New Garden Projects This Year #4

The other thread was getting close to 400, so I thought it would be time for a new one. We are coming from here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/985464/

Tell us about what new projects you're working on this year.

One project I've been working on this year is trying to get some of my old gardens in order this year, weeding them out, getting rid of DL's I no longer want and that don't fit into my hybridizing plans, and rearranging the DL's so they have more room to grow and look better (i.e. small ones in front of large ones, etc.). I am also trying to incorporate more perennials in my DL beds, as I really like that effect rather than just a bed with only DL's in it.

Karen

Two big projects---a new perennial bed---so far I've planted roses, peonies, DLs, & iris---I know I want to edge with coral bells---but there's so much empty space left! Second project is rejuvanting an old perennial bed---I started, then stopped, a fierce storm eroded much of it----just a mess now.

I want to weed and replant a slope garden that I have not gotten to because of all the rain. I did one half out back but the side end is just a mess and full of weeds and grass now. Maybe when it cools off this fall I can get that done. Here is the back half I reworked this spring. I have added a couple of weigela shrubs on top since this was taken. Still isn't mulched. :(

Oh, empty space, Marilyn! Great! You can fill it with lots of pretties!

Pat, your new bed is looking great!

Karen

Pat, your garden looks MUCH better than mine---however, I'm going out there now to try to do something with it.

Thanks but this pic was taken at the beginning of June, back when things still seemed manageable. The weeds are already growing in and most things grew tall and lanky and now are blooming all over each other. I have given up trying to keep things upright. A lot more things will be cut back a lot sooner than usual this year I think.

I'm just trying to keep up with the weeds. Also trying to figure out what to lift(iris) and where to shift it too.

Ah, yes, the battle with weeds. And staking things. So many things needed staking this year. Why do I buy things that need staking? I guess it's because those tall things look so spectacular.

And speaking of tall, I have weeds that are taller than me. And a lot of them. Those of you who were at my RU may remember the weedy mess by my veggie patch and where I was having you guys dig out DL's for yourselves. Anyhow, last night I got a good part of it weeded. Stayed out till after sunset. Had to use deep woods Off to keep away the hungry skeeters. Worked great, too! I have plans on finishing up that whole area this Aug.-Sept. (hopefully!). I will be putting in a mix of DL's and other perennials. I already have a wisteria in there that I'm training as a standard. I have it probably about 5.5' high. Some DL's in there I will be keeping, but most others I'm giving away. I've been making a dent in there. I have many other DL's in other beds that need to be redone with spacing out the DL's better, with better placement according to height.

Karen

It would be better if the weather would behave. I know you all in New England have had a worse time with the rain.

Oh, we sure have. Not so much rain up there in Ohio, Jumper?

Karen

Did get into the veggie garden today, & weeded the peppers---have a few small ones. Planted a clump of Siberian iris in the garden under construction---trying to stop the erosion there---town has no money for asphalt, our whole road needs to be rebuilt, & flooding again forecast for tomorrow---enough already!

We've had a lot more dry days than you have had. We are due for more rain later in the week.

An update on our patio project. DH is choosing, breaking and placing each and every stone by hand. I am luving it and totally don't care if the patio is completed in our lifetime as long as he is having this much fun making it. This will be the bestest patio on the planet cuz he wants it to be ^_^ A pic of DH pondering stones.

Can't wait to see your patio completed, Cousin Nut!

Yes, enough with the rain. Too much already!

Karen

Looks like he has a good start there. Should be a wonderful spot to relax and view your hard work n he garden. They are so cute when they have a project aren't they. Looks like you picked a good one. :)
Weeding the never ending project and not even close to being under control here this year. Too hot a humid to go out today for very long I think. Try to do a little every day but the darn things pop back up over night it seems. Garden looks more like the end of Aug. than end of July.

Great project, Dnut---and the dahlias are so pretty, too.

DH has finished replacing our backyard fence. He just needs to rebuild the arbor and it's done.

Oh, another project you reminded me of, Jumper---our side fence must be replaced when our son takes the barn the fence is attached to---but we have to have a pro do it, as DH is no longer able to work in yard. I hate to think of the cost.

It's nice we can still do the stuff ourselves. If you were closer, I'd rent DH out to you. He's very handy.
Maybe son could help?

This message was edited Jul 29, 2009 9:17 PM

I'm glad this thread is still going strong. Thought I'd update you all on the progress of the back hill garden. If you recall, a year ago it looked like this ...

Those of you who visited us during the RU in October, saw it look something like this ...

During a rain break about two weeks ago, it looked like this ...

And this evening, after a whole lot of weeding and the addition of another stonewall tier, it looks like this ...

Wow---very impressive, Candyce! Love it! You've really worked hard. Jumper, son is soooo busy, he'll never get his own place finished---plus he has 3 little ones trying to help him! I did get him to stop by after work today to replace our kitchen faucet, but I did pay him! And gave him veggies.

Candyce, you've taken lessons from Bill. It looks great.
Robindog, I bet he loved those veggies. It was just a thought about the help, sounds like he has his hands full.

I can't take credit for the stonewalls. Gregg did those, stone by stone while Anna and I watched. Now that the 'walls' are in place, she and I are looking to add more plants. We've just inherited a wisteria vine that we think we'll place waaaaayyyyy to the left of this garden area.

very nice Candyce...something to be proud of for sure

After painting every cut shoot of our wisteria with potent weedkiller, some came back! Maybe it will behave for you Candyce on a trellis.

Your slope is looking very nice. All the hard work done, now the fun part begins. Enjoy your well earned new terraced slope garden. Great job by all.

Looks wonderful Candyce.

Looks totally fabby Candyce!!! And so brave to put in all those DLs.

dnut your hubby is a lucky guy to have you give him so much praise on the patio - it does look like it will be fantaustic!! threw in a u for you there :)

candace the terraced walls are great and having four of them really breaks it up and gives you lots of room for plants - verry very nice - of course seeing that gets me thinking about a steep hill i have out front where i could do something similiar - need more rocks, many more rocks

Bill, your rocking never ends! LOL!

Candyce, I love it! And I love that you put in DL's. Great!

Karen

Thanks to all of my DG friends, I have become a real day lily lover. I can't get enough of them. Some of the varieties that Celeste gave us a couple of years ago will go into that terraced garden, too. Oh, it's not raining today, and I wish you all could see it. It looks so beautiful! All those vibrant colors!

Of course, yesterday it rained and rained all day and we even lost power because some trees fell over somewhere due to the soggy ground. There wasn't any wind, just really saturated soil!

Here's Always Afternoon, a gift to us from Thom.

This message was edited Aug 1, 2009 8:43 PM

Always Afternoon is a real nice one, Candyce.

Karen

I love the green on it. It contrasts so nicely with the mauve, don't you think?

It sure does. A lot of DL's have green throats, and they always stand out nicely.

Karen

Very nice, Candyce---can't wait to see my new ones.

My main project right now is making lists of things I want to change around, move to a different place, rip out or need to purchase for next year. Maybe later this fall I can get a few things accomplished. Don't know if you all are noticing the same as I am in my garden, but it seems like we are going to have, at least as far as the plants are concerned an early (bad f word) this year. Or maybe it's just because the summer really started two weeks ago that it seems shorter than it should.

I agree! I am also trying to figure out where to move things around. I keep wanting to start but am trying to be strong and wait so I can enjoy the annuals I planted and not rip em out to put the perennials in those spots.