Don't give up hope!

Just wanted to show you what 2 days worth of work and over 20 plant types looks like - still pretty sparse! lol

But remember, it takes time for a garden to "grow in."

looks great1!!!

What did you plant? Are these shade loving plants? Annuals or perennials? It does look very neat. You'll have to share a photo later in the season when the bed fills out.

Looks great!! And definitely share pics when it fills out.

Oh no you didn't!

You asked me. And now I have to answer! hehe

Well, I planted a mix. The site has high trees, and gets plenty of light so I focus on plants good for full sun to part sun. I try to focus on some perennials for long term, but one of the garden patches are going to have drastically different sun after a new house gets put on the lot, so I've put annuals there for now. Also, annuals here and there for quick fill in and color while I wait for my perennials to mature.

Detailed pics with labels follow.

Next

And next

And last.

I will update in a month or so!

Dear Larissa,

I can't wait to see later photos. It looks beautiful already. You are a really hard worker. I saw the pictures of your place from before. What a transformation! I know the feeling, I spent my first spring pulling out rotted timbers, white gravel and lots nails (go figure) from my own place plus lots of half dead evergreens.

Keep up the great work.

That's so cool how you put the names on the picture. I did notice the "weeds". Funny! Thanks for sharing the photo and plant names. The area you planted looks like the area under my huge silver maple tree. I'm a bit more northeast, but I'm familiar with most of the plants that you used. I can't believe that you were able to fit so many different plants in this area. You're giving me some ideas!

When you plant small inexpensive plants in the ground they look small and inexpensive. You really don't get much for your money and time. It is better to spend more for less plants. Plants with large healthy roots. Little plants require much more pampering. You probably will have a less than 50% survival rate.

superpetunia:

1) I'm a single mom on a budget.
2) I don't have a problem pampering or growing things from seed (most of the "inexpensive" plants you see are seedlings I've raised myself - over 20 varieties).
3) Gardening is about the process, not the end result, for me.

GO Larissa!

I put in "smaller" plants most of the time and have a great survival rate . Kudos to you for raising from seed, thats fantastic! Maybe being a mommy helps with the nurturing part :)

I'm a big believer in buying things small--especially in the case of perennials you'll pay a lot less for something in a six pack or 4" pot than in a 1 gal pot, but by the end of the growing season they'll all be about the same size, so you definitely get more for your money buying the smaller ones. You should obviously still look for healthy plants with good roots, but the size really doesn't matter. Trees and shrubs I'll sometimes buy bigger just because they can take such a long time to grow and buying bigger ones gives you a more finished look right away in the landscape, but I never buy perennials in anything bigger than a 4" pot unless it's something I really want and I can't find the smaller size. I guarantee if Larissa posts another picture in August, you'd never know that she started with smaller size plants.

I too think her gardens will look fabulous by mid-summer.

"Gardening is about the process..." and is a very good stress reliever, preventer and exerciser! ;0)

larissa,

I too mostly buy the smaller size plant and then just wait for it to grow. I've never had too much problem with it dying and I like to shop but have to do it on a budget . I'd love to buy the bigger gallon size and spend $25 to $35 on a plant but then I'd only get to buy one or two plants and what's the fun of that. I'd much rather buy smaller and get several. If one doesn't survive that just means I get to shop some more which is one of my favorite pastimes--plant shopping!!!!! (Plus I don't feel so bad if I "kill' something that I haven't spent a lot of money on.) And thanks to DG, I met a fellow gardener who lives in my area and we plant shop together and have a great time. I'm also getting into propagating things from seeds and that's fun too--watching your little "babies" grow. I look forward to seeing your landscape as everything takes off so please post pictures so we can see.

I'm proud of you for starting your own plants from seeds, and for having the patience to wait for them. The pleasure you get will be well worth it, so keep up the great work. I'm anxious to see your pictures later this summer.

It's already looking good, I've added some more plants and threw some annual seeds around for filler. I'll update in a few weeks. :)

Good job!!

I love it!
Most of my plants came to me small also, I've spent next to nothing on trees, shrubs and flowers...I just keep collecting seeds, cuttings, bulbs and tubers from friends and family. Sure my landscape isn't going to look "finished" for a few years - or more - but its so much more fun!

I'm not very good with seeds, but I planted all the little things I could afford, and traded here on DG for things, and purchased some things on ebay. It has been so much fun to watch them grow. I have had to rearrange a few things according to their final sizes, but that's just more fun in the dirt. I encourage everyone just starting out to do the same thing rather than buy big expensive items and have them not do well, or die altogether.