible would be very valuable. If I lived just up the road I would be happy to do this, with no expectation of getting paid or getting work out of it. I suspect many of the other gardeners on this board, both pros and amateurs would do the same.
Joe -
Message 11
Posted by cleverelliejo (U13778549) on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
Amanda,
Try to find out if there is a gardening club in your area. You could write to the secretary and ask if there are some members who would be willing to pass on some unwanted or surplus plants and advice to you.
Gardeners are usually generous people and would be pleased to help.
At least it is worth a try..
I have been deilghted to be asked to give some advice to beginners in our club.
And I also pass on surplus plants. -
Message 12
Posted by honeysuckle (U8412568) on Saturday, 11th February 2012
Why not plant things that will give you a crop, as well as, in the case of fruit trees and some bushes, lovely scented blossom. You could start off very simply with potatoes sown in March, not a lot of preparation required. Join an allotment society or garden club, talk to people and I'm sure you will be offered spare strawberry runners, raspberry canes, spare seeds as well as advice.
One of the first things I'd do is start a compost heap. -
Message 13
Posted by sthlndngrower (U14310155) on Wednesday, 22nd February 2012
It’s nice to hear you have a new(ish) home and garden- you and your son are clearly more deserving of this than the previous tenants.
There has been lots of good advice above, I would add I've been in a similar position of feeling overwhelmed having moved into a property with an unkempt garden that seemed beyond me and I often felt disheartened. Remember Rome wasn't built in a day- a bit at a time, weeds will soon regrow, so where you dig, fill with as many cheap plants as you can lay hands on (village/church/ school fairs and fetes are great sources, also Freeecycle pound or value stores often have garden specials); if you can't plant immediately cover with opened out black bin liners weighted down with bricks/ stones/ clumps of mud to stop the weeds coming back up and undoing your heard work- and just do what you can, as and when you can. If it all seems too much, even if you just do a couple of hours once a week or so, by summer you will see loads of progress, so don’t let it beat you.
Charities for help- I think most areas have a volunteers bureau (unless the managing of it has suffered from cuts), and there may be people willing to come and lend a hand in the garden, if you ask they may well find a willing volunteer. Alternatively, you could ask any local colleges that offer horticulture courses need somewhere to come and put their students to task.
I would agree with growing some edibles- it’s a lovely way to involve children in the garden; veg, salads and some edible flowers to add to summer salads.
Lastly, I’ve just watched Bees, Butterflies & Blooms on Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú2, Sarah Raven showed how wildflower meadow mixes can just be sown on prepared ground and left to grow with little maintenance and soon looks beautiful.
Good luck
About this Board
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Search this Board
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú iD
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú navigation
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú links
Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú © 2014 The Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.