Not green fingered

The house I rent has a lot of land and once upon a time I'm sure that this would have been ideal for kids playing on it - and you know if I had lots of money a hot tub, luscious rolling lawns etc

I mean something like this looks ideal (but you know a) I dont have loads of money and b) I dont really need a hot tub in the garden as my neighbours are a bit old and nosy!

But I can't garden, it doesnt bring me joy. Its a task I hate and although I've strimmed and mowed the lawn I dont like it.

But grass grows, as do trees and as an ex planted some to make a hedge my garden had turned into a nightmare.

So, last week, I bit the bullet and added a post to Facebook asking for gardeners or gardening services. Now, it seems that gardening services are very expensive but luckily for me a friend reached out to say that he did this work for other people and was happy to help out. As he is not a company, it works out cheaper for me and it also helps him as he doesn't work. 

The first picture is a work in progress of the back garden (with that random shed that again an ex bought - you cant even stand up straight in it!!)

The back garden looks even better now (excuse the picture I took it out of eldest's window and apparently that needs a clean).

He also did the front garden and found the fence that had fallen over last year sometime

 The idea is that he comes back again in September and we have a think about what we do - he suggested making the front one more lawn like (although he did mention that it currently had a comb over and that the grass needed sorting!).I think this means its a bit tufty (but no idea)

The back garden is going to be a bit more of a challenge as its on a slope but my idea is that the bit closest to the back window gets turned into a patio/ decking area (depending on costs etc) and then I might see if we can do some beds for veg etc. I might be able to grow stuff but if not J has grown veg before so I may use his know how. Although I'm aware that veg isnt the easiest - I really need to make some use of it!

Any ideas or gardeners out there?

Ffi