Help...I'm an idiot when it comes to gardens!!!

isyne4u

<font color=blue>Next time I get a craving for cak
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Oct 22, 2002
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I posted this on the flowers and garden forum but apparently no one reads there because it hasn't been answered in the more than 24 hours it has been up, so I'm hoping someone on the cb can help me!! Thanks!!

I'm an idiot when it comes to planting things. So I'm hoping you all can help me out.

First, I have a flower bed that I dug up last year to plant flowers in (it had been grass around my azaleas) but when I dug it up I took out way too much dirt. this year I'm actually going to finish what I planned to do last year, which is to get flowers in it.

Question no. 1: What kind of soil should I add to it to build it up? It is too shallow and hides behind the bricks I put up and the yard, which is not level at all. I've seen Miracle grow, I've seen potting soil,...I don't know which is better. Any advice?

Question no 2: Does it matter where I get my soil from? I mean I've seen sales at Wal-Mart and K-mart and Home depot.

Question no 3: What should I do to the soil to ready it for plants, bulbs, or seeds?

Thank you for any advice you all can give me!!

tara
 
Sorry, not much advice here. I would call a nursery and talk to them. :wave:
 
I wouldn't add either of those. I think the best thing you can do is add compost. Dig in 3+ inches of it then plant away. Your plants will love it and it will continue to improve your soil.
 
marydmjj said:
I wouldn't add either of those. I think the best thing you can do is add compost. Dig in 3+ inches of it then plant away. Your plants will love it and it will continue to improve your soil.

I agree, compost, leaf mold etc.. You need to add the organic material. You can buy bags of compost at some garden centers, I wouldn't go to Home Depot for compost.
 

Hey thanks for the advice. I'm sorry I didn't respond sooner. I know have the cold/flu that my kids had last week. ugh!

Thanks for the suggestions about the compost..now here's another question. I got a response on the flower and garden forum and I told them that I was going to get a load of compost from the local landfill because its there and its cheaper. So then they menitoned that it might not be a good idea since I don't know what's in it.

Has anyone ever gotten their compost from the landfill? Do you think it might be more damaging than helpful? Now I'm more confused than ever.

i'm going to call the landfill and see what they say about their compost so I can make an informed decsion, but I wondered if anyone had any other ideas.

Thank you for answering me!! Now I have to get out kill the weeds that are growing in there right now. Roundup here I come!!

tara
 
When you go to pick your flowers go to a good nursery and ask them for suggestions-if they are expensive tell them you are planning and will be back to buy later- I believe azealas are very acidic to the soil and some plants do not do well near them. I have impatiens near mine and the do ok but I woukld check for sure. I have also filled in with plain topsoil from Walmart mixed with some peat moss. Remember gardening is trial and error and some years are better than others have fun and it is like hair if you goof up it or something else will grow back next year.
 
I personally would not get my compost from the local landfill because I have no idea what's in it--could be newspapers, grass clippings, vegetables peelings or it could be diapers :confused3 I don't want to put my hands in that dirt. We buy compost, top soil and peat, Mix it in a wheel barrow, then shovel it out. Our soil is heavy on red clay so it takes a lot of compost here to loosen things up. Start small and you'll be able to keep up with it. It's so disheartening to have an ambitious plan and then lose it all because there was a drought, you had a vacation, you lost interest halfway through summer, or it was just too much work.
Good Luck :thumbsup2
 
isyne4u said:
Roundup here I come!!

tara

AAAACK!!!! Stop right there! Do not put Roundup in a garden!!! That is for driveways and full kills without planting for 6 weeks.

You need to get out there with gardening equipment and start working your soil. No chemicals.

Are you planting around your azaleas??? That is a no-no, right there. Azaleas are shallow rooted and should have nothing but Cypress Mulch, pine needles, anything "acidic" as mulch (lowers PH, do not use regular hardwood mulch) around them. The mulch should be about 6 inches past the branch line.

I make my own "soil". I buy Peatmoss (the big cubic yards), compost, sand, miracle grow potting soil, gypsum, and mix.

If you can get ahold of some great compost that is very good & cheaper, but if not make your own.
 
minkydog said:
. We buy compost, top soil and peat, Mix it in a wheel barrow, then shovel it out. Our soil is heavy on red clay so it takes a lot of compost here to loosen things up.

Just want to say I stopped using Top Soil and go for the Miracle Grow. Top Soil is just full of weed seeds. I know it is more $$, but if you are doing a small area, go for the Miracle Grow.
 
isyne4u said:
Roundup here I come!!

tara

I'm going to second: Don't Roundup! You won't be able to plant anything in your bed for a while and who knows what other damage it will cause to plants around it. You are going to need to get out there and dig the weeds out. Once the area is clean you can treat it with a product called Preen. It will prevent any seeds from germinating and fertilize existing plants at the same time.
 
:crazy: THis how I feel now. Wow! I didn't realize it would be so much work. I may just end up letting the weeds take over and call it a flower bed! ugh!

I'm calling the landfill today to find out what's in their compost. If they can't tell me then I'll buy it. As for making soil....I'm way too lazy to do that. I need the ones that are already made for me (did I mention that I'm not a gardener and not really into this...just trying to give my house some curb appeal!)

I'll skip the roundup and get in there and dig it up (I have a garden weasel) and pull out what's there.

I'll call the nursery to see what they suggest to put in front of azaleas. I would liek to get some color out there.

I have fertilizer...I have a bunny and used her waste in the tomatoes last year and had the best tomatoes I've ever had!!

thank you for all the advice. I guess I have a lot to learn about gardening...i think it comes down to hiring someone to do it for you!! :lmao:
thanks!!
tara
 
isyne4u said:
:crazy: THis how I feel now. Wow! I didn't realize it would be so much work. I may just end up letting the weeds take over and call it a flower bed! ugh!

I'm calling the landfill today to find out what's in their compost. If they can't tell me then I'll buy it. As for making soil....I'm way too lazy to do that. I need the ones that are already made for me (did I mention that I'm not a gardener and not really into this...just trying to give my house some curb appeal!)

I'll skip the roundup and get in there and dig it up (I have a garden weasel) and pull out what's there.

I'll call the nursery to see what they suggest to put in front of azaleas. I would liek to get some color out there.

I have fertilizer...I have a bunny and used her waste in the tomatoes last year and had the best tomatoes I've ever had!!

thank you for all the advice. I guess I have a lot to learn about gardening...i think it comes down to hiring someone to do it for you!! :lmao:
thanks!!
tara

I have two black thumbs...seriously I do. I can't keep a hanging plant alive, much less plant anything. So...to create curb appeal we bricked the around the flower bed and then filled it with about 10 bags of the pretty red mulch. That gives me a good base for seasonal decorations. Right now I'm waiting for St. Patty's day to pass so that I can put my Easter decorations out. After that it will be summer stuff, then halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. :) Good luck!!!
 
2bemarried said:
I have two black thumbs...seriously I do. I can't keep a hanging plant alive, much less plant anything. So...to create curb appeal we bricked the around the flower bed and then filled it with about 10 bags of the pretty red mulch. That gives me a good base for seasonal decorations. Right now I'm waiting for St. Patty's day to pass so that I can put my Easter decorations out. After that it will be summer stuff, then halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. :) Good luck!!!

Girl where have you been????? We've missed you!!!

truthfully, if all else fails, I'll put the dirt in there and stick silk flowers in it and call it a day!! hehehe

My grandmother was really into her gardens and flowers, I always hated it, but since she died I think she has come to posess me when it comes to the yard. I never would pull weeds and fuss over my yard...except to cuss when I had to cut it, now when spring gets here I feel the need to plant and make it look nice. Maybe my way to say hi to grandma!!

I hope things are going well for you kristy!! Drop by the resort and say hi!!

tara
 
isyne4u said:
Girl where have you been????? We've missed you!!!

truthfully, if all else fails, I'll put the dirt in there and stick silk flowers in it and call it a day!! hehehe

My grandmother was really into her gardens and flowers, I always hated it, but since she died I think she has come to posess me when it comes to the yard. I never would pull weeds and fuss over my yard...except to cuss when I had to cut it, now when spring gets here I feel the need to plant and make it look nice. Maybe my way to say hi to grandma!!

I hope things are going well for you kristy!! Drop by the resort and say hi!!

tara

I'm here....I tend to lurk on the boards more than I post :) Just can't find the time to ketchup like I should so I shy away and just lurk when I have a few minutes.

Both of my grandmothers love flowers and do so well at it...even my mom has a green thumb. I think I broke the chain..I'm too lazy for all of that ;) I'll stick to the decorations.

I hope you feel better soon!! Give the boys a hug for me!
 



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