Need advice, please

Hi all,
I am hoping you all can help me pick out some plants for some troublesome areas. I live in a brick house on a slope in Columbia, SC. I've dug out flower beds in the front of the house and on the side yard. It's taken some time, but I've eliminated the tree root problems and have put in a lot of peat moss and mushroom compost. Now I'd like to plant some things, but figuring out what is not easy and so I'm turning to you.

So, here is a list of my problems (er, challenges... yeah, challenges. :-)

Problem 1: I don't know much about gardening and what reading and research I've done only seem to make things worse. For example, I am having trouble determining what level of sun I have. (I know, right?, but it's not as easy as you might think, well, not for me, anyway). Also, I need plants that will survive my bumbling attempts to grow them - take the rose stick thing in the front yard. It got some kind of black spots on the leaf, which I took to be fungus. So I got this spray for it, but on the back of the bottle it said to cut off the parts with black spots. So now I have a rose stick thing that is close to the ground - someone told me I shouldn't have done that and now it'll probably die as it wasn't the right time to cut back.

Problem 2: I need a ground cover for my side yard. I am putting in a stone pathway. It will dip just a bit in the middle to follow the natural drainage pattern. On one side, which is all shade, I'm putting in hostas. On the other side, and between the stones, which is part shade, part sun and seems to change from day to day, I would like to put in a ground cover, but I can't figure out which one. I've looked and looked - I really like creeping jenny and periwinkle, because they are soft and pretty, but both are marked invasive. I've got enough troubles with the wisteria and ivy way in the back without creating new troubles so close to the house.

Further, I'm not sure how sturdy they are. For example, last week some time, my neighbor's kid left the hose on and of course it drained though my yard. By the time I figured it out and alerted the neighbor, the whole area was/is waterlogged. Things like this happen - I think the kid is just a kid and not a menace and my neighbor fixed it right away; I just want to make sure I plan for things.

So, a ground cover that lives wherever you put it, that is sturdy, that won't kill animals, kids, birds or me, that won't harbor rats (I read something about that and... eww), that is not prickly or poisonous, and that won't take up the foundation of the house and that will control erosion. Is that too much to ask of a ground cover?

Problem 3: In the front of the house, I would like a flower bed. This is a ranch house and looks like a shoe box, so I've come out 4 feet with the flower bed and curved around the porch to give some depth. I've dug up and amended the soil with peat moss and mushroom compost. Now I need flowers. I spent all winter researching, but couldn't figure out what to do, so I downloaded a preplanned garden http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plans/easy/foolproof-foundation-garden-plan/. I took the plant list to the garden shop and they said it was nice, but would be sticks and twigs in winter. Their recommendation was shrubs, but I would like flowers. I like this plan because it all matches and is lush and full, so I have been trying to figure out substitutes for each plant. So far, I've gotten Confederate Jasmine instead of Clematis. I liked the daylillies, so I got them anyway, but different colors. Now what?, though, is my problem.

I am sorry this seems so whiny - I truly don't mean for it to be. Who knew it would be so hard to decide? I do like digging around a lot, surprisingly, although the tree roots are a real bear; I am hoping they grow slowly and that I don't kill any trees.... I am making progress with the wisteria and ivy, although it's taking longer than I hoped. As an aside, I was in Pennsylvania last year visiting and did you know they sell a flat of ivy for $40? I figure I've got about $10K in the back....

Anyway, thanks for any advice,
shawnc

Could we see some pictures of your house and the areas you want to plant along with which way is your house facing as in my house faces southwest, also if there are any large trees that shade areas in the morning or afternoon.

As to sticks and twigs in the winter, that's kind of normal. There are some shrubs and flowers that stay evergreen and bloom in winter though.

Also need to know if you have little kids and critters that like to pick or munch on plants .. some plants can be poisonous.

X

This message was edited Jun 5, 2009 1:23 PM

Hi Shawn, I am a former Columbian and your garden store advice was right on. You need some shrubs. That does not mean you can't have flowers too. Day lilies are an excellent choice; they are easy to grow and do so well in Cola town. You have lots of other options though.

Have you been to the Botanical Gardens at Riverbanks? That is a great place to see what kinds of plants do well in the midlands. You'll see lots of different types of ground covers too.

Hi X,
Here is a picture - not too good, but will give you an idea. I have two more pictures - I think you are only allowed to attach one per post, though. The garden area is in the front on both sides - I've brought it out to the edge of the porch and curved around the stairs to give some depth to the house.

There are two silver maples in front, which provide some shade, although one is not in good shape and will be cut down this summer. I do not think it has any bearing on the amount of shade in the front of the house. There are two tall pine trees in the neighbor's yard. I hate the pine straw, but they do provide shade. That is the area that needs the ground cover.

The left side of the house (as you are facing it) faces east and the front gets some sun in the morning - I've kept logs and the time that the front gets sun varies during the year, but no matter what, by noon or so it's all in the shade. The right side (as you are facing the house), stays shady most of the day, although it does get some sun in the late afternoon sometimes.

In the 4 tall, bare areas of the house - on each edge and between the windows in the middle, I'm going to put in the confederate jasmine, along with decorative trellis'. That, along with some house numbers with a light above the left side of the porch should help bring the eye up. Then it's just a matter of filling up the blank spots. The windows are 4 or five feet from the ground, so I've trying to find flowers that are that tall and then go down in height from there.

Oh! Yes, I have a dog, a cat and there are some wild birds that hang around - the birds nested under the carport, so I've been keeping food out for them. None of the animals eat plants that I know of, but you never know.

I appreciate the comments about shrubs and have looked at some of the purple ones, but I really, really want flowers and plants more. Also, it took me a year to get all the tree roots and shrub roots out, so I'm not eager to put them back in. :-)

Thanks again,
shawnc



This message was edited Jun 5, 2009 4:17 PM

And here's one side.

And the other. (Gah! These pictures make the house look really ratty, as I was in the middle of some work when they were taken, but I swear, it doesn't look as bad as this usually. :-)

Well it sounds like you don't get any blazing hot sun in the Summer. Lots of shady and bright shady places .. you need shrubs for what I call "anchors", things that will balance the space between the ground and the windows and be there all year round. You could plant some perennial and annual flowers in front of the shrubs .. and I think it's a law in SC that you have to have at least one azalea somewhere in your yard or the plant police will get you. Some thoughts for your anchors that can tolerate lots of shade are the azalea, hosta (there are zillions of hosta with all sorts of different foliage) and perhaps some camellia which have gorgeous flowers, in places where you get the most sun. A climbing hydrangea might be considered for the posts in your carport.

Visit the Botanical Gardens like Ardesia suggested and also drive around your neighborhood and see what you like and don't like. Take pictures of what you like. Try not to think "instant garden". Go slowly and thoughtfully and remember, plants are not set in concrete .. if after awhile you don't like something, dig it up and move it or trade it.

X

X good advice. I would get your base shrubs lined up first. Personally I would mix in some camellias for winter color. Ever greens, like shade and pine trees. You can get smaller ones and you can also get ones that flower in the fall through the winter and into spring. Each one won't flower that long but different varieties flower at different times. It would be easier for someone to help you out if you narrow what you're searching for down. This needs two shrubs and gets X amount of sun and water etc etc.

How about a gardenia ???
Turks cap may work for you. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/114737/
Abutilon if you have a sunny spot.
There are colder weather hydrangea that may stay green year round for you. (I think)
Some sort of an Anise Tree.


Just a few ideas for you. I would figure out your base plants then work from there. I my case I've been working on my base plants for 4 years, LOL> I'm doing a whole yard though.

I completely agree with the foundation planting advice and that it's going to take more than one season to get your yard looking like you want it...and it should. You are talking with those of us who are never quite 'finished' with a garden areas...at least I never am. There's always some new or different thing that we 'must' have or at least try, lol! I'll bet that I'm not the only one who would end up planting that whole area that's between the sidewalk and the house. Less to mow, right? :))

If you want an instant pop of color this year, you could put in your anchor plants-shrubs and stuff-add some perennials and use pots of annuals in the front. I use pots tucked into borders and like the effect. That would tide you over until you got more info and decided what you want to go there more permanently.

Love the idea of being an ivy millionaire!

Hi everybody,
Thanks for your suggestions. I've been to the Botanical Gardens a lot and I haunt a couple of garden centers.

I've actually done a good bit since those pictures were taken, so I'll try and get more pics up this week and show you where I am.

Thanks again,
shawnc

Get rid of those square corners and straight lines...they don't occur in nature. Unless you're building one of those anal formal gardens, a.k.a. "rooms", geometric formation isn't very attractive. You don't have to tear the existing hardscape out---just disguise it with plants to "soften" the hard straight lines...give it a more "lush garden" look...

LOL A neighbor of mine has a "room" sitting in the middle of her (his?) yard. Lovely plants and home, every blade of grass just the same height, every paverr squared with military precision. And every single blessed bush/plant/tree is squared off with a hedge trimmer (and a comb and scissors, too, I think). Not a natural piece of nature in her/his whole yard.
Everything is healthy and blooming/leafing, they are just all --- square. Even the roses (I did not think that you could make roses square. And it never occurred to me ~ why would you want that?)
Yuck!

Shawnc12, look at the post about coming to Cola and clay,
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/995306/
there are some very good suggestions there.

I have yellow clay/mudstone here in Whitehall.

Shawnc12 you have dmail. You should come up to Newberry on Sat! It would be a chance to meet some local DGers and even get some plants passed along to you! http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/997349/

hi there - tggfisk is giving great advice here. Think I'll add a bit.

you are new to gardening? remember this motto from Plant Delights Nursery: "I consider any plant hardy until I've personally killed it 3 times."

new gardeners should:
1. drive through your neighborhood, or any nearby neighborhoods you like with similar aged houses, and find yards you like. Knock on the door (at a time they are likely to be home, but PLEASE not after dark) and ask them if they could answer some questions for you. Gardeners LOVE to talk about their yards and show off - and if it's someone like tggfisk, she'll start handing you free plants! ask LOTS of questions, and see if they'll give you a phone# you can call if you have more questions. If they will let you, TAKE PHOTOs. you need to know what YOU like and what you don't.

NOTE: if anyone gives you a plant, find something you can write on and LABEL THAT PLANT immediately! two days later you won't remember what it is....

2. ask thousands of questions at your local garden centers - and I'm NOT talkiing about your Home Depot, Lowes or Walmart.

Shrubs - you need some, but also ask someone in security what they recommend. shrubs that can hide robbers five years later are a no-no.

ground covers. best place to go for Dummies Guide to Ground Covers is www.stepables.com their prices are higher than some, sometimes. but you can at least get some names of plants and what they do, where they grow best, can they handle an occasional flooding, etc. in their comments or search parameters, you are given several choices.

Sun - No Sun ???? In general, east and south sides of your home probably get the most sun, but west side will get hot afternoon sun and will be harshest. if trees or building or topography (slope) changes this, then you know to factor that in. Full sun= 6 or more hours of sunshine.

rule of thumb - grass grows best in full sun, and you have a decent looking lawn there. grass grows fast and lush anywhere it's sunny AND damp. grass grows poorly in shade, very dry areas, stony areas, and under large trees (they hog the water). Use your grass as your compass for sun and wetness. how wet an area is also matters, as you've seen with your flooding issue.

one last comment: stick straight flower beds (straight lines) are not that attractive because they will emphasize the boxiness of your home. even though they are harder to create, curving lines will give you the gentle flowing lines of a great garden. in some places lines are good - but gentle down the boxiness of your home with curving beds out front. this is one thing new gardeners (and husbands - drat it all) don't know to use.

here's photo of a Straight flower bed at an older home, but it has five curving beds before you see the house. I don't have the names of these folks, but you can't really see them well, so I'll post it.

close up these are irises, dwarf weigeilas (sp?), heurcheras (coral bells) and such. you have a very different building fascade, but this is a straight front bed (well, side bed).

This message was edited Jun 11, 2009 3:14 PM

The "bones" of your garden will be the raised beds, landscaping stones and woodwork, "signs" or garden art you add. you can see here they used gazing balls, bed edging, walkway lighting (always good to think about for later), a small fish lawn statue, and a fountain - at the front of the house!

by the way, these were taken of St. Jo's area garden tours of one home - and I forget the couple's name.

Here's a photo of the front bed, curving. See the difference the lines make? this is a very very straight box home that was added onto.

This message was edited Jun 11, 2009 3:13 PM

here's a simple example of "bones", in this case, simple "art" formed by simply tipping a purchased pot on it's side and planting under a tree. great impact, because the pot color draws your eyes. it would take you no time at all and very little to do something like this -
the pavers under a tree (hint- follow natural lines if possible). those are daylilies (perennials) and petunias.