Hi..me again! Still working on my new garden and I have finally starting planting some of my impatiens and hypoestes phyllostachya and I'm hoping that that I am spacing them out enough to allow for growth. Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track?
Also, does anyone know anything about hypoestes phyllostachya? It's a green leafy plant with white spashes. Does this plant need alot of sun or can it survive in partial shady area?
Thanks!
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I thought it was rather expensive when calculating the small area I was planning to do. We just parged (3 layers in total) the nasty looking front of the porch and including adhesive, coloring etc was under $50 and it is looking mighty fine. Thanks for the warning!.......Norm
I saw this and recommended to mt neighbours. We were out walking one night and saw that someone in the area had used it on their front porch so of course we asked if they like it. They found that it was very expensive for the small area that they did, that it has chipped and needs repairing this year. Alos whne asked if they would do it that way again, they sadi "NO!" Based on that, my neighbour painted her cement porch.
it on their front steps. I looks very nice. But I noticed that where people are tracking, it's starting to look dirty. I have to consider that it is a commercial place with alot of traffic though. I wonder if it's washable. I think it's grey and kind of a salmon color design.
I would ask at Home depot. I think you may have to either TSP or concrete etch first. Then you would have to use a concrete paint. I think it might be fun. You could maybe paint a hopscotch or something like that for your daughter.
I have picked up some brochures for that new granite finish available at Home Hardware. Has anyone tried it? It has a 3 step system that repairs first, has a primer and then this product which when spread thinly 1/16" (I think) on a perfectly flat surface looks and feels like granite. It comes in different colours. I have thought of trying this on a few old pavers for a small walkway and maybe doing my front porch. Could work on your patio as well. Maybe someone has tried it?? Norm
Are the patio stones cement ?
I they are then clean them well, let dry, brush them off of all sand etc. and ask at Home Depot for paint for a garage floor.
There area few kinds, some you mix together to get a harder surface. (epoxy)
Follow instructions on the can. Our cement garage floor is painted with the epoxy one, but porch and stair paint would work too and no mixing needed with another solution.
The garage floor was done with a roller. You could even create a checker board effect if you like that.
I have also seen astro turf used over patio stones.
Can you use a roller and paint brushes? Is there a special paint for this application? I would definitely be interested in doing that instead as the patio stones are really dirty and nasty looking with some paint stains here and there.
I like the ikea rug, but I find outdoor rugs start to look nasty fast! I think foxxy is onto something...how about painting the patio stones! My husband always teases me about painting everything....but it is cheap and changes the look of something so much!
I really like that rug but I do find it small on the patio stones, unless you painted the stones around it in a colour that is in the rug, then I think it would look better as it would blend in more.
..
Have any of you used an outdoor area carpet? I bought one from Ikea to cover some of the ugly patio stones in the back but I'm not sure if it's way too small?
What do you think? Do you think it get's lost because it's too small or does it add something? I eventually will have patio furniture or a bistro set on top of it.
Thanks!
This gardening stuff is alot more work than I thought it would be but very satisfying once you have everything planted. I look forward to my morning ritual of bringing my baby outside to play while I water my little garden and watch it grow. I'll have to pick up some miracle grow tomorrow as well.
suzie, I hope your DH fixes up the front for you so you can get that beautiful bistro set. It's funny because this is the first time I have really wanted to beautify my outdoor area. I have always been so into decorating the inside that I never paid much attention to the outside. I can totally understand why people love gardening so much.
You did an amazing job. I bet it's putting a ray of sunshine in your backyard. That landlord won't want you to ever leave. Those bistro sets are very nice. I want one too but still waiting to see if my husband will do the landing in the front of the house.
Congratulations on your new garden beds. Well done!
I first grew fond of impatients because my neighbour mass-planted them. She grew mostly impatients, with a few of the New Guinea ones and also a backdrop of Sweet Peas. She had a fence like yours, and she put a row of those along the back of her beds. She installed a fishing net (similar colour to the fence) of some kind of string onto the fence, and in no time she would have a wall of colour with an amazing fragrance, and the garden in full bloom. My garden next door did not have the same impact, and I remember I asked her what kind of fertilizer she used. (she said she used fish fertilizer-you'd think I'd have noticed that but I didn't!)
Anyway, I tried mass-planting Impatients for the first time last year, along with petunias in areas that got a lot of sun. I had very good success. I think getting a routine going really helps. I'm always home in the morning so I do a morning watering every day there is no rain-I'm always out there before 9:30. (before the sun is hot) As for fertilizer, I got one I thought was Miracle Grow, but it's called Plant Prod "15-30-15" (same as one of the Miracle Grow products). I just measured it out and applied it at the recommended intervals indicated on the bucket. I used my large watering can to apply it, and then I would follow-up with a light sprinkle with the hose. I like to do the fertilizer in the shade of the evening, not in full sun. The instructions warn against using it in extremely dry conditions.
Having a watering routine at night would work just as well if your mornings are busy. It's a good 'unwind' activity for right after dinner. Try not to think of it as a chore, but instead as a time you get to admire your lovely garden. I used to do my daily watering with an ordinary springload nozzle on the hose, but last year I watered a friend's garden and they had a watering wand. I found it was less noisy than the thing I'd been using, and the gentle shower of the water has a sound much more calming than the "PPPHHHHSSSHHDDD!!" sound my sprayer made. I just bought a pretty green one (that's jaguar green and not garden hose green by the way, lol) and it was only about $10 at Superstore. It has a switch-off device on it, a nice feature.
I hope you enjoy your lovely garden, and I wish you the best of success!
This winter has been especially bad -almost every bush had been chewed from the ground up - I had to do some serious pruning but not sure what to do about the hole in my cedar hedge. I will definitely try the hair trick on my flowers. I am sure what the deer don't get, the rabbits will. I keep the groundhogs happy by planting a sweet potato vine and they seem to leave everything else alone. Thanks for your help......Norm
Wow, this looks very nice. It already looks so much filled in, I guess the nice weather came finally your way. I like that white bench too!
BC
I still have to finish the patio area. I want to get a nice little bistro set. I found the perfect one at Fortinos/Loblaws for only $89.99. Once I have it all finished I'll post a pic of that too. At least the hardest part is done though!
I love it!! You did such a great job!! It will be such a nice spot for your kids to play. Kids love watering plants so they will have fun with it.
Love your little bench too. Great spot to sit with the kids and read,
You should be really proud ...it looks really fantastic!!
Well here it is! It's not nearly as beautiful as most of yours but i'm happy with it. I still have to buy some pots but I have all my flowers planted. The grass needs a bit of fertalizer around the edge of the garden though.
if you want to deter deer try getting a bag of hair from the hair dresser and put in a mesh bag (onion bag) or lengths of old panty hose 12" long tubes, stuff with hair, tie the ends and lay in your flower beds.
It works.
I've almost finished planting my impatiens and so far it looks pretty good! What a difference some flowers make to my little yard. I have one little problem area that I'll have to dig out the existing dirt from and replace with all new soil because it's all rocks and clay. After I finish that I'll post a pic of my first garden!
Thanks for all of your help everyone! Now let's just hope I can keep them alive! :)
Just another opinion: You can plant your flowers really close for a bouquet effect as long as you leave room on their outer side for growth ...I found this also helps them survive extreme hot spells in summer - and you barely notice when the rabbits and deer have been snacking! Just make sure they get a good soaking when you water. (Miracle Grow)-Ultra Bloom especially, every couple of weeks and you will be amazed, I promise. Norm
Decorgirl, I never follow the instructions for spacing of the annuals. Some gardeners would probably scold me...but I often lump 3 smallish plants together. Unfortunately, with the crappy weather we are having my plants aren't doing so well. I just posted a pic under another cry for help.
I think that spacing should be fine (but the I am an intensive gardener) since your impatiens will probably end up being in mounds about 8 inches or so around, depeding on how they do there where they are. The other one -- if you "google" you should find lots of helpful sites about it. Seems to me (if I am remembering the right one) it likes light but not direct sun, and therefore probably will do fine in light shade.
from a little further away..
Also, please feel free to offer any other tips! I would greatly appreciate it!