It doesn’t matter how much you like gardening; there are some things that will wither your enthusiasm. They include – but are of course not limited to – the following horror shows:
It’s the day you have set aside for gardening for weeks… and it’s completely pouring with rain.
Having to deal with any kind of bug infestation. No matter how much you grit your teeth and try to get on with it, you’re still going to hate every second.
Weeding. People that tell you that they like weeding are, unfortunately, lying to you. Weeding is an action that makes no improvement; its entire reason for being is that it returns things to how they should be. You come away from a hard day and realize that you haven’t developed anything at all, you’ve just made it less terrible.
And finally, the big one: the overgrown mess. The gnarled weeds, the trees that are out of control, the various creatures that have turned your backyard into their hotel.
It’s all the worse when you have a project in mind. If you want to install a pool or build a greenhouse, an overgrown disaster just feels like an obstacle. You know you have to bring it back under control – but how?
Step One: Identify The Dangers
Without disturbing too much or having to tear up too many weeds, scan the area visually. Be on the lookout for any of the following:
Anything poisonous either to yourself or a family pet. If you find it, then remove it as soon as possible with care.
Anything else dangerous, such as sharp paving slabs – you never know what will end up in an overgrown patch of garden.
Anything that can hurt you, such as wasps’ nests.
Removal of any of the above should be the priority, so you can continue to the next steps safe in the knowledge you’re – well, safe!
Step Two: Kill Everything
It may seem like a step, but you need to know what’s going on. That means stripping everything back to the bare earth – or as close as you can get through a snarl of weeds.
So it’s time for the weedkiller, the rotavator, the pros like Braddocks Tree Service for the trees and the pest control experts if you discover a wasp nest. Throw the kitchen sink at the problem and strip back as much of the rubbish and detritus that you know you don’t want or need.
Step Three: Lay The Groundwork
Depending on what you want to do with the space, this is either a literal or a metaphorical groundwork. Either way, you need to make sure the weeds won’t come back. Weed control fabric is a great way of doing this, especially for long roots that have escaped step two.
If you intend to grow plants, then try to nourish the soil and apply fertilizer after the blitz impact of the second step. With that done, you can enjoy the new space and let your imagination run wild.
