|
Comments:
Jim Manheim - 2004-03-04 09:40:38 Because of all of my shade, hosta is my friend. I have august-blooming hosta, thin-leaf hosta, thick-leaf hosta, variegated-leaf hosta, blue-leaf hosta, etc. etc. etc. I'm going to try to expand the borders of my "garden" and slowly phase out the back lawn, that doesn't grow that well anyway because of all of the trees.... My mother has 2 acres of perennials, and she always gives me chunks of things, so I rarely buy. But I do wish the stuff that I've put in over the last couple months would grow a bit faster; it's still sparse (since not everything she gives me makes it; I'm about 400 miles south west of where her gardens are in Maine). I also want to plant some shrubs to screen the f**&$ing dumpster that was put right near my property line, clearly visible through the old chain-link fence (that I can't afford to replace with stockade...but the minute I can, stockade it is). I'm going to work on the lawn in the front, because I think I might want to sell the house soon, and that's a big boost to the value of the property (or so the realtor says). It's a challenge because there's a huge (5-foot radius) tree right in front of the house, plus an ornamental japanese maple. The lawn is actually two postage-stamp sized bits of grass between the sidwalk and the house, so you'd think it would be easier than it is. But each year (bought the house a few years ago) I plant "shade tolerant" grass, it grows like gangbusters for about the first two months of summer, and then dies. * * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-03-04 11:22:02 er, I wish the stuff I'd put in over the last couple YEARS would grow (not months).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-04 19:59:34 Anna, as you say, shade is the curse of a Michigan garden. After years of swearing I'd never put in hostas, last year I finally caved and planted a bunch of different hostas in the front lawn spot shaded by the pine tree. I also tried astilbe, supposedly shade-loving, which immediately died. On the cool shady north side of the house I've had good success with ferns (the hose tap is there, so it's always kind of moist, which the ferns love) and ivy. Trilliums planted there have yet to appear, although an azalea in that same shady zone, near the corner of the house so it gets some sun, is hanging in & doing well so far. As far as screening shrubs, I was amazed at the fast growth of some sand cherry shrubs I planted last year. They look kinda like a bush variety of sage--long, smooth oblong leaves--but they do make edible cherries in a few years! And there's always the grapevine trellis option, of you take a weekend to make a simple trellis. My grapevines have gone gangbusters the past few years. They make a very dense screen and I've gotten grapes from them last year! (3rd year of growth). There is such a world of difference between the store-bought green grapes and a sun-warmed grape you grew yourself--I can't tell you how delicious home-grown grapes are. At any rate, that might be a fast way to screen the dumpster. And of course you can eat the leaves too. Yum.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-04 20:10:14 ...a grapevine trellis/arbor would be a doable weekend project as you know--just a post-hole digger, some 4 by 4 posts, a spirit level to make sure the 4 by 4s are upright, 5 or so bags of cement, some 1 by 2s or 2 by 4s for the horizontal slats, a drill to drill holes and bolts to bolt on the horizontal slats & you're there. And a reciprocating saw to saw off any overlapping bits. If by chance you're interested & don't have all the tools, I have all the tools if you'd like to borrow them plus some spare 2 by 4s. I built a grape arbor a couple years ago which became bird central with a couple of seed feeders attached, some suet feeders, a platform feeder--a lot of enjoyment watching the birds in the winter.* * * * * * * * * * * * Anna - 2004-03-05 08:35:23 Hey Laura... I'm not in Michigan anymore! :) But thanks for the offer. I had to laugh at the number of things one needs to build that easy thing, especially by the time you started talking cement. You must be far more handy than I.... It does sound like a good idea, though. I'm with you on hosta: I started as a hosta hater, but then as my desperation grew, I started to get more into the idea. The trick is finding interesting ones -- you can get good ones at a good garden shop -- I especially like the ones with the cup-shaped leaves. I don't like the ones with the thin leaves and the purple flowers in June (which I have a ton of, thanks to the previous owner). Hosta are nice because they're easy to divide (and can withstand being divided every year once they're established) and they're impossible to kill. Even chunks of hosta that I threw into a mulch pile took root and started to grow....Ivy and pachasandra (sp?) are also my friends. By the way, all of my Iris plopped over last year due to heavy rain. Do you know if there's any way to stop this from happening, short of staking each one individually? Did I plant them wrong, or does this just happen sometimes?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-05 12:06:18 One way to avoid "Iris Flop" is to build an iris bracing rack. To do this, you'll need a post-hole digger, some 4 by 4s, a spirit level to make sure the 4 by 4s are level, 10-12 bags of cement...no, just kidding. As you know, the iris rhizome needs to be planted very shallowly, which makes the eventual plant flop-prone. You did not plant them wrong from what I can see. I imagine it was just a onetime thing from the weight of the water. Are they planted in a line? If so one way to avoid future flops if you know heavy rain is coming would be to hammer in one pole on eather side of the line & run some binder twine from one pole all the way across the front of the line, around pole 2, & then all the way across the back of the line, tie end on pole 1 again. Just to give them a little help. Not that you wouldn't think of that yourself. That's just what I would do.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2004-03-07 00:44:25 Me? Desperately seeking handy sister with which to revamp south end of house into explosion of color and freedom from ever-sprouting box elder stump whilst adding new bed in front of deck. Big plans for brick patio out back of garage door. Awaiting 100 daffs I planted and new treasure trove of thistles from 1000 tons of thistle seed spread by finches over winter. My neighbor, Linda? The one who yelled at me for feeding birds which pooped on her deck...tho she fed them for the five years previous? Hates thistles, too! Come see the sparks fly here in East Lansing and while you're at it, stop in for a cup of tea before the bus leaves for Van Atta's and all things green! (don't forget they have a whole hosta acre!)* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2004-03-07 00:51:45 And if you want to check out their entire perennial list, just go to www.vanattas.com and peruse their latest additions to their 60,000 plant listings! Surely most beat anything down in the AA area! * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-07 17:57:39 My dear sister (yay! hi Iss!) is right. Van Atta's is the BEST nursery I've ever visited. Humongous, organized, and cheap. It's fantastic.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-07 21:01:10 My dear sis, I am flattered that you ask my advice on your projects. Now then. The south side of your house is, I imagine, fairly shady for some of the morning and much of the afternoon due to the trees. Are you thinking about a big wraparound bed that kind of sweeps around to the deck area? I'm picturing a fountain or birdbath incorporated into the scheme--the hose tap is nearby so you have lots of options water-feature-wise. I'm not sure @ the brick patio. You already have the deck as a sitting area...would a patio see enough use to justify its construction? I'd rather build a grape arbor reaching up the the 2nd floor balcony. That would make a lovely shady little private cave there that you could dive into with a book on hot summer days...just a thought. But by all means, I'd love to take a look and see if we can come up with some ideas. How tall is the stump, by the way? Sticking up or level with the ground? There are stump-dissolving products out there...have you tried any of those?* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-03-08 01:03:57 ...I know, I'm fixated on grape arbors. But I get so much pleasure from my own grape arbor as a shady retreat, plus here in the depths of late winter I distinctly remember the warm sweet tang of a bunch of sun-warm grapes I picked & ate last summer that I feel obligated to recommend this garden feature. * * * * * * * * * * * * Murph - 2004-03-08 09:40:52 On Saturday, I planted a seed tray (a.k.a. a co-op sized cookie sheet) with rosemary, sage, and chive; the lavender seeds are "wintering" in the fridge. I've never grown herbs from seed before, so hopefully some of this will be successful. The seed tray is sharing the ultra-sunny landing on the stairs with the oregano and cilantro (purchased from seedling). Some of all this will be kept in pots indoors for color/scent; the majority will be transplanted once this kind of weather is over.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2004-03-08 21:49:54 I am also cultivating a healthy patch of penicillin in the back of the fridge and a lovely soft white powdery spore-thing on my brick of cheese. Now it's to the point where you just have to let it play out to see what develops.* * * * * * * * * * * * Iss - 2004-03-08 21:55:52 The brick patio as aforementioned is a must-do as the excavated bricks from last year (hundreds) are all stacked up on the deck in a hulking wall, and the now-loose ground out back of the garage is a mud-boggin' mess. I would like a hard surface by that door to help w/ drainage and runoff from the eaves. Plus I've been talking about it forever and now it's just a mission.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |