Well here I go again...what to do when my original plan gets a hammer in it.
For the past 2 weeks or so I've had a bunch of plants sitting and waiting to be planted in the bed in front of my house. I thought I'd just use the bed that is there for now and it's a plain old rectangle under the front window. Today one of my freinds called to say she did some perrennial cleaning etc. and has a bunch of plants for me. This is all good... and then...
I had the window guy over this afternoon and I am getting my new windows probably in September. This includes that front window that is over the still empty bed (guess I stalled for a reason). The word is they 'try' but can't make any assurances that plants won't get trampled.
So much for my easy does it plan unless you folks can come up with a good idea for me. There is no other even semi prepared bed I can put these things into until next year. Everything is lawn, front, back, and sides.
My plan was to take the winter to figure out where and how I could build a bed/s further out in the front so I could see it from inside the house. So that might be along the front sidewalk or in the middle somewhere. Then I could transplant some of these next year. So much for that bright idea.
What would you do? I really don't want to plant everything and just have it trampled as they are almost all perrenials and explorer rose bushes. I wish there was a bunch of people screaming for work that I could just hire to dig and haul for me as I just have a feeling this could be a bigger job than I intended for this year.
So, for those of you who have started from established lawn, how far do you have to dig down and how much work was it to create a bed? Has anyone had windows done and can tell me if the plants lived to tell the tale? I am open to all suggestions but am looking for the easiest way out at the moment.
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Yes, Calgary most definitly demands plants be in the ground over the winter and of course these pots are probably already full of roots that need to be let loose which is why I am feeling compelled to get them out of their pots.
I think the logic that is grabbng me here is that I do have way too much on my plate right now that I am trying to get done so I have to go simple, I do want to think it out when it comes to new beds and don't have the time to do that right now, Sept. does mean the plants will be going dormant anyway (I hadn't thought of that one at all which makes a lot of sense).
So thankyou, I would have stewed over this for I don't know how long without some feedback. I think if I do plant them in the bed under the window that will give them the rest of the summer to root and I can put the roses in spots that may be less likely to have a foot hit them. Over the summer I'll also keep my eye out for big buckets or tubs that I can throw over them when the window guys are here.
Well it's finally a nice day today (not boiling hot or drenching wet) maybe I should do that today and get it off my plate. Yes, make some lunch and scan the forum while i eat and then go find my tools and plant. No, wait...maybe better to do it later when the sun isn't blazing right down on the bed to save the plants some shock (procrastination at work?). That will give me time to prime my structure at the back (I have no idea what it is called I don't think it's an arbour but it's big and goes over my patio and needs paint). The wood should be dried out enough from the rain and hail we had on Thurs (BTW I'm shaking my head at the weather network. they were reporting on our hail which was the size of peas or marbles (I was out in it) and in some places out of town there were reports of slightly larger sizes like nickel sized. Anyway Thursday they were showing pictures and reporting that size and Friday it was suddenly golf ball sized hail they said we had. talk about things getting bigger as the story got repeated...well that or golf balls are way smaller now than I remember).
why not think of doing a raised bed in that spot. Then you just have to turn the sod over with a garden fork and dump about 10" of new soil then some mulch and plant the perennials. In September I would not worry too much about the odd plant getting stepped on during the window installation, as it is near the end of the season and you would be cutting them back anyway before frost.
I know this is labour, but a small load of top soil delivered and a hired teenager and wheel barrow could have it done in a day. Check Lee Valley for raised garden bed ideas. I would not leave plants in pots to over winter in Calgary, planting them somewhere in the ground would give them a better chance of survival and also a chance to get established before the wionter cold. Most perennials are pretty tough. For sure get the roses in so they have time to establish roots before winter. :)
A couple of years ago when my FIL gave me perennials from his garden in spring, I was not able to get many of them into the ground for months. I'm sure I had some that went in the ground as late as September. They stayed in the pots on the concrete just past my carport, near the side of the house where they got sun all morning and shade in the afternoon. I watered them daily and it worked out. You probably need more than morning sun for the roses. Are any of the perennial the kind that die back over winter? That would be convenient!
It's not the work of digging the beds that would deter me from getting on with getting new ones dug, it's the careful thought process thing-I like to take my time on that.
I would decide where I wanted the bed and put them there I wouldn't want to have to do it twice. If it means putting them under the window then I think I would keep them in big pots until the windows were finished and remember to water often as pots really dry out. I wouldn't make a temp. bed it is way to much work and some plants don't like being moved to often. Just get them planted before winter as I think it is to cold in Calgary to keep them in pots over the winter.
I would keep the plants in their pots and plant them in the bed after the windows are done. Especially the roses.
Or buy cheap plastic large pots (usually about $2.50 each) and plant the perennials in there, and next year you can replant them in the bed.
Good luck!
Starting a new garden bed is not easy work and I personally think that you have too much on your hands right now and wouldn't suggest it just for your sake because it's a back breaker job, digging and removing grass alone, never mind the soil you have to dig out and putting in new soil.....so, for that reason I suggest you put it in your existing bed under the window and hopefully, they wouldn't get trampled too much.
As you know we had new windows put in and that was my worry for a couple of windows because I have beds right under where the ladder was going to be placed, but being that DH did the work, I was constantly reminding him that I have these gorgeous rose bushes, plus other perennials in the way and to be extra careful....well, I tell you, everything survived and I had only a couple of branches broken from my rose bushes, not enough damage for me to start :cry:
Hope this will make you decide what to do with your perennials :D