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Sunnymomma3
My Favorite Photo
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 03:09 pm EST : |   
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Hi, I'm EloziaMarie. My MIL posts here, and she has got such a green thumb - a beautiful shade of green too ;) . I however, am just her DIL, so did not inherit her green thumb, and so I *need* help! Here's some pictures of what I have to work with.
I have a large back patio with about 20 feet of 1.5-3 ft deep of soil surrounding it. I have children, but they are pretty gentle, I just would rather not have super sensitive plants. I want some height, but not too filling, making my patio seem smaller. Just to help tone down my tall wooden fence. Would some ivy work? I am pretty clueless, so advise away!!! I get sun almost all day in my front, and all afternoon and evening in half my back, the other half is mostly shaded.
Also, How can I garden and get more for my $? We are on a tight budget, and the garden is a lower priority, so I need to get as much as I can for as little as I can, and I need HEARTY plants that will survive my lack of knowledge. Any wonderful books you can reccomend for small spaces or beginners?
Also, it's August ... have I missed the gardening window of opportunity?
TIA!!!
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Sunnymomma3
- Utah,
Zone "5?"
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Jeanne
My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 03:38 pm EST : |
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Hi EloziaMarie and welcome to GB!!..Jeanne
Jeanne Texas Zone 8B
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Allieok
My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 24, 2005 - 10:36 pm EST : |
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Fall is a great time to plant perennials so that gives you a little time to plan. If it was me, I'd start in the front where it shows and then work on the back later as I had more funds for it. I'm not in Utah or anywhere near your zone so I won't suggest any particular plants. Your best resource for what to plant is probably a good local nursery. It's going to be important to know what direction the front of the house faces. Welcome to Garden Buddies.
Allieok
- Oklahoma,
Zone "7a"
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Monique
My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 08:53 am EST : |
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Because our zones are so different ..I can't really guide..but Sharon will..
Do you have a garden club? The reason I ask is that every Spring and every fall..they do a sale at our local flea market and the perennials are $2.00 each..in big clumps in plastic bags.Start with a few clumps and divide divide divide:)
Groups of 3's are good:) Still learning here..Plus you can seed things in the fall..seeds are reasonably priced..and they may not come up next Spring..but the next..they will..
You have some nice areas to work with..and a pretty home..
But mostly..your family's adorable:) Those are your cutest blooms!
Monique Quebec Zone 5 |
Missgarden
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 10:43 am EST : |
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Monique wrote on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 03:53 am:Groups of 3's are good
that is very true, it looks much better when you have groupings of plants, odd numbers. Give them space to grow as well, they will fill out quickly.
I get inspiration from driving around and seeing what and how others did their landscaping.
Missgarden
- Ontario,
Zone "5b"
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Sunnymomma3
My Favorite Photo
| | Posted on Thursday, August 25, 2005 - 03:44 pm EST : |
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Thanks! My house faces south, pretty much due south, so I have the sun passing over my gardens all day. The only place that is always shaded is the back section that is against and under my kitchen bay window.
Thank you Monique! I'm afraid I have dificulty being modest when it comes to my kids - definately the cutest blooms I could ever grow  !
~Sunny
Sunnymomma3
- Utah,
Zone "5"
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Josephedward
My Weather
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:10 am EST : |
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Welcome to Garden Buddies, young lady !!!
I hope you will enjoy this site and these nice people as much as I have.
I looked at your family photos in your other post.
You and your husband are blessed with beautiful children.
They are, indeed, the best blooms you will ever grow.
But that doesn't mean you should slack off on your garden. I deeply hope that...in addition to all the other things...you will teach your children to appreciate the art and beauty of gardening.
Now...to business.
I differ from the others in one opinion....
Instead of learning from your local nurseryman, who is bound and determined to sell you something, take the time to objectively learn about plants and gardening.
On the off chance that you live in Salt Lake City [or near there]...
there are two excellent teaching gardens nearby.
The Utah Botanical Center has both a wonderful web site and a terrific plant collection.
So does the Red Rock Garden and Arboretum in Kaysville.
It is my experience that botanical garden horticulturists love to talk about their plants and teach you how to grow them.
Give them a try....then...with your new found knowledge...tour the local nurseries and weigh what they tell you against what you have independently learned.
My second suggestion would be to take your time. Shrubs and perennials grow quickly so don't feel compelled to rush into any plantings. A garden created with just a few well-chosen plants at a time invariably turns out better than one that is hurriedly planted.
My third suggestion is that you plant a tree for each of your children...on their birthday. Explain to them what you are doing...and tell them that whether or not you live forever in that home...the tree you plant on their birthday is forever theirs. Choose good, sturdy, long-lived trees...and site them carefully so that neighbors or future owners will treasure them as much as you do. [One of the finest gifts my parents ever gave me was the 6 foot Pin Oak they planted on my sixth birthday. The tree is and I am considerably older now. The tree stands nearly 70 feet tall and spreads its branches across the entire front lawn and the adjacent street....and it is still mine.]
One last suggestion. No matter how tempting it might be...don't spend all you money on annuals. You'll have nothing to show for that expense the following year. And you'll just have to buy them all over again.
Buy good shrubs and tested perennials...learn their needs...site them appropriately....never prune them into balls and boxes....don't plant rows of anything [groupings of three is an excellent and well-proven approach]....pay attention to the colors you choose [ a controlled use of color has substantially more impact than color run amuck]....prepare the soil deeply and well....
and before you know it your thumb will be the color of fine emeralds.
Best Wishes.
Josephedward
- Oklahoma,
Zone "6b"
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Csrliz344
My Weather
My Time
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 12:46 am EST : |
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For that shady back window, I suggest Bleeding Hearts, they come in red,pink and white. They are my favorite shade perennial.....
Csrliz344
- Ohio,
Zone "5"
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Monique
My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 09:23 am EST : |
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JE..wonderful kind advice..
Monique Quebec Zone 5 |
Lilybeetle
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 10:13 am EST : |
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I can't agree more, wonderful thoughtful advice from all. Some great advice JE that I wish I had when I set out 10 years ago. You have a lovely home to embellish. Gardens will add to the value. I would just like to make a comment for your consideration. The little cedar I think by the BBQ will barely have room to thrive where it is positioned. You may want to think about moving it while it is young. Also the shrub or tree planted in the corner may also be in the same situation. Check the cultivar notes and see how much space is recommended. I'm afraid that as it matures it will be stunted by the fence - the fence may even be stressed by the branches pushing on it. You also have to be careful to plant far enough from your property line so that your plantings do not encroach on the neighbouring property. Some homeowners will hack wrecklessly away at branches over their yards and in most communities there are bylaws about how close you can plant to your property line. The other suggestion I would make and it does save dollars is to buy small perennials that are less expensive. You will be surprised at how quick they catch up to the two gallon ones and you'll be rewarded for your patience. Lastly, don't be afraid to divide. Gardens want to grow. With few exceptions most perennials can be divided successfully at any time of the growing season (ask here for advice :) ) and it is always nice to spread them around and have more to share. Welcome to GB.
P.S. You will be amazed at the memories the garden you create will hold for your children. My kids are always proud to bring their friends here and it makes me happy to see them hanging out at home :).
Lilybeetle
- Ontario,
Zone "4B"
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Sunnymomma3
My Favorite Photo
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 02:02 pm EST : |
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Thank you so much for all your advice! JE - the botanical garden websites are a wealth of knowledge - thanks for advising me to visit them. We will have to arrainge sometime to visit those near us - I know my children would love it, and I can bring a pen and jot down ideas :)
The plant by the BBQ is actually 3 dwarf fir type trees. I'm not a huge fan of them, I know so little about them. I should research and see what they want. The large tree in my front has driven me crazy, as it harbors TONS of mean wasps. I've sprayed for them and everything, but they always come back in huge swarms. I dream of taking it OUT and putting in 3 quakies, one for each of my children. One of my neighbors did just this, and the result is beautiful. I feel bad wanting to take that tree out though, it is quite huge.
My kids are loving our new gardening mindset. They have their own sets of little spades and hand rakes, and enjoy sitting next to me copying whatever I do. I know they would LOVE the idea of a birthday tree.
Thank you again for all your wonderful advice!!!
~EloziaMarie
Sunnymomma3
- Utah,
Zone "5"
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Monique
My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
| | Posted on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 06:26 pm EST : |
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Lilybeetle wrote on Friday, August 26, 2005 - 05:13 am:My kids are always proud to bring their friends here
Oh my gosh Kim..I BRAG about your gardens as if one of my children had something to do with them..!!
Great advice here..
Monique Quebec Zone 5 |
Greth
| | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 09:47 am EST : |
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The best general bits of advice I can give -
1. See what your neighbours are growing and what looks good. Keep looking throughout the year, something impressive in one season may be a shocker in another, and you do not have space to waste on non-performers. Most gardeners won't even mind if you ring the doorbell and ask what that nice climber is! In fact you will probably get a cup of coffee, an hour's conversation and a pile of cuttings to take home.
2. When thinking of any plant for inclusion in a garden scheme, READ THE LABEL and then BELIEVE IT, because yes, they really do get that big. Pace it out on your lawn and think carefully. Best of luck, the house looks luvverly.
Greth
- South Australia,
Zone "?"
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Josephedward
My Weather
| | Posted on Friday, September 02, 2005 - 01:28 pm EST : |
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Hello again young lady...
You have received a lot of responses to your request for help. I hope they will encourage you to continue participating in the GardenBuddies forum. It's fairly obvious you will find friends as well as advice here.
I'm going to presume at this point to make a few more suggestions.
1] Don't necessarily remove those "3 dwarf fir type trees." What I can see in your photograph suggests they are Dwarf Alberta Spruce. If so, they will indeed remain dwarf...topping out slightly taller than your fence. They WILL grow out over your patio surface somewhat. I would let them...for the following reason. Part of your effort in planting those narrow strips surrounding the patio should be dedicated to plants that will overgrow the concrete edge somewhat. Softening that edge will give your patio garden a lush, comfortable look. Trying to keep everything inside the borders of those beds will only accentuate the hard surface and linear quality of the fence. Your goal, in my opinion, should be a softening of that surface and those lines...in such a way that the patio and fence seem a part of the garden...rather than the garden being nothing more than a visual extension of the patio and fence. You might take a close up photo of the "dwarf fir type trees" and either post it here or show it to your nurseryman to confirm their identity.
2] Don't necessarily pay any attention to what your neighbors are growing. A row of houses with pretty much the same thing growing in front of them looks uncomfortably conformist and unimaginative. Your garden needs to be an expression of your individuality, your feeling about nature, your concept of beauty, your attitude toward your home and family...in short, it needs to be YOURS...not somebody else's.
3] By all means read the tag...but don't necessarily believe everything you read. Tags are written by some well-meaning tag writer who sits in an ivory tower and takes all his [or her] information from books. Learn about the plants you intend to install as they perform in your city....that's why I suggested the botanical garden as a source of information.
As an example.....A Dwarf Alberta Spruce that will top 6 feet in Utah will usually not exceed 4 feet in Oklahoma City. Climate, geography, soil, and the gardener affect the true size of a plant more than just genetics.
Okay, I hope y'all are ok with these suggestions. They are intended as suggestions only.....
Best wishes...good gardening.
Josephedward
- Oklahoma,
Zone "6b"
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