20 by 20 isn't that large. I might go at it with a shovel and just start turning it all under. Obviously you will have to leave pathways, so you won't have to shovel in those areas. Turn the actual "bed" patches under, add whatever organic amendments you can get your mits on, and identify a mulch resource for ongoing use (like lawn clippings from one of the neighbors). That would get you started nicely. Cardboard is also a good idea, as others have suggested, but the way I think - the smaller the job the more likely I am to just grab a shovel and get on with it. Enjoy your garden no matter how you decide to christen it!

The basic plan: The area I've set aside for the garden is 80'x80'. This is my dream plan, right now, subject to change and horribly out of scale: I am going to start in the southeastern corner (east--drop off, south--neighbor). I'm going to straighten the old deer netting posts and put deer netting back up and I'm going to add 4' of chicken wire below, 3' up with 1' on the ground. I can get to the backside of the fence by climbing the slope from a trail that goes down to the bottoms. In front of the fence in the part that curves the farthest before it drops off will go some Shasta doublefile viburnums, for looks and to secure the edge. I'm also leaving the trees I cut there as pollards--they will do well in that form. At the most southeast corner, diagonal to the garden, will go the compost piles (partially recessed into the earth) and the lawn tractor shed. The compost piles will probably come this year. The shed will not. Then, I'm going to shoot straight up the property for 36' feet along the east side with a 2' wide bed. This is the expensive bed, as I'm planning on using PT lumber to make it 2' high, with dividers every 3', and with landscaping fabric in the bottom--for raspberries! This, I will fill with the topsoil I already bought and absurd amounts of compost, as the topsoil is mostly crap. The back (east) side of the raspberry will be smothered and mulched. The front will be mulched or will have the cheapest pavers put in, depending on how rich I feel. A temporary chickenwire fence will go around the garden space, with 1 or 2 wireless deer fence stakes stuck along the only side the deer can come up. It will be adjusted as the garden grows. Then, I'm going to start at the south side. First will be a 2' wide bed 16' long for my first blueberries (if it's a bit shady) or espaliered apple trees (if it turns out to be the sunnier than the S end when I'm done removing trees). Then will be a 2' walkway and rows of 16'x4' east/west running beds. There will be room for 5 beds and change along the raspberry bed. The reason I'm putting tall things in a narrow bed up front is to deter deer. The tallish bushes/trees will seem to form a second fence behind the surrounding fence and will discourage them from jumping. There will be a 2' space between the fence and the first beds, minimum. I will be able to put my permanent fence (inexpensive black metal fencing), with chicken wire discreetly attached to it, along the south side as I build it. All other sides will be just chicken wire, and the back side along the dropoff will never be anything except deer netting and chicken wire. In front of the fence will go the deer-resistant varieties for my perennial cutting garden, with deer stakes among them. The beds will be edged with 2x4 PT lumber, just to define the edges and keep them neat. Each bed will be first dug as deeply as I can--for the first and last time. After this, 2" tilling will be my max. A cubic yard of compost will be incorporated--or, more likely, half a cubic yard of composted manure and four cubic yards of mulch. A couple of inches of topsoil from the 2' walkways will be added to the beds, too. Then I'll sow with a covercrop and move on to the next bed. In the future, I'll VERY shallowly till in the cover crop plus about an inch of compost before I plant anything each year. If I finish 5 beds this year, then I'll do the second half of the length of the garden--36' feet of blackberries in 2' beds, then another 6 4'x16' beds. Then along the north side will be the the beginning of the north end of my living "double fence". Then I'll move on to the second row of 4'x16' beds--probably next year or the year after, I fear! Rinse and repeat. There will be a 3' aisle between each set of 11 beds. All in all, I'll have a 2' bed surrounding the entire space, with 44 4'x16' beds, if I decide to do it. Or, if I decide it's too much work and I have more than enough veggies, I can stop at 11 beds, or 22, or 33. The first bed I'll put in will be my main herb bed. Many things there will be perennial. The second will be my strawberry bed--part June-bearing, part alpine, part day-neutral. And bed #11 in the first set will be asparagus, while bed 8 or so will have other perennial veggies like artichoke and rhubarb. In my dreams, I'll also build a pretty double shed--a potting shed and a tool shed. If I get ALL the lawn and garden equipment out of the garage, maybe I'll actually have room for my woodworking tools. Right now, it's like the game Rush Hour whenever I want to do anything in the garage. And, of course, since I'm dreaming, I'll have a greenhouse. Who doesn't want a greenhouse? Here is a link that might be useful: This is what my garage is like....

Hummm...I guess it depends. To me, there is something kind of sad about a very neglected looking garden, as if the person(s) who had so lovingly cared for it before were no longer able to, for whatever reason. Now a purposefully "untidy" and "wild" looking garden I can appreciate. I'm not one to over primp my plants or take meticulous pains at some garden chores (*ahem!* edging and mowing, lol!). I do think my garden LOOKS better when I do all the upkeep and tidying up (etc), but it doesn't always allow one to get the chance to actually sit back and soak up all the beauty. To me, slightly untidy gardens look more like the owner insn't stressing out about every little detail but having fun and enjoying it, not having it around as a show garden to keep up with appearances or the neighbors! -Scully, I guarantee you will love seeing this link!!! If my picket fence and gate ever break down by the side of the house I might have to think about doing something similar... CMK Here is a link that might be useful: wooden door and stone arch

Sorry this is late. First, research! Read about your area & micro-climate. Draw a sketch of your yard; see what others are growing in similar circumstances. Talk to your Extension Office. Watch what comes up this spring! You may be blessed with some leftover jewels. IDing everything will teach you a lot! With this lovely winter you all can rake up the underbrush, use plastic bags wrapped around your hands to pull up the PIvy. Use Tecnu PIvy cleanser if you get it even after using alcohol to wipe your hands and clothes in the yard. Get a soil test. Probably acid, but test. Then research some more! Plan your work & work your plan. It's frustrating and expensive to buy plants that die. Here is a link that might be useful: Virginia Country Life