is year, what should I do to prep the soil?
My personal recommendation will be to apply Dolomitic lime, wettable sulfur, and a good compost. This will be the easiest way to amend, and be sure that you bed soil is ready for planting.
There are other things that you can do as well. This article will get you started: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htm
How to permanently amend clay soil flower beds in the South
You may want to start with a soil test; this is the best way to discover what exactly your soil needs.
This article will help you with amending clay soil.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
Was the pH measured professionally or using an inexpensive test kit? I've read that the kits are not reliable which may, in part, be because users don't always follow instructions exactly. But when reviewed by soil scientists, the inexpensive kits didn't make the grade. There are additives that lower pH which should be available now at garden centers including big box stores. Use the chart in the following article or read the instructions carefully on the product you purchase. In addition, Canadian sphagnum peat moss has a pH between 3 and 4.5 so adding 2 inches to your beds will help. To avoid injuring plant roots, don't add more than 2 pounds of elemental sulfur per 100 sq feet. Wait 3 months, get a test and add more, if necessary. https://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/homeowners/080818.html
https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/1994/4-6-1994/ph.html
Try your local garden centers or even your local drug store. We do not give specifics in where to purchase garden items.
What do I need to know to garden in clay soil?
This article will help you to amend your clay soil: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-improve-clay-soil.htm
Hi, I've never been very good with gardening but we have recently bought a new house and want to do something with the front garden. It’s in quite a bad state and we would like just some grass and maybe a flower bed or 2. It seems like it’s been a long time since it was tended to and there are a few stumps round it that we would like to get rid of (there is one right in the middle of the garden that I thought maybe we could do something decorative with, e.g flowers around it). So, really just looking for some advice or where to even start if possible please? Thank you.
First, I can tell you, stump removal will require a company to come out if you don't have a stump grinder, or the tools to remove one. That will be the first thing that you will need to do.
This article will guide you on preparing the spot for planting: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/starting/how-to-build-a-flower-bed-starting-a-flower-bed-from-scratch.htm
The date is May 7, 2018 for the article on superphosphate. Don't use it without first having a soil test done to determine if you have a deficiency. Many USA soils have adequate amounts of phosphate, the middle mineral in NPK. Superphos is very potent and may cause signs of too much phos in your plants. Commercial agriculture, farming, is one instance where this product is useful. There is more information on soil phosphorus in this article: https://ag.umass.edu/cafe/fact-sheets/fertilizing-flower-gardens-avoid-too-much-phosphorus
You might check your state Extension Service for information on soils in your region. They also do soil testing for a nominal fee and provide fertilizer suggestions based on the results and what you are growing.