Gardening and Horticulture - photos of our disaster
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denie
06-18-01, 04:24 AM
Yesterday I posted asking for help with a garden project we thought would and should have been easy. We tried removing the grass and ended up with mess. I asked if there was a way to post the photos here. Someone suggested I post to my website. Well, I added a page to my website It's http://www.denie.nl Go to "Our Garden Disaster" Your help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Denie
Thanks,
Denie
Gami
06-18-01, 09:32 AM
Hi Denie,
I'm not a designer, but I'll be glad to give you my 2 cents worth.
First off, I would love to have a little spot like yours. Don't worry about what your neighbors are doing. That is your garden. Who knows??? They may like what you have done so much that they will follow suit.
You mentioned you wanted a cottage garden with a flagstone path and bench at the end. Is there any reason you particularly want grass??? I would lay in the path and plant thyme around the flagstone . Then I would plant flowers clear to the fence. Start with the lowest growing perennials near the path and progress with taller plants as you work back. Since you have roses in the back, you wouldn't want anything really tall in the back rows. A birdbath somewhere would be a nice touch, as well as a birdhouse on a post.
If you'll search for English gardens, cottage gardens, etc. with a search engine, you'll pull up lots of ideas. Here's one site -
http://gardening.about.com/msubmenu2.htm
I bought a book from Sam's, "The Big Book of Garden Design", by Time Life for $15.00. It not only shows beautiful English gardens, but what plants were selected and the care for each plant/shrub featured.
If you are positively going with grass, the sites and book will also help you out as to what plants to select and their placement.
Be sure and amend your soil with compost before planting any flowers. If you have a drainage problem, the compost will help with that. You might even want to add a little more soil to raise it up a little. Mulch your beds to keep the soil in place and help conserve moisture.
Don't fertilize new plants. Wait until they are well established.
Gami
[Edited by Gami on 06-18-01 at 11:38]
I'm not a designer, but I'll be glad to give you my 2 cents worth.
First off, I would love to have a little spot like yours. Don't worry about what your neighbors are doing. That is your garden. Who knows??? They may like what you have done so much that they will follow suit.
You mentioned you wanted a cottage garden with a flagstone path and bench at the end. Is there any reason you particularly want grass??? I would lay in the path and plant thyme around the flagstone . Then I would plant flowers clear to the fence. Start with the lowest growing perennials near the path and progress with taller plants as you work back. Since you have roses in the back, you wouldn't want anything really tall in the back rows. A birdbath somewhere would be a nice touch, as well as a birdhouse on a post.
If you'll search for English gardens, cottage gardens, etc. with a search engine, you'll pull up lots of ideas. Here's one site -
http://gardening.about.com/msubmenu2.htm
I bought a book from Sam's, "The Big Book of Garden Design", by Time Life for $15.00. It not only shows beautiful English gardens, but what plants were selected and the care for each plant/shrub featured.
If you are positively going with grass, the sites and book will also help you out as to what plants to select and their placement.
Be sure and amend your soil with compost before planting any flowers. If you have a drainage problem, the compost will help with that. You might even want to add a little more soil to raise it up a little. Mulch your beds to keep the soil in place and help conserve moisture.
Don't fertilize new plants. Wait until they are well established.
Gami
[Edited by Gami on 06-18-01 at 11:38]
denie
06-18-01, 03:28 PM
Gami,
Thank you, I'm checking out the link you gave me and I'm going to follow your advice. As we speak it's still raining not as hard but still raining,(what else is new here. Also the temps have dropped to the 50's, I'll probably will wake to an ice skating rink at this rate. Oh, how I miss the states. Wish I was back home.
Denise
Thank you, I'm checking out the link you gave me and I'm going to follow your advice. As we speak it's still raining not as hard but still raining,(what else is new here. Also the temps have dropped to the 50's, I'll probably will wake to an ice skating rink at this rate. Oh, how I miss the states. Wish I was back home.
Denise
Gami
06-18-01, 05:19 PM
Hi Denise,
You're welcome! :) Are you over there forever and ever or are you in the service or transferred for awhile??? You actually have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to other countries. Learn what you can about their growing conditions, cultures, etc.
I know! We are creatures of habit and tend to get "real" comfortable with what's going on around us. This will be a great learning experience for you! Just moving from zone to zone within the states takes a little getting used to.
Ice skating is a lot of fun! I was raised in SD where every little park flooded a skating rink in the little parks nearby. How lucky if you end up with one in your front yard! (I know you don't want to hear that! :) )
Gami
You're welcome! :) Are you over there forever and ever or are you in the service or transferred for awhile??? You actually have the opportunity of a lifetime to travel to other countries. Learn what you can about their growing conditions, cultures, etc.
I know! We are creatures of habit and tend to get "real" comfortable with what's going on around us. This will be a great learning experience for you! Just moving from zone to zone within the states takes a little getting used to.
Ice skating is a lot of fun! I was raised in SD where every little park flooded a skating rink in the little parks nearby. How lucky if you end up with one in your front yard! (I know you don't want to hear that! :) )
Gami