First Timer for Landscaping

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burkec1 Woolstock, IA Apr 08, 2008

I am doing this for the first time.and on my own. SO ALL HELP, ADVICE AND PLACES WHERE I CAN START TO DO THIS IS HIGHLY APPRCIATED!!I live on a large acregae in central iowa. The large expanse of the yard to the south side of the driveway is mainly a hard dry soil, almost compacted. It has mainly harwoods on it,oak,etc.. I keep thinking the easy way to deal with this part of the yard is to put it into wildflowers and shot native grasses.I like the thought of not having to do a lot of maintenance to the area, keeping it natural and giving me a place to find some peace again in my life. Maybe a place to sit and just ponder the world a bit or not- whichever a person decides to do.
To the north of the house, there is a large area of grass that sits directly in the sun.I will leave that alone as I love the lushness of the green grass. The rest of the area has mainly hardwood again but is heavily shaded. Very little sun gets filtered through here so grass is sparse at best. Once again, I would like to keep it natural but I want flowers, etc to grow here as well.
I have a very large vegetable garden which I will expand this year.This is what we live off of during the year with my canning and freezing. I intend to expand it ot chickens and goats this year- slowly , of course. I would LIKE to add flowers, blueberries,raspberries, to my scheme this year. HELP??????????

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missingrosie Hillsborough, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 08, 2008

Do you have any photos?

What is your zone?

What critters wander through, or under, or over?

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wood_fern Urbandale, IA Apr 10, 2008

I’m doing some naturalizing of my own in a shady wooded spot.

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motts1 south central, WI(Zone 5a) Apr 12, 2008

Astilbes are great, you may also want to try some pulmonaria , some of the blue and yellow hosta bring color and texture. For bright spring color-siberian squill, crocus and primrose will perk things up and then the foliage of the first 2 quickly disappear under the leaves of new plants coming in.
Prairies do take a bit of time to come into their own. The enthusiatists in this area are getting ready for the spring burns.
Some mature prairie plants and some self seed annuals can get you some quick color.
Cosmos, larkspur and annual poppies will grant you lots of color. I would recommend collecting the mature seed pods and do a broadcast seeding. When I have left all the work to Mother Nature, the next season seedlings come up too close together and I get spindly plants, with little bloom.
Good luck.

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