Help with new garden & by default, new gardener

[onetiredmummy]

Morning all,

I've just moved house & inherited a garden with actual things growing in the soil. My garden before was paved over so I'm ok with things in pots but have no idea what to do with this triffid breeding ground.

There's a load of plants that I don't know the name of & green bits are poking through. I have a lot of brown stalky bits waving about, a corner of stinging nettles just starting to come through & a buddlea. I recognise a Himalayan Balsam (sp) as one scared me as a child & I fell into the stream when it popped at me & my mum had a laburnum tree & this one looks similar.

So what do I do with it, do I cut the brown bits off, pull them out or something else? Do I pull the nettles out?

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Nettles are very good for butterflies. Whether you dig them out (they need digging, not pulling) really depends on where they are and whether you have small children who might tumble into them.

As for the rest, cut off the dead brown bits (which presumably are last year's flower heads). If you post pictures of the other things, the MN gardening fanatics posse should be able to identify them for you.

[onetiredmummy]

Thank you very much Maud, I have a 3 year old & a clumsy 7 year old so yes the nettles need to be removed :)

I can see this part of the forum being very important over the next few months...

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

In that case , yes, dig them out!

If you get the gardening bug, come and join us in the Rhubarb Appreciation Society.

[purplewithred]

While you are on a roll digging out the nettles dig that Himalayan balsam out too or you really will have a garden full of triffids. Cut the buddlia back to about 6" off the ground like it's your worst enemy, it will grow back just as big and with lovely big flowers.

Set your Sky+ to record gardeners world at 8 on Friday Night on bbc2. Try not to be totally distracted by the fabulous lushness of Monty Don's looks and voice and hands......., sorry, he does give very useful advice and shows pictures of plants that might be the ones in your garden.

[LexyMa]

I've asked MNHQ if we could be allowed to use pictures in the Gardening topic, although haven't had a response yet, but hopefully if it's a yes, you can show us anything you'd like help identifying. :)

[onetiredmummy]

Thanks to all, you are very kind :)

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Purplewithred - it seems that with your passion for Monty gardening you should be in the Rhubarb Appreciation Society too. Come and join us!

[redadmiralsinthegarden]

can I join the Rhubarb Appreciation Society too, please? I love Monty gardening!

[LexyMa]

of course, come on over!

[Engelsemama]

Set your Sky+ to record gardeners world at 8 on Friday Night on bbc2. Try not to be totally distracted by the fabulous lushness of Monty Don's looks and voice and hands......., sorry, he does give very useful advice and shows pictures of plants that might be the ones in your garden.

I wish there was a like button!