Gardeners...what do you like?

[dss62467]

I have this flower bed in my front yard and I'm getting ready to plant next weekend. The soil is kind of not great - it's clay that I break up and mix tons of compost with every year. Then I plant annuals because I'm afraid perennials won't survive in the soil. And I fill in the holes I dig with real garden soil (like Miracle Grow). Actually, I started planting perennials two years ago. A couple of them are doing well, the other 2 are just kind of eh....

I'm trying to decide what to plant this year. I bought 2 more perennials on Saturday, but I can't remember what they are. They're yellow flowers, that's all I remember. With the annuals, I have very good luck with dahlias.

What flowers look nice together and are relatively easy to care for? I really don't like spending a lot of time gardening. I'm not a domestic diva. I've got a couple hostas in the bed that do great.

There is a lot of sunshine on the bed until probably around 2:00 p.m.

 

[materialsgirl]

I just planted a bunch of perennials this weekend. We also have icky clay soil, which I amend with mushroom compost. I don't know if it does any good - we'll find out when the plants either live or die.

I planted a couple kinds of daisy (Short Daisy and Becky Daisy), Lavender, Clematis, Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Sedum "Autumn Joy", and a couple others I can't remember the names of. I think all of them are supposed to be relatively easy to grow - my MIL gave them to me and she is really into gardening, and knows what plants grow well in our soil. I watered all my new plants with a Miracle Grow solution after I planted them - Miracle Grow makes a concentrate for tranplants, supposed to reduce the stress of the transplant. We'll see if it works.

I don't know where you live, but I have a book that is specific to my state about what plants grow best here and how to care for them. It has sections for Shrubs, Annuals, Perennials, Grasses, Trees, Vines, etc. Very handy little book! I imagine if there is one for Illinois, there must be one for other states.

 

[Debra L]

Gypsum really helps to break up clay soils. Add it twice a year after your annuals are spent & the bed needs to be replanted. If you plant perennials, just work around them when you mix in the gypsum.

Gypsum is sometimes sold under brand names like "Soil Buster".

Debra

 

[Debra L]

Sorry, double post.

Debra

 

[wendyjpa]

According to one of my many gardening and home magazines i get, planting in flower pots and placing them in flower and shrub beds is a great way to add some variety to your outdoor landscaping. I did this year, i planted 12 pots in various colors/shapes, filled them with ivy and petunias of different colors, grouped them in small groups (i.e. big pot, two smaller ones) and placed them in my flower beds. They really look nice! The best thing is, i can move them around if they aren't doing well in the amount of sunlight they are getting. I can bring them in if it gets too cold out at night.

Just an idea for those poor soil area.

In my flower beds, i love marigolds, petunias, dahlias, lilies.

 

[Gayle]

You're in the Buffalo area, right?

Ditto to what materialsgirl suggested. Here are a few of mine:

* Daylilly - Stella d'Oro is a great performer. They don't require much maintenance, just some deadheading to keep the blooms coming.
* Lilly
* Iris
* Golden Marguerite - Just deadhead. These also reseed themselves pretty well.
* Bee Balm - These reseed themselves really well in my garden.
* Cosmos - This is an annual, but it does manage to reseed itself and come back the next year.
* Liatris

You could check Dutch Gardens site http://www.dutchgardens.com for pics.

 

[dss62467]

Daylilly - Stella d'Oro is the yellow flower that I got!

I'll have to check that site out 'cuz I don't know what any of those except lillies and iris look like. I like to keep it to the shorter flowers, so I probably wouldn't plant those two.

 

[lala1]

As far as perennials: I like vincas, alyssum, and moss rose (portulaca). They grow like crazy and love to be neglected!

 

[NurseLRT]

Donna, I would highly reccommend that you check out your County Extension Agent. They probably have a webpage, and probably a Master Gardner service. They can help you with lots of low maintence suggestions for free.

I live in Florida, and gardening here is completely different from NY. So I don't have that many suggestions. Hostas don't grow here, but I love them. How about Hydrangeas for shrubs you can have for years to come? How about Lilacs? We can't grow those here, but I love them when I see them on the Barefoot Contessa (she lives in the Hamptons). Also Roses are a winner, and many varieties aren't as hard to take care of.

I love the idea of container planting also. For a nice pop of color, that's low maintenence: Buy 3 pretty pots in the same color, different sizes. I love cobalt blue enamel pots. Plant with yellow and blue (or pink) annuals. Add some interesting greenery in there. I love Coleus, etc. The yellow makes the blue pop. Or if blue isn't your color, choose 3 terra cotta pots, or whatever. You can change the flowers out according to season, and you always have a pretty garden. Just make sure all of your flowers have the same light requirements.

I have an herb garden in a big terra cotta pot. Basil in the center, surronded my thyme, oregano, dill, chives, and thyme. I put a yellow marigold in there for color and to keep the bugs away. Good luck, and sorry so long. I am enthusiastic when it comes to plants.

Lori