Beginner Gardening: I am new with a few questions, 0 by Gardening_in_GA

Gardening_in_GA wrote:
Hi everyone my name is Stacy I am new to the message board and I am really anjoying it so far. I am also new to gardening and my husband and I are enjoying it. I dont know the technical terms of things, or exactly what I am doing :) but we are figureing it all out.

We recently started a flower bed in the middle of the front yeard, it currently has in it.....a butterfly bush (still very small) 2 luna hibiscus plants (1 red and 1 blush), some russian sage (smells awseome), black and blue Salvia, Creme Brulee Coreopsis, and some decorative grass, along with some impatients.

My question is, What else can I use for some filler between these plants? We still have to put a border around it (we were thinking either brick or rock, since both are very easy for us to get since my husband is a mason...) We also need to put some mulch down after we get done putting what else we want in it. Should we also lay down a plastic barrier between the mulch and the ground? Or will the mulch itself keep the grass from growing? (we have tilled it all up and have the few plants we have now in the ground and the grass isnt growing back at a rapid rate as of yet.

I also have a question regarding a few sale things I bought from Walmart recently. I got about 3 bags of 12 bulbs each Gladiolus on sale for $1/each And 2 bags of Hostas also $1.....the hostas I put in small pots to start them out (is the the right thing to do with these? or can they go straight into the ground?) I know Gladiolus have already bloomed here but is it too late to get these bulbs into the ground? or what should I do with them to keep them form going bad?

Thanks and I hope I posted this in the right spot I look forward to getting to know everyone I am already enjoying looking at everyones pictures!


Here is what we have going on so far.....