[pawsnclaws]

i feel it is a wasted place it does not get full sun light as has over hanging willows

[mattwragg94]

have you tried to dig over the soil - as it may be full of roots from the willow tree.
TBH it doesnt look too shaded!

[mumofstig]

You could always cut the branches back a bit to let more light in 

[Dopey113]

Yea cut back to what you want to keep, dig it over ans see what you have, then make a plan, I think that's the best way to go about it, then you know exactly what you got to work with and how much light you have

[potatogrower]

defo cut down the branches and get some sunlight onto it. dig the soil over, any roots get rid of them and if the soil is damp then let the sunlight dry it up..well what's left of it 

[pawsnclaws]

Its covers in bark at the mo too so will have to get the kid rakeing it off lol  :happy: sure he wont mind i will get on with cutting the branches off or maybe the bloke can do that

[tosca100]

Chickens?

[pawsnclaws]

well funny you should say that as thats what i would have there ...but its my dads house and dont think he would be to impressed to come back to chickens lol

[digalotty]

you could pop in some raised beds iff the roots are a problem .as you have said once the branches are cut back you may have a different view on what will grow there

[pawsnclaws]

am hoping to be able to bung some cauliflour brocoli and sprouts in there as have plans for the rest of the garden and love the above so would be nice to grow some :-)

[tosca100]

A lot of the leafy veg don't like too much sun, like chard and spinach, lettuce.

Does dad like eggs?

[goodtogrow]

Gotta agree with digalotty about raised beds.  Are they conifers growing by the fence?  With the willow as well, even if you cut it back, they'll out-compete anything you try and grow, won't they?

And the brassicas you're planning on growing are themselves big feeders.  So raised beds, big horse poo, heavy watering seem, at least to me, the way to go.  Good luck anyway, whatever you decide.

[pawsnclaws]

yes ther eis confifers in the next garden, never even realized lol oh well will se what happens and go from there

[potatogrower]

Maybe someone can back me up on this. anything growing into your garden from someone else's garden can be cut within the boundaries of your own garden. i would clear everything on the left side up to the fence to get a wider growing area and get rid of growing competition. plan sections for flowers, veggies or chicken and decide what you'd like to grow. you've got the plastic blue tub there so you can either fill that up with the bark, put some water in it, cover it and leave in the sun for some time 1 yr to 2 yrs until it rots down completely or use to cover your paths to get to your raised beds. clear the foliage on the ground and should look good.

shows us some pics on your progress.

[JayG]

You are allowed to remove foliage overhanging your property from a plant growing in a neighbour's garden, but the trimmings legally belong to them and in theory should be returned. 

There is clearly plenty of scope for aggro here which is best avoided by negotiating any pruning and disposal arrangements in advance.