Here are some pictures of my horrid garden, my camera lense isn't very wide, but I hope you get a general idea anyway.
I don't want to do anything too fancy to it, since we are renting, but I was hoping I could at least cheer it up a bit.
Landy says he is going to fertilize the so-called lawn, so pay no attention to the lack of grass.
I am heading over to Canadian Tire later today, and was wondering if I should have a look at a couple of things.
Can I buy flowers allready in bloom and plant? It is obvious I know nothing of this...I was also thinking of adding some geranimums (sp?)
Any ideas thoughts??
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I will also attempt a window box now to see if there are any survivors.
I would use this time to purchase some of your "structures" and wait a bit longer to see what you have to work with. There are many things in my established garden that are not "up". Also, the weather will still be unpredictable until the end of May so don't buy any plants yet! It is different for people who live in Vancouver.
Take the time to "plan". It will make a big difference in your overall success!
When should I start planting? The weather is still fairly unstable and not much has come up yet in the garden, so I really don't know what is already there or not. I would like to start soon as I feel I need to "impress" landlord quickly. Just for the record, I am doing this for myself but I'm letting him think we're doing it for the greater good - which I'm sure in his mind, is him. ;)
You could place this arbor in a part of the garden that has a nice view where you can sit and ponder life, love and the pursuit of happiness! In this example, you could have a path or stepping stones (which you could take with you) go to this destination point. :)
In the continuing saga, the next advice I would give is to select a few main areas and work on those to create a focal point. I would suggest installing a round patio area with small rock (as Lisi described). For this type of project, it is important to not use round rock because it won’t pack as well as a small “shard” rock that has some edges. Buy small bricks for edging (the stuff they use to make patio’s with) and sink these into the ground a big to define the area. There are many other options for edging that you can ask about at a garden center. Then you can place either a patio set or perhaps two garden benches with a low table or firepit in the middle. You can purchase kits for round firepits at hardware stores or buy a self contained one on wheels that you can move around.
To create another focal point, place an arbor somewhere between your house entrance (front or back door) and a destination point. You can plant an annual or perennial vine on this which will also add vertical interest year round. If you are really ambitious, you can define a curved path from one of your doors, through the arbor to a destination point (maybe your patio area). Make sure that the path is wide (use the width of the arbor as a guide). You can use the same edging material and rock that you have for the patio. This is a simple idea that will add lots of impact and is relatively inexpensive!
Other ideas for focal points are fountains, birdbaths, obelisks, etc. I would start with the above ideas first and then decide where else you want to add more interest.
Here are some pictures of arbors from Canadian Tire.
about this forum, heh, thank you very much for your advice so far, I really like the urns you posted, particularly the two last ones. I will look into that. I think I could even do one out front by the door, I think that would look nice.
Noted about Artsy's soil mix - I will try it out, I am yours to colour with your opinions :)
A different style. From Canadian Tire. Also fibreglass.
Different color.
From Canadian Tire. Made of fibreglass.
I will have little snips of time so keep checking back over the next few days.
Advice #1
Go buy VERY LARGE URNS (as big as you can find) to plant your annuals in! The biggest mistake gardeners make is to buy containers that are too small which makes for lots of work because you have to water too often. The pictures on the posts to follow are all from Canadian Tire and are fiberglass but they look very authentic. I like the “urn” style over a “pot” style because the top is generally higher off the ground and better suited for cascading plants. For my first year of planting AAN, I would suggest that you use some type of trailing petunia (look for wave series, surfinia, supertunias, etc.). The garden centers can help you. Buy good potting soil (often called soilless mix) which is sold in bags. Wet the soil thoroughly before you plant. Also, scrunch the roots a bit to loosen them before you plant. You will be shocked how much water you will have to add to get it wet! It is better to buy fewer established plants than more little ones, especially when you are a new gardener. Now, here is my very secret and special advice for amazing annuals. Many gardeners do not agree with me on this but you must trust your arty! Buy the fertilizer with the numbers 10-52-10 or 10-60-10 (if you can find it). Follow the mixing instructions and fertilize at least every two weeks. You will have amazing flowers! Always fertilize when the soil is slightly moist. If you do it when it’s dry ... it may burn the roots.
The picture below (bad quality because I took a pic of a pic with my digital camera) are some planters that I have around my house. The top is when I planted them (only three petunias), the bottom is a month later. You can’t see from the picture that they hung down about 3 feet and I had to keep trimming them. These would look awesome in an urn.
I will print this and your other posts and use them as my guideline when I get started. I believe I have some good ideas and inputs on how to do this :)
I am sure I will come back with many questions :)
Artsy, I am still interested in your input :)
Thanks again!
I had a rough day today but I do want to give you my 2 cents worth. I will post my ideas tomorrow although Lisi and Chico have touched on many things that I was going to mention so that is an excellent start. I am selfishly going to be on D & D with the time I have left today so check in here tomorrow!
I have no idea of your budget so this is getting hard. If you use gravel the plastic is a good idea to prevent weeds/grass from growing thru the gravel. The when you get your flowers move the gravel aside and cut a small hole in the plastic and plant. You can take out some earth and replace with a good soil or add peat moss and some granular annual plant food fertilizer.(good for 3-4 months) Never water then in hot sun, water at night or early morning and give a good soaking, not a sprinkle.
I find groups of 3-4 plants of same type give a nicer look than the odd one here and there. You can add rocks as pics show or odd pieces of pottery stuff, ornaments etc. Maybe a nice birdbath as you must have lots birds with all those trees..... also a bird feeder on a metal pole.
Try and plant with tall plants in back and shorter in front if you mostly will see the garden from 1-2 sides. However if you will see it from all 4 sides plant tall in middle and short around. You can plant flowering bushes too, but not as easy to move out to another garden.
You may find a book better for you to follow, "Gardening for Dummies" or similar.
Gee with sun all day roses would do well but take more taking care off. Pruning, wintering etc. Nice tall sun perennials are shasta daisies, cone flowers, phlox, black eyed daisies, bee balm, day lillies.
Shorter annuals are so abundant, pansies, marigolds(tall and short), petunias, geraniums, nasturtiums etc etc. Just check the tag on the plant container and it will tell you for sun, part-sun or shade. Also in the nurseries the sun plants are in the sun and shade plants under a covered roof usually so that gives you an idea of what plant goes where.
Have to check with DH regarding the price of gravel. Yes,I noticed the your garden was different, looked like a hill. Hope to see pics from Artsy's garden soon!! Thanks for your nice remarks. I like geraniums too, guess thats' the European in me.
Have checked with DH, he said it was $ 25.00 , He bought a full pick-up truck load, obviously you would't need that much!!
Very very beautiful, I've been a long time admirer of your beautiful garden, I love your fountain! I think I would like to do something like that :) I think adding gravel and rocks is a very good idea!!! :) I don't know if it is clear from the pictures, but my garden is sort of in two levels where the lower level is a disaster area, this I think would be a perfect place for something like that, unless I want to hide that area in particular and just concentrate on the top level.
I really like Chico's idea about boxes and planters, I had a peak into the garden centre at Canadian Tire today, and these things I am surprised are fairly inexpensive.
Silly question, is gravel etc expensive to buy? Easy enough for me to find out otherwise, but while I have you :)
Here is a closer view
Here is the other side
Like all the trees you have! I think you are getting good advice from Chico I also would plant in containers and consider stuff you can take with you when you move. Last year we moved to an empty lot and DH has done lots of work. I was thinking, maybe you could create an area with rocks. We did this, just put plastic over the grass, filled with gravel and I started to add things I like (all movable). I post a couple of pics then you see what I mean, You can get very creative choosing the items . Just my 2 cents!
I think it is fair to say that I am fairly inadequate when it comes to gardening, I would need a How-to list as well on how to get those darn things in the ground...
Stupid questions coming your way;
Do I need to add more fresh soil to where I am planting or is it enough to just dig a hole? Should I square off a section of where I want to plant and re-soil?
I don't want to buy seeds, I want to see them right away, no patience etc etc - so, can I buy the flowers/plants already in bloom?
I believe it is fairly obvious I have no idea what I am talking about.
Thank you both Chico and Artsy for all the help so far :)
Hopefully evil landlord will be so exctatic when he sees I've added cute little wrought iron fences/rail thingies around the bed in the front garden he will fertilize soon - if not, is there an inexpensive way (without having to water!!) I can do this?
I have to leave and will be back this p.m. so I will reply then. Thanks for giving me the extra info. :)
With a sun exposure the number of flowers are limitless really.
Perennials (come up every year) but if you move when ground is frozen you cannot transplant them to another garden.
Lobelia is lovely (annual) in pots as it hangs down in a shower of small flowers. For height you may want to plant a couple small cedars in the ground/or large pots/planters and hope if you move you can take them.
Day lillies (perennial)give lots if bloom with long spiky leaves, 3-4 ' they can be planted in containers too.
The money isn't necessarily an issue, but I would like to keep the cost fairly low, I want to concentrate on the inside, but wants something cheery outside :)
So, yes please, something cheap from your idea list :)
Very good advice Chico, I think I'll will do some boxes etc that I can easily take with me, at the same time I do want to plant something - more for me than for evil landlord. There are lots of trees so I can't wait for them to come out of their hieatus...
Artsy - The sun exposure is....Pretty much all day, the only shadow that falls is on the porch and that's only for a few hours...
The worste thing is the mud, so I will have to get on his back about fertilizing NOW!!!
so I take it you don't want to do anything major because you are renting? What is the sun exposure? How much time can you dedicate? Do you basically want color or color and structure? After Ikea, will you have any $$$ left?
Answer these please and I will respond!
I love all the trees you have. Since you are renting I would put flowers in pots & boxes you can take with you. Cascade petunias give you a lot of colour for the price and bloom constantly if you cut off all flowers as they die off. This promotes more blooming. They have to be in the sun as do geraniums. Nastertiums (sp) also bloom with lots of colour and do not need good soil, rich soil gives more leaves than blooms. Need sun too. Canadian Tire here had baskets about $12 this week.
Costco also has cheap flowering baskets.
Maybe some metal posts in the ground to hang impatients in the shady areas for colour. You can take posts with you if you move.
Shade flowers you cannot go wrong with are impatients (annuals) ferns, astillbe which are perennials, but planted in ground could be transplanted to another garden.
I think it is too early to plant outside yet tho. Have fun.....I enjoy gardening.
Here's a better overview picture - I hope
I can post more pictures if you'd like.
another one