Hi.

I'm a terrible gardener and struggle to keep anything alive :s
My garden is very basic with a lawn and a bit of decking but behind my garden (which is only small) is a 4ft high dry stone wall which is not the most sturdy of walls I must admit.
Above this wall is some trees and waste land, approx 15ftx10 (maybe slightly bigger). It's by no means flat and the soil is very dry and rocky with lots of debris in it along with a lot of ivy and brambles which we try to keep tame. It's been like this for years but I would love to make it look pretty with minimal effort and cost.
Ideally I'd love like a wild meadow (a very small meadow!) to attract lots of insects and birds but I have NO
IDEA where to start, what to plant, when to plant and whether it would work.
What I'm looking for is a bit of advice really or guidance or recommendations if who could help.
Please bear in mind I can barely keep a basil plant alive.

Any replies would be greatly appreciated so I can have a pretty garden for summer.

Yan x

Hi,
I carry out gardening for people on a part time basis
First off, if it is waste land you don't own it and if you change things too much the owner may complain?
But if you want hints - ivy and brambles can be treated with brushwood sprays and/or lay sheeting over the top to kill it off, then sow wild flower seeds in the spring by broadcasting by hand. Garden centres sell wildflower seeds in packs and ebay sell a pack of 20,000 various wild flower seeds for butterflies/birds for £7.50 + 65p P&P
Then enjoy
And your cakes look too nice to eat!

Ha thanks for the cake compliment and thanks for your advice too! It's not waste land as such. It's gone to waste is what I meant, it is owned by us.

Yan x

Would I need to remove all the rubble and dig the soil over or treat it or would the seeds take in the horrid soil we have? X

If you would like minimum effort and cost I would suggest :

Removing the rubble is advisable as it would look better, removes the risk of you twisting an ankle, and provides more soil area for plants to grow

I would definitely advise against digging the ground over, as in my experience this leads to seeds of dormant weeds coming to the surface and germinating - making more weeds not less. Similarly, do not use a flamethrower as this only burns the top growth and not the roots so they grow back, as well as making dormant seeds germinate. I would spray weeds, ivy and brambles with SBK Brushwood killer available at decent garden centres. This may take two treatments to get stubborn stuff, and doesn't kill grass so using something like Roundup on a different day has been good for me

The textbook on gardening says you should dig in well rotted compost or horse manure etc to provide a better soil for plants to grow. I would suggest in your situation just spreading bonemeal on top of the soil as this is a slow release general fertiliser which is cost effective

I would expect wildflower seeds will germinate well, as wildflowers are often annuals which produce seeds which disperse by wind and land wherever they fall and have been successful for many years - no matter how bad the soil

On the cake side - I'm organising a surprise 50th birthday do for my wife in the middle of March and one of her sisters has said she needs a cake. Do you make them for people - if so what style would you suggest, how much notice would you like and have you any ideas for decoration?

Ta

Thanks so much.
Yes I do usually make other people cake but I have a baby due the first week in march so I won't be making cakes for a couple of months. If I can offer you any advice I would be pleased to help though.

Hi, I'm pleased to help
Congrats on the baby front, though I was hoping for you to do a cake for us
Let me know how you get on with the 'wild meadow' - I like to know what works for people
And if your hands are tied with nappies etc I could do the work for you
Ta

Thanks! I'll keep you in mind :)

Hi Yan,in todays Mail page 83 there is an ad for wildflower growmat. It comes with seeds incorporated,just level the ground,lay your mat and Bobs your uncle.

I personally,wouldn't advise manuring the ground as wild flowers usually thrive in poor soil.

Hope and best of luck with your new baby. this helps and best of luck with new baby.

Aw thanks Annina I've only just read this so l have missed it now.

Thanks for the best wishes x

Hi Yan,in todays Mail page 83 there is an ad for wildflower growmat. It comes with seeds incorporated,just level the ground,lay your mat and Bobs your uncle.

I personally,wouldn't advise manuring the ground as wild flowers usually thrive in poor soil.

Hope and best of luck with your new baby. this helps and best of luck with new baby.

wildflower seed packs 1.49 at home bargains 10,000 seeds. just rake into the soil and water. job done!

wildflower seed packs 1.49 at home bargains 10,000 seeds. just rake into the soil and water. job done!

Thank you! :)

Thank you! :)

my pleasure. :D