Where to start with an overrun garden

Hi, my question is where to start first?

My garden is over run and I just don't know where to start...

I want to eventually have raised vegetable garden beds and hens (3), a chicken house, but I am overwhelmed with where to start? Any pointers for the beginner would be welcomed....

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Comments

Jason

I think you've made a great start already @Gee - joining Workshop! You'll find plenty of great information, advice and ideas from community members. Let me extend a very warm welcome.

You might also like to share some photos of your garden so community members can get a better feel for what you are working with. For example, is it mainly grass (and weeds!) at the moment? Do you already have some garden beds you can work with?

Here's some posts that you might also find interesting:

Backyard chickens

Feed your soil and enjoy the harvest

Recommendations for vegetables to plant in autumn/winter

Improving soil

I'm looking forward to seeing how your project progresses.

Jason

Gee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1174#Comment_1174

Hi Jason, thank you for your info. I will put some photos up shortly. It is mainly grass, leaves etc. When you see the photos you will get an idea. I guess it is trying to pick one area and start there and then build on it.

greygardener

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62837#Comment_62837

@Gee

Everyone has to start somewhere! Happy to provide any suggestions. I'm sure if we can break it down into manageable tasks it won't seem so overwhelming.

Dale

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93894#Comment_93894

Hi @Gee. My advice would be start small and progress in easy steps.

Get a small bit of garden going. Weed it, fertilize it, and get something growing.

Aim to get a new bed going every 2 weeks or a month.

In no time you'll have a great garden.

CathD

Good luck @Gee. Everyone has to start from somewhere. Please do share some photos and I'm sure everyone will be happy to help.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1188#Comment_1188

G'day Gee
To fault, I tend to over-think things, & I'm in a similar situation that you are in.
As luck would have it, I recently saw on YouTube, a passionate gardener who doesn't weed his vege patch at all, & on purpose. His thinking is that when he propogates, it will be from the strong survivors, & maintain robust stock.

Janina_G

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62849#Comment_62849

@Gee would agree with others, I have to find how to upload photos. I moved into a yard that was so overgrown with trees, bushes,etc... and loads of rubbish to remove. I started with making a walk way and burning all rubbish in huge man-made bbq from old HWS left lying around... Then the garden I started at front edge and work back, luckily soild quite good, and I use the no dig method as I had plenty of greens and browns, then tank bark.. Vegie garden taking a lot longer as there was so much overgrowth, I am still burning it up,

I got a great tip for me from uTube, and that was to have in a bag at bank and front door cippers gloves etc, so that each time I walked out I could cut or prune a little off and slowly got rid of that.... Now I am making a ad hock, hotch potch area in front garden and reducing the grass area so dont have to mow.

Wish you all the best

Janina

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93917#Comment_93917

Hi @Janina_G,

Inserting photos into your posts is easy. Just hit the Insert/edit Image button above the text field. The icon looks like a landscape painting. I've circled it in the screenshot below.

Please let me know if you ever need a hand getting the most from the site.

Jason

Janina_G

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113265#Comment_113265

Thanks Jason,

Sometimes I think I need new glasses, then remember I just upgraded so it must be the grey hair.

SO I AM PRACTISING, took a long time, I was having such a nice time reminising, I didnt do it all by myself, I did have help but it took another year to get something like what I wanted, and now working on hotchpotch, after digging out all the bluestone buried all over property and making borders etc with them.

This is what my front yard looked like when I moved in April 2012

House fr SE corner 120610-3113.JPG

almost same view in 2013 now it is totally different again..

House fr SE corner 131129-004.JPG

Wayne

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124198#Comment_124198

wow you have done a lot of clearing there!

Wayne

I would suggest you get a pencil and paper and draw out how you want the garden to look in the end. No matter how bad your drawing skills may be a simple floor plan is all you would need. Mark out where you want proposed things in the future - garden beds, tool shed, chicken coup, grassed area, shrubs etc etc.
In some of those areas you could spray poison, especially with tall grass and weeds. Then as others have suggested work each small area at a time, once you complete one section go on to the next. It is amazing how your confidence and enthusiasm will grow after having finished one small area!

Janina_G

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1263#Comment_1263

Thanks Wayne,

That is a brilliant idea.... if only it worked for me.... I cant draw without inspiration, never have been able to....my brain just goes blank.... I appreciate the tip , it is a good one, but it has never worked for me in the inspiration side, or having a 5 year plan.... I flucked both.

I have an idea and i go with it [ in small stages] I first decided the East side was going to be Natives and succulent as soil crap and both dont need massive water and it more sloped so water runs off. Then we found so much cement footpath around the yard and decided to contrast the white/light grey pieces with the blue stone edges

The other half will end up more like Cottage garden but hotchpotch and more cirular and working on how I roam around that part of garden, there I am wanting the older flowers and mixing some climbing vegies, and flowers from the countries the students come from, so Japanese maple, cherry blossom, Korean etc

I need something to trigger off the imagination, with the Angular side it was an old wire door and smashed cement.. then broke that by using logs from the trees we cut down in back yard, [ they are round] but placed in angles with cut outs etc.

The circular or no angular was inspired by how i walk through that part of garden

And the corner near house by the sudden arrive by air of Elephant ears from neighbours garden, so ths it bromiliards, ferns, etc

And I am having fun, I can work on whatever section I get inspiration for...

Just had offloaded about 20 of the packing crates, and load of corrogated tin, which will wave, circle nicely, and he took away all the gum leaves and branches from the front tree the we beheaded, and I am think of grafting some different gums there .... will see if it works.

Fortunately I dont have many weeds or grasses, have been killing them off and IVY with boiling water.. [ I am against poison- for many reasons but one is that if flows over other peoples land due to the sloping and, boiling water will kill everything I have ever had to kill, just cant grow anything until I put some nutrients back.

This is how the Angular is starting to shape up.... so far till rain stops

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62837#Comment_62837

Hi @Gee,

Just curious whether you've been able to make a start on your project as yet. And please let me know if you need a hand uploading photos.

Jason

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