Hi! I was very happy to find this site the other day and I hope to post every so often here. I do Have another Gardening blog over on wordpress but I won't make you run around trying to find it. I will repost my blogs here and up-date then with new tips and any tidbits I can think of. I love to help people with garden troubles so stop by and have a chat some time. Here is the first of a 5 part series I wrote about how to start a 'new' garden.
Enjoy and I'll be back soon...
Thinking of starting a new flower bed this year? There are a few things to think about before you grab that shovel, like soil type, amount of sunlight and wind. Over the next few posts we will look at whats required so you start off on the right foot.
Of course the first thing to do is choose a location for the flower garden, The amount of sun will dictate what type of plants will do best. A shade garden still needs some sun either morning or afternoon to really do well, though deep shade is possible too but your plant choices will limited to ferns and other forest type plants. Shade garden flowers tend to be more in the blues, mauves, violet, slivers and greens. Bright yellow, reds and orange flowers tend to like more sun. But don’t worry for a shade garden you can chose many plants to give you a very varied look with lots of texture and a multitude or green hues.If your location is better suited to a full sun garden plan accordingly with your plant choices. Make a few sketches, much easier to erase things on paper then re-dig.
Straight or curvy? Straight lines are preferable if your home is more modern and you like a more formal layout. Formal gardens tend to be more rigid and static but with the addition of vertical elements or sculpture you can really make then stand out. Curvy gardens with sweeping lines lend themselves to a more natural look and are softer.
After picking a locations and the over all shape, mark it out on the ground with rope, a hose or special landscape paint (can). Now come the leg work. You must remove the grass, with a sharp edger fallow the lines you have laid out. remove the grass in small sections, remember removing wet grass or sod is easier, the day after a light rain is best but if no rain is in the forecast hose down the area first. If you are creating a large flower garden you might want to consider renting a sod remover r turf cutter to speed thing ups. If it’s a hot day drink lots of water and wear a sun hat, removing grass is hard work.
Now that the grass is cleared away (save the rolled up grass if you need to replace damaged areas or to fill in any low spots.)
You will most likely need to add some good soil and compost, at least 2cm deep. Other things to add are bone meal for potassium, if your plant choice is mostly annuals consider mixing in a slow-release fertilizer for flowering plants instead.
Once you have amended the soil yo will need to mix it in with the existing earth. You can do this with a spade, pitch fork or rotary cultivator. Loosen and mix soil down about 20cm and then even it out with the back of a garden rake or a piece of wood. Slope the edges up to a hight of about 5-10 cm above the surrounding grass.
Part II: Keep the Grass where is belongs; separate the flowers for m the grass.
Happy gardening!
Need more ideas or Garden help drop by http://www.bluemundy.com |
GardenINg First Post - Blog
GardenINg First Post - Blog - June 22, 2009
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GardenINg First Post |
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