How do I decide between salvaging an overgrown garden or starting fresh?

[Isabella5]

We just moved into an older house and I’m trying to figure out the best way to handle the landscaping. The previous owner had a beautiful garden, but it’s been let go for a few years and is totally overrun. I’m not sure where to even start—do I try to salvage what’s there or just clear it all and begin fresh? It feels a bit overwhelming.

[Penelope_T]

I would start by walking the yard and noting what still has life and where the garden gets sun.

[Robert99]

I am a bit skeptical that salvaging the whole thing is worth it after years of neglect, you might be fighting stubborn vines.

[LaylaC]

If you want a quick win, clear a small patch and plant something forgiving like herbs or hardy perennials.

[EvelynVH]

A cheap soil test can tell you if you need amendments before anything grows.

[Donald_L]

In my experience a few old roses survived and the rest felt like a lost cause so I started small and kept the parts I loved in the garden.

[Ella_L]

If you lean toward salvaging, keep the structure of paths and beds but be ready to redesign as you see what thrives.

[JohnJR]

What climate zone are you in and how much sun does the yard actually get?