New to Gardening
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tylersmommy914
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jun-30-2004 at 11:08pm
Hi, I am pretty new to gardening. We bought our first house last spring so it has been over a year and I have been working on turning a boring yard into a wonderland. Ya, not as fast as I had hoped. I am overwhelmed but excited to learn. Here are the main problems I could use you thoughts on.
#1. I have no idea how to place plants so I have something pretty to look at all year long. Most of what I have now will just leave sticks or dirt to look at over the winter. I don't know how to organize them to look pleasing to the eye.
#2. Geez, plants are so expensive and if you start will small stuff or seeds or cuttings it takes them 3,4,5 years to mature. By the time I have my garden how I want it it'll be time to buy a bigger house. What is the cheapest way of obtaining more mature plants. I belong to a yahoo group called freecycleportland that is dedicated to the recycling of peoples stuff. Basically you post a want or an offer. People reply and everything has to be free. I have gotten most of my current plants from there from people who have responded to my postings for plants. It has been nice being that I am a stay at home mom and have literally no money to spend on the yard.
Well, that is mostly it, no money and no knowledge. HA-HA.
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 6:32am
Hi, Amanda--welcome to Rainyside! You are in the same boat I was several years ago--new house, new to gardening, not much money. I am still learning--gardening is a life-long learning process, I think; there is always something new out there . . . I think that's why I love it!
For your first question, where/how to place plants--I can honestly say, I haven't got a clue, either! But the great things about plants is, they can be moved. If they don't look right where they are, they can be moved to a new location. Leave them in the pots until you're pretty sure you've got them where you want them--it's easier to move a pot than a plant that's already in the ground. But if you have it planted, and still don't like the location, it can still be moved, in most cases. Do pay attention to sun exposure, though! If a plant's tag says "partial shade"--it's not going to thrive in full sun (learned that the hard way, I did).
Where to get plants cheaply? I have also learned the hard way to spend a little more money to buy healthy plants, rather than cheap plants at the hardware warehouse stores. Things like Sedums are not expensive, come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors--and are ridiculously easy to start from cuttings. Buy 3 little 4" pots of healthy Sedums, and you can have enough cuttings to populate a good sized flower bed, over time. Red-Twig Dogwood and Kinnikinnik are other plants that will root easily from cuttings. Add plants and nursery gift certificates to your birthday and Christmas lists. Gardeners are usually generous people, and you may be able to get starts and cuttings from your neighbors.
If you think you may be in that house only a few years, you may not want to spend a lot of money on permenant plants, but might rather go with annuals.
If you think you will be there 5 to 10 years, start thinking permenant plantings. That's enough time for plants to become established and fill in bare spots.
Barb
How she longed to get out of that dark hall and wander about among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains. --Lewis Carrol
Screaming Eagle
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 9:05am
I've found that I don't go out in the yard nearly as much in the winter as I do other times of the year so for winter interest, I focus on my front area that I see coming and going and a few ares that I see from the windows. That might narrow it down. Then look for things that are evergreen. I like to start seeds of pansys in the dead of winter and put them out in January/February, what a cheap burst of color in the dark days of winter!
I hear you! One way to look at it: If you do plan on moving in 5 years or less, you can make all your mistakes on this yard and you'll know SO much more by the time you get in your next house! You can always take some of your favorites with you, or at least cuttings and such. Not everything takes 4,5 years to mature, either! I bought a phygelius (cape fuscia) last spring and this year it's 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide and the humming birds love it! Plus it was evergreen for me this past winter. Just one example for you. It's great to plan for the future, but don't forget to enjoy the journey. Be patient, discover what you love, enjoy what you've done so far, and don't stress about what's yet to be done. It sounds like you are on the right track and have found some good sources for free stuff. Enjoy!!!! And welcome to Rainyside!!
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 11:52am
Welcome to Rainy Side, Amanda!
Finite dollars to spend on your garden - always a toughie and one we never outgrow as gardeners. The amount of available dollars may increase over time but there is never enough for what we want to do. Bummer, huh?
IMO, it is a good idea to have a plan of action. You can develop your own plan for your garden or, for surprisingly less money than you might expect, you can hire a garden designer to draw up a garden plan. Have them focus on paths, hardscapes and bones (trees, shrubs - the big permanent stuff) and leave you empty space to fill in with plants that make your heart sing or are available free or cheap. (If you want a suggestion for an excellent local designer, PM me).
As much as possible, invest time and money into improving your soil. You can either make your own compost (read our excellent Topic of the Week thread about Hot composting) or purchase from a local source. Healthy soil produces healthy plants.
Both expenditures will repay you many times over and, when done correctly, add to the value of your home. Yes, it means less money for plants initially but plant dollars will likely be spent more wisely and not on mistaks that will get ripped out or die or look ugly or become a liability when you sell your home. If you sell before the garden is "done" (is a garden ever done?), these "bones" will make it look more finished and more appealing than a lot of fill-in-for-now plants. I have seen statistics that show that wisely-spent landscape dollars are recouped at a healthy percentage of your investment (the percentage varies from source to source, one said up to 100%).
Free plants are always a good thing but beware of plants that someone has in abundance with plenty to give away. They will likely become the bane of your existence as you dig and dig and dig to remove a plant that wants to take over your garden. Yes, I speak from experience (ouch!).
For a local source of inexpensive plants, check out Recycled Gardens. Their stock changes since they rely on donations so it makes it like a treasure hunt when you shop.
We have had several relatively recent threads with suggestions for newbie gardeners. Read Newbie to the Northwest and Resources
And don't forget about all the great resources you'll find here on Rainy Side - both in articles Debbie has written and from us here on the forum.
Lisa A
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 12:17pm
I just remembered two recent articles in the Oregonian's Homes and Gardens of the Northwest that might be of use to you. Read Have plants, will travel and Instant gratification
Let's start a list of plants that grow and fill in quickly for an established look without having to wait decades. I'd start with ornamental grasses (so many choices!) and elderberries (quick growing shrubs, many with lovely foliage). Next suggestions?
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 1:51pm
All great suggestions, everybody! Tall-bearded iris, lilies, day lilies, poppies, narcissus and many other bulbs increase well. For winter interest, evergreen huckleberry, mahonia aquifolium, heathers, dwarf conifers and many other plants are good structural plants.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Red Hare
Location: Oregon coast
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 2:05pm
Catmint. Rosemary. Lavender. Shasta daisies. Trees instantly make a house look rooted. Artichokes (grown from seed - cheap, perennial, look cool, and you get to eat the flowers). Lavatera - blooms nearly year 'round.
My recommendation would be to visit your local library and read everything they have on gardening, especially by Northwest gardeners such as Ann Lovejoy (she has a good book for beginners called "Gardening from Scratch") before you do anything. Learn how to take cuttings and gather seeds to grow your own. Yes, it takes time, but you have more time than money, right? Then spend some time visiting nurseries to see what's available - read the little tags to learn more about plants you're attracted to. Visit public gardens, such as Berry Botanic Garden, and ask the docents lots of questions. Take a notebook and a digital camera, if you have one. Eventually a garden plan will take shape in your mind. You may even decide to stay put instead of moving in a few years.
Wanda
Joined: Aug-15-2003
Location: Puget Sound corridor
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 3:58pm
Welcome! Are you overwhelmed yet?
Gardening is a strange hobby. I don't think it's about getting to a "done" garden quickly - that would come under the name of landscaping. You might be surprised that your idea of gardening might change from making your yard look pretty to other people to making your yard become special in some way to yourself. Suddenly, it seems, it doesn't bother you to realize that you might not be around to see this baby cedar tree reach maturity in 100 years. And you can enjoy the small trees knowing that someday they will be giants for others to enjoy. Personally, I get a lot of enjoyment just watching things struggle and grow and bloom and set seed. The whole process is part of the reason I garden. But others like lots of style and flair and that is great for them. Still others find fulfillment in feeding the household from the bounty of your own postage stamp of land. And then there are those people who just want a vast square lawn. You have to find your own peace. Enjoy the journey! And welcome to Rainyside!
-Wanda
sparklemama
Location: Western Washington
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 5:53pm
Hi there welcome! How about planting some hydrengeas? they can grow to be rather large shrubs and there are tons of varites. Vines are also a great way to give a garden vertical height and most grow very quikly. Some favorites of mine are of course Clematis, Honeysuckle, Climbing hydrengea, and Potatoe Vines. Lupines are great perinnals that get big fast, same with some Columbines, Bleeding Hearts are great also.Cranesbill Geraniums are a great ground cover and sedums are really cool. for shade there hostas, rhodies, astilbe, Make sure you check wither it likes sun or shade, also learnt that the hard way and some times i still find myself going.."ohh will it do good if i put it here instead"..lol..usually never does. You could always fill in the "Bones" of the garden and then use planters and containers in the bare spaces so you won't lose any of your flowers. Lots of perinnials will do good if in a big enough pot. let us know how it goes and goodluck.
Gardening is the only therapy I can afford.
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Jul-01-2004 at 6:35pm
List of plants that fill in quickly:
Yarrow Ferns (some do better than others in sun--check the sun exposure) Hardy Fuchsia Salal Agastache (also called Anise Hyssop) Penstemon Astilbe (I'm currently trying a red-pink one that supposedly is more sun/dry tolerant) Kinnikinnik (not real fast growing, but fast enough, and very attractive) Evergreen Huckleberry Azaleas & Rhododendrons Viburnum
For Trees: Silk Tree (Albezia) Yew
Have to go-will think of more, later.
Barb
growsherown Location: Olympic Peninsula Posts: 199 Posted: Jul-02-2004 at 9:37am
Hi amanda!
Best advice I can give ya about getting plants cheaply.......is to hang around gardening friends when they thin thiers out! LOL! I have gotten many plants this way. Also, buying small plants isnt really that bad when you think of it this way. Gardening is all about time. Time for water, time for sun, time for fertilizer, time for weeding, time for pruning, and time for sitting back and enjoying it. When you start w/ smaller cheaper plants, with time, you'll have the garden of your dreams, and money in your pocket too!
Might wanna try growing perrenials from seed. Sure, they start out very small, and germination is sometimes poor, and they dont often bloom in the first year, but you can start the seeds in pots and just leave them there for a couple of years to mature, seeds are wayyyyyy cheaper than plants and you get more to trade w/ friends, and perrenials come back every year. Plus, there are sooo many to choose from...colors, heights and blooms....edibles too!
My fave perrenial to do from seed is the hollyhock and the columbine. There are literally hundreds of colors and varities and they come back bigger and more beautiful every year.
Once again..its all about time. So...take the time.....to smell the roses....even if theyre small, theyre blooms are just as sweet!
Garden Spider
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Jul-02-2004 at 6:11pm
One way I learned which plants work well together and which don't was to walk the dogs around the neighborhoods in different areas of the city, and just look at people's yards, see what they did, whether I like it, or if not, try to identify what doesn't work for me.
Barb
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
By co-authors Debbie Teashon (Rainy Side Gardeners) and Wendy Tweton