Does anyone know anything about gardening?

For our sleeper work we dug concrete footings and faced the sleepers on to the front of vertical batons which were held in concrete (if that makes sense).
If you are going to have the weight of slope of soil trying to slide back down hill you need your sleepers to be anchored and immovable.

Assuming that is your space I would consider terracing it. Top level, held by decent breeze block and render retaining wall, bottom level flush with the patio.
You could do steps up to the top terrace for veg and etc, bottom level lawned for lazing about.

@Constable_Savage That's a great idea, agree the wooden steps could be hazardous so best avoided.

@stevo_com Budget might force me that way but it might not be so bad as @MrSweary points out!

@WjPrince I get what you mean about the batons, last thing I want is the whole thing collapsing. Did you use gravel or any sort of draining tile for drainage? Don't suppose you've any pics?

I was under the impression I wouldn't be able to terrace it like you suggest as it would compromise the sidewalls, I'm not actually sure how deep they run.

As per (sort of) @WjPrince vertical batons, my sleepers appear to be drilled through their width and rebar driven through to the on beneath to tie them in place. They were there before I moved in which was 14 years ago and they haven't rotted yet. The walls are three sleepers high.

This is what we did recently in our garden...
The lawn is now ruined by bindwind as per earlier in the thread.

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Great user name BTW @birofunk

I like the look of your fence (to the left). Any chance of a better pic of it? Looking for fencepiration.

Standard fence posts (8ft apart for if we need to replace with standard panels) and roofing batons.
Get a nail gun and you could do it in a day.

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Hi mate don't panick about bindweed if its in a lawn, the more you cut the grass it will disappear soonish, it will still be below the surface, all that topsoil will just be feeding it for a while,

Looks great! Might do something similar.

Today's lawn picture. It's been hard work but it's finally starting to look like a lawn should

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Apple tree still alive BTW. I wouldn't say it is thriving but it's early days.

#prayformattsappletree

Must be the roots going around and around in a round hole desperately searching for bonemeal.

It's eaten all the bonemeal. I'm feeding it live foxes now.

We have a daunting garden to renovate and are looking for contemporary inspiration, any recommended books, websites or just pictures please? Interesting ways to deck to incorporate borders/raised planters, how to do a nice transition from a lower to upper tier (single step), partitioning lawn area to veggie patch, lighting, etc etc. We have a dog and boy to also accommodate, I need planz before I hire the mini digger. 🚜

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The squashes have gone mad!

Niiiice.

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Veggies at the back probably with herbs and salad leaves closer to the back door.
Possibilities are endless as far as garden design :/
How about getting a student garden designer/landscaper to have a crack. Probably do it for frees :)

Have a little crack yourself,

https://www.thebalance.com/free-garden-planners-1357749

Anyone know what this little fella feasting on my strawberry leaves is? And what to do with him? Is soapy water still a thing people do?

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No idea what he is, but are you sure that's a strawberry? The leaves don't look right to my very uneducated eye.

They look more like mint or something, which would make it likely a blue mint beetle? https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=768

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76205435n056843501773/albums/72157679756934742