New Garden for a black thumb!

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wyrambler Buffalo, WY Dec 27, 2008

I am setting out to do the impossible - start an edible landscape in our yard.
Have aprox 1/4 of an acre with a double wide mobile. Six foot cedar fence on three sides and four foot cedar fence on two sides (very odd shaped lot!). Already have two crabapple/regular apple mixed trees that look like they were grafted because I get both types of fruit. It looks funny until you get used to it.

I am seeking to put native plants that can be harvested for food. I am hoping more for shrubs or perennials because I am lousy at gardening. For example Saskatoon, chokecherry, chickory, bergamont, Utah Serviceberry, black hawthorn and golden current. Not sure if I will have room for American Wild Plum or wild grapes.

Could also use suggestions on easy to grow, common herbs. I have been given garlic and chives. The mint died - I think the cats got it.

I have sand and rocks for soil (think parking lot). I have put a thick layer of old barn middlings and topsoil from a build site on top this fall. Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

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edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH(Zone 5a) Jan 02, 2009

Wow! Sounds like a huge project.Gardening isn't magic its science.It's also a process.Start out small and you can expand it every year.Gardening is time consuming and expensive on a large scale.Winter is the best time to do research.Go to the library and check out some gardening books.You will have to ammend your soil to have any chance of success.You may have to purchase screened top soil.Mix in all the organic matter you can get.Leaves,grass clippings and aged manure.Top soil is not cheap,I pay 200.00 for 10 tons which is a small dump truck.

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grannymarsh Marquette, MI(Zone 5a) Jan 02, 2009

Most culinary herbs prefer lean soil, it must be well draining.

For suggestions on plants native to your area, contact your local Extension agent/office. They are affiliated with your State's land grant college and their job is to assist you. Make friends with a local Master Gardener group. Scope out what is growing in your neighborhood.
http://ces.uwyo.edu/

It would be helpful to mix in those soil amendments into the soil. Down to where a plant's roots would be, unless they are shallow rooted, it is of more use a bit further in the soil.

Building gardens and soil is an on-going process. As is learning about gardening. Each failure is a learning experience. I do have LOTS of learning experiences !!

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