"sharon" wrote
I'm moving into a new place next month and it's got a garden )

It's only a small lawn with a couple of borders, no more than 30 ft
square, but up till now I've only ever lived in flats so it's my first
garden...

Basically, what should I do with the border? I was thinking of planting
up some bulbs for next spring then putting some bedding plants in next
summer... but I don't want to dig up the bulbs after they flower if
they'll come back every year like daffodils. So should I plant the bulbs
in the back half of the border and put the bedding plants in the front?

Sorry I'm completely clueless

Welcome to this newsgroup and gardening, I hope you will enjoy both.
Firstly, the accepted thing when one takes over an "old" garden is to wait
and see what's there already e.g. it may already be planted with bulbs.
However I can well understand your enthusiasm to get going on it but I would
suggest a good book on Plants and Flowers and the RHS do a good one. Then go
look at other gardens to get ideas for layout and plants, always take a pen
and notepad with you to jot down names etc.

How wide is the border? Is it wide enough? Often they are much too narrow
and the plants look like they are up against a wall facing a firing squad.
:-)
Next, are the borders straight? Do you want them like that? Usually much
better with a slow curve in them, lay a hose pipe on the ground for the
shape and when it's right cut round it. Dig out the borders to the full
depth of a fork and incorporate some well rotted manure (may be difficult to
locate but your local allotments may know a source or GCs sell expensive
bags of it). Get the soil right now and everything else that follows is much
easier.
Make a note of what part of the borders get sun all day and what don't get
much sun.
Then you need to decide what sort of shrubs/flowers/bulbs you like and want,
don't be hasty, look around at other gardens and make notes of names etc.
Look for plants that have an RHS Award Of Garden Merit (AGM) if you aren't
sure, check them in your new book for their preferences as to light and
water and final size to ensure you plant them in their correct place. After
a season or two you will know what is wrong and what is right and move the
wrong ones to other places or change them for something else.
Most of all have fun, it's your garden and it's not set in stone. Plants can
be moved or replaced.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK