New to Gardening

I joined DG May 23rd, and just found this forum, I have 2 post in perennails, and 1 in Propagation. So I won't repeat myself here :)
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/607298/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/607687/
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/608257/
First I really enjoyed looking at all the RU pics.
I am from a little town called LaSalle, Mi. about 10 miles from the ohio state line.
Hubby usually does all yard work, and his idea of planting a flower garden is just planting where ever. I have taken on doing a flower bed in my front yard and finding out there is a whole lot more to it. I have order lots of seeds, something I am not fimiliar with planting. I usually plant plants lol.
I have a hugh variety coming all are listed in one of the other posts.
People here at DG is great.

Hubby couldn't wait for grass to die in the spot I choose so he tilled it up already, made my job just a tab bit harder, but I am dealing with it. We are expecting rain today thru friday grrr. my ground is mostly sand with clay.
once this area is ready, we are going to bring in some black top soil.
Place red flat stones around it.
I have some seeds already started and hope I can transplant them soon.
But this rain is really delaying things. Hope it passes us by.
My question is: once top soil is brought in, will the dirt underneath hurt the roots?
and what is the best kind of compost to by. (Didn't know about compost to start making my own) Pic is of the garden spot under way. The first lay of ground tilled in pic has been shoveled up and retilled.
Thanks Connie

Hi Connie, welcome to DG and to gardening. I read the responses on your other threads and the advice you are being given sounds sound, lol. There are three things for sure I have learned about gardening in the 20 years I have been doing it. Patience, patience, patience. I still make mistakes because I rush.
Sounds like you may need to "step back and punt". Find a nice temporary spot for your perennials and plant your annuals in the bed. Get rid of your grass problem, ammend your soil...maybe you might plant the bulbs and perennials in the fall.
Someone shared this with me and I will share it with you:

"Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace."
( -- May Sarton, American author)

Good luck!

Thanks for sharing that sunnysky, good sound advice. I have some seedlings that are sprouting.
I started them in empty egg shell cartons, I have to find something bigger to put them in. Right now I have no place yard wise to plant them, hubby has marigolds every spot. :( Some need full sun, some don't. my brain hurts from reading and thinking to much rofl.
I have some seeds that need to be put in the fridge 3 to 8 weeks. I was thinking of puting those off and try my hand at wintersowing them.
who would have ever thought you could do such a thing lol
I have a spot in the back yard where we use to do all our burning. so not sure what the ground is like for planting, I have been throwing all veggie, etc scraps out there. I figured by fall hubby can till it all in. that spot gets full sun. I am working the front spot. if I can just keep hubby out of it. he thinks i am crazy with all the info and I can just plant what ever.
I was going to go to the nursay and buy some of those containers you can put in the ground and they just rot away, but not sure if I can use those with these seeds?
I just received 14 different seeds today and the rest should be here by the week end.
I figured if I started them in pots, by the time they sprouted and gained my spot shoud be ready for them.
I have collected rain water to water my plants with,
It does wonders. totally blows my mind.
Yesterday morning I had no seedlings in 6 of the pots I started, few hours later 5 had seedlings WOW it is amazing. lol
Thanks again, Connie

After reading your last message, I have seen the light...you are having fun! Sounds like it anyway. That's all that matters. Keep up the good work!

thanks.

Welcome Connie!!!!



Cindy

Hi Connie
You are the closest one to me yet! I'm about 1 1/2 hours east of you. If you should feel the need for more plants come for a visit. I have lots to share and also could save you seeds if you want.
New beds here are a challenge as I am in a gravel pit but if you use newspaper about 4-5 sheets thick over the top and overlap them then add dirt, manure, or compost or all together you will have a wonderful planting spot. I also use slapshot to stop weed seeds. I have also found raised beds are easier to weed. Hubby built me a compost bin just boards or fence with 3 sides I throw all my weeds, food scrapes, and cuttings in there use the pitch fork to turn on occasion and also use roundup to kill any growth so there aren't any weed seeds or plants in it when done. ( don't use any meat products in it) New gardens are so fun and addictive but there is a limit to how much you can keep up with. ( I learned this lesson the hard way) but I get help with weeding at times and always have to bring something new home to try. Good luck with the beds and keep posting I want to see pics when you get done.
Kim

Thanks Kim,

I just potted some seeds this morning,
That way they will be ready to transplant when this bed is done. I still have like 13 seeds that should arrive this week sometime. what to put them in rofl.

right in the middle of my potting hubby decides he want me to plant some of my seeds behind his garage errr men can be a pest sometimes, I told him I was busy and I would get to it when I was done.
The area he was speaking of, gets full sun, so I planted some of cleomes there, some jasmine, and indian grass seeds. He doesn't know it but I am going to use that spot as a testing zone roflmbo.

I have a privacy fence on the east side, once he is done staining it. I am going to use 2 sheets of lattice, I seen a picture of this on here in one of the forums. they had stairway to heaven growing up it with cleomes in front. I have 2 (don't know what they are called, but boy do they vine) picture below.
They kind of remind me of stairway to heaven, so I thought of moving them there and planting my cleomes there too. it always gets full sun.
If you know what the plant is called let me know, not sure if it can take full sun:( got to find out.)
Thanks Connie

Oh bluektodd, my hubby use to hunt up in hillsdale, and I have a cousin that just moved there when he and his wife got out of the Navy. They both retired from the Navy.
My son is also in the Navy and has 6 years to go b4 he can retire. He is stationed around Seattle Washington. Hubby and I are driving out there for three weeks in Aug. Leaving the 28th of July.
going to take our time and sight see there and back :0)

Thanks Cindy

Welcome neighbor Connie
We live very close to each other! I'm in Dundee, not too far from Cabela's.
Gardening is alot like cooking, there are some basic ideas that are a constant, and the rest puts your creative talents in motion. Your pics show a beautiful yard and you already have many wonderful ideas. You have received lots of good advice too.
I start almost everything from seed, this year the focus was (still IS !!!) to put in a large tomato based raised bed veggie garden. If you would like any heirloom tomato plants,cukes, squash ...send me a D-mail and I will hand deliver. I am behind on flower seedlings, but zinnias were up within 3 days. Do you have room for sunflowers? I have a couple dozen different types of seeds. You could tell your husband that they are large marigolds????? LOL
Happy gardening...Tia

Thanks tiswisk,

Hubby likes those too. lol I live on a deadend street at the end, right by telegraph and train tracks. I wanted to plant sunflower seeds all up and down that back fence row, but hubby wouldn't. I had a pack of sunflower seeds we got at the tractor show and he planted them next to his shed. They didn't do to hot. But I could get some seeds from you and just drop them along as I walk the length of the yard and he'd never know. rofl.

Connie

Hey Connie, the plant you have pictures of looks like a (an) varigated euonymus ("Euonymus japonicus"). If so, it will take full sun. Try looking it up under plant files.

P.S. watch out for scale

thanks sunnysky, will do :)

nope sunny thats not it. but thanks.