I just got my hands on a small garden! But I have no idea where to start…
There are quite some plants already planted: an olive tree, some small palm trees (that I don’t like), a Japanese maple (?), a raspberry bush and some others I don’t recognize (mostly decorative). Most of the floor is lawn (that I am letting grow wilder). Unfortunately I am not able to include a photo, it’s not loading.
I am in a 9a/9b zone (I think: mild winters rarely if ever freezing, mild summers, quite wet the whole year, continental Europe).
My questions:
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what can I do to maintain the lawn walkable but let it get more diverse?
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what tools do I need for every-day maintenance of a small garden?
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do you have any advice on plants both perennial and annual for newbies? I’m in particular interested in small plants that produce something edible. Ideally would like to start with a small apple tree? And a pumpkin/zucchini plant next year?
Go to the local garden shop and talk to some of the customers there.
The shop won’t mind you hanging around if you are respectful, because they want to “grow*” a customer base.
The customers won’t mind if you are respectful. They know what works in the area best. Always go with local knowledge.
*No, I won’t apologize.