Garden full of weeds

colm_c

Recently purchased a house, the garden hasn't really been a priority.

Since the spot of good weather and the summer on the way it's coming on the radar.

The grass is full of weeds and some of the surface is a bit uneven. There's a smallish back garden and a small front garden. There's also weeds sprouting through between some of the old patio stones/pavers.

Total garden novice, what are the options here?

NIMAN

In the past, I would have cut it, then put on some of that 3-in-1 lawn feed, weed and moss killer. Then just continue cutting over the summer.

I think that helped.

TheCowboy

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Verdone-Extra-Liquid-Concentrate-Killer/dp/B005AV569Y they say it kills weeds not lawns. i understand you have a lawn but lots of weeds in it? Note some weedkillers kill everything in their path some are selective like the one above. Some kill weeds that are growing and some prevent new ones growing in future for at least a year You need to learn how different ones work and when they should be used. here is a start http://www.lovethegarden.com/weeding/weed-articles Read the instructions of any weed killer carefully

looksee

The options depend on what you want. Are you looking for the easiest solution to patching up the existing arrangement, or are you looking to develop a new garden? Who will be using the garden (kids, dogs, you?). Do you want to grow veg, do you want flowers, shrubs etc. Does it get sun. Could you post a pic or two and describe what you are aiming for.

Qualitymark

The reason why these particular weeds are growing in this particular place is also a question. Is it moss? Dandelions? Ragged robin? Rosebay willowherb?
I'm not a great fan of weedkiller - the trouble is that it kills the 'microherd' - the bacterial life that is essential for the health of the soil. But then, I don't have a velvety lawn.
Guide to tillage weeds from Teagasc: http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/2010/55/55_Guide_to_Identifying_Tillage_Weeds.pdf
I go around the grass with a paint scraper on very sunny days and slice off the dandelions, and pour cheap table salt from Lidl on the root immediately. This causes the root to dry out and kills it. Doesn't work in rainy weather, though. Rosebay willowherb and ragged robin come out easily with a hoe like this http://www.implementations.co.uk/catalogue/product-details/18/polux-hoe I'm merciless with ragwort, despite the needs of the burnet moth. I leave most nettles at this time of year, because they have their own early-hatching blackfly so they attract ladybirds, which eat greenfly. (I don't use pesticides, so the ladybirds are safe.)
Moss is best dealt with by aerating the garden - you can hire someone to do this with a machine the first year, and after that do it every year with a fork. Very hard work to do non-mechanically. Aerating the soil allows the minerals to come to the surface and allows the rain to penetrate down. It's also good for the grass to rake out the thatch twice at the beginning of the year.
I think I'll have a little lie-down now.

ted1

I was in the situation 3 years back. What worked for me was reguarly rake the garden and cut it. Soon enough the grass relaces the weeds