Hi!

I'm thrilled to find this site and looking forward to learning a lot. My DH and I are in our mid 40's and are just starting a landscape remodel on a 1970's ranch house on a lake. This is to be our retirement home so we'd like to get the major work out of the way while we still have some muscles!

We are major do-it-yourselfers so most of what we end up with we do ourselves. DH does the hardscaping (I help) and then I do the planting and maintenance. This summer we are concentrating on a brick paver patio under a deck and paver stairs with a raised bed next to it.

So, this summer we'll need help on soil amendment and bed design. I do have a couple questions! Does anyone have any info on the best wasy to plant at the base of mature trees? I'd like to do this in several places in my yard but I've tried this before and I can never get enough soil area for the new p[lant between the roots. If you can add soil to raise the bed, how much soil is too much for the tree?

Any advice is GREATLY appreciated. I feel kind of guilty asking for help when I can't give much in return because my knowlege base isn't all that great. I'm not a complete beginner but I'm a very long way from expert. About the only area I'd say I'm pretty good at is clematis, if anyone has any questions.

Thanks

Roana

Roana...Let me be the first to welcome you to DG.

I can't help much as I just started gardening last summer so I will defer the advice and instructions to the experts around here.

You will find many new friends willing to help and enable in your gardening addictions.

Again, Welcome!!!!

Dee

Hi welcome nice to have you.. jump in any time..

Twyla

Welcome Roana, I can't help much with plants for under trees but do know that you should not build up the soil level over the tree roots. A mulch of wood chips is ok as oxygen can still get through to the roots. You may want to check out the forum on shade gardening and the one on trees.

hello and welcome from upstate new york.

I reply humbly since I am fairly new to gardening. I am not sure what look you are going for, but you could try a groundcover that is easily maintained and has a shallow root system. You might even be able to include clusters of bulbs to peek through the groundcover that prefer to be planted more shallow.
Hope this helps some.

Welcome!!! So much fun is coming your way!

Hi Everyone!

Thanks so much for the nice welcome! I feel like I could spend about three solid days just reading and getting to know this site. I really think its going to make a huge difference in the success of my new garden/landscaping. Looking forward to getting to know you all!

Roana