POSTED: August 24, 2003 by Beau
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When determining bed size - bigger is always better. Grass slurps up moisture and nutrients, and is labor intensive as well. Many of us "old" gardeners are of the opinion that as long as there's grass, there's room for more flowerbeds. When we run out of lawn it's time to move up or into the neighbor's yard.
Check out gardens that you admire. Alot of times people are thrilled to talk about their gardens - even to strangers showing up on the doorstep. Note plant and color combinations that appeal to you. The gardening TV shows and magazines are brimming with ideas, and sources too.
Mulch your beds to help with moisture retention and to cut down on weeds. Finished compost is best - the ever-popular bark chips actually steal nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down.
For best effect, you'll want to try to have something blooming all thru the year. Between all the trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals its not near as difficult as it seems. Size at maturity is also something to be considered. When I worked at the garden center, I would often reassure people by saying,"I'm going to tell you two things: your plant WILL grow ... and your plant will GROW"
Roll up those sleeves and dig in. Experimenting and moving things around is a great way for you to create the landscape of your dreams.