Landscaping...cheap!

[Taylors6]

Hello! I'm hoping someone here knows a little something about basic landscaping. We have a nice large yard and every year I wish we had flowers and pretty things growing like many of those in our area-problem is I am too cheap to spend $100 at the local nursery and I don't have good luck growing much of anything so I just put it off.

We have a above ground pool and a couple years ago put in a stone patio so I would love to work this year on the rest of the yard so that it looks nice. I am focusing on perennials because atleast next year I would have something to look forward to. Here are the couple things I am stumped on...

Creeping Charlie...boy do we have a bunch of it! We pull it out when it gets up around the patio or pool rocks, but overall our yard just has a bunch- and not nearly enough grass (in the 10 years we have been here we have taken out quite a few shrubs, bushes, trees, etc. since most the yard was covered like a jungle- its left a bunch of dirt with little grass growing). We would like to work on the grass filling in and killing the Creeping Charlie- can we grow the grass and then kill the weed? I hate the idea of killing the weed since then there will be even more dirt (that is of course mud when the kids are in the pool most the summer!).

I've ordered some clematis to try to grow on the fence near the pool. A couple Hostas to try to put near a fence thats directly under a huge chinese elm (really shaded all summer). I'm trying to figure out something that would be like ground cover that has flowers for the front of the house where we have a planting box along the front porch (shallow though- only like 5" of dirt there)- something hardy that will be there every year. And also would like a bush or something that I can put in front of the fence but that will be small- like 3 foot tall and have some flowers.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Also any suggestions for the most economical grass seed to try to start seeding with? I've read that you have to be careful to not just buy the cheapest because it needs to be decent or its wasted anyways! If it matters we live in IL,and of course the yard has lots of traffic!

Thanks in advance!
Missy

 

[Kimmumum]

I don't know where you live in Illinois but by us (Chicago burbs) everyone has lemon lilies. Everyone will gladly share with you too. They grow and grow and then need to be split but no one likes to throw them out. Ask around. People will probably share their lemon lilies, iris', and hostas. I had a friend that bought a new house and hated flowers. They were going to tear up all of the flowers. A few of us went over and dug up TONS of stuff and planted it, not even knowing what half of it was going to be. When it came up if we didn't like it we gave it away. Look around of tulip bulbs, lilac bushes (they are cheap if they are little but will grow up), paper whites etc. Another good thing to do (but won't help you right now) is to go to your local nursery in late August and everything is drastically reduced (they are often sad looking plants but will do great with a little TLC and miracle grow). You can plant most things in the fall and they'll be pretty in the spring.

I buy very few flowers (I'm too cheap also) but my yard is full of flowers. Ask your friends/family/neighbors and you may be surprised what you end up with. Happy planting

 

[goofyforlife]

I'm trying to figure out something that would be like ground cover that has flowers for the front of the house where we have a planting box along the front porch (shallow though- only like 5" of dirt there)- something hardy that will be there every year.

Have you thought of day lilly. It's perennial and mine stay in the 6-8" tall range. If you want them to appear dense you could plant them close together. I would go with maybe 8" OC to see how they grow.

BTW You didn't mention sun at front of house but day lilly will be ok in sun or partial shade too. If it's really shaded try Liriope instead.

 

[Taylors6]

Actually I love day lilys (sp?)...how deep do they have to be planted though?

Thanks!
Missy

 

[Chicago526]

Seeds are cheap. I saw a huge container of mixed seeds in the garden area of Target, they had one blend for bright colors and another blend for fragrance. It was less than $10 and covers a large area. Just shake, water, and watch 'em grow. I haven't tried it myself yet, but I may try it out this spring, I'm not sure how much landscaping we'll be doing, I'm concentrating on getting my vegetable garden going.

If you have a shadey area (like the north side of your house), Impatients do really well, and they grow so big that you only need a few to cover a large area, they don't cost much and come in a lot of colors for mixing and matching.

 

[rockyroad]

Daylillies are not planted deeply...here anyway.

Can you show us a picture of the area you want to work on?

 

[rockyroad]

I had to google creeping charlie.
I call it ground ivy.

I had it in a previous house and I didn't worry about it...I thought it was pretty.

But I did find this about controlling it with borax...it sounds simple and inexpensive.

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h519borax.html

 

[Plantlady]

I agree, ask your friends, neighbors, family for perennials. We moved into our house 2 years ago, and I went to my in-laws house and divided all of her plants for her, kept half, and left half for them. (with their permission of course). My uncle also divided several plants for me, and my mom thins out her plants in the fall, and brings them to me.

Churches will often have plant sales... people bringing their perennials that they thinned... that's a great place to get plants for cheap.

I have no grass advise. I took an entire class about grass, but I was pregnant, had the baby, was very tired, and didnt' do so well in that class (passed though!.. it was my last semsester at school!). Go to a gardening store, and ask, because they know your area, and can offer the best advise. Or find your local extension office. That is their job, helping people be successful with agriculture.

 

[swilshire]

Two of our local high schools have greenhouses and sell plants this time of year. I've always bought my vegetable plants from them because they're cheaper than anybody else, but lately they are doing more flowers than veggies.

Sheila

 

[grlpwrd]

One of my favroite websites is gardenweb.com . There is a wealth of information there on the gardening forums.

Check on Craigslist for free plants or you can advertise for a plant swap or ask for free palnts. I recently picked up a free rhodie bush and many liriope plants from people off of Craigslist.

Check with your extension office. They usually have sales or know of plant sales for inexpensive prices. I know our local living museum is sponsoring a native plant sale so poke around what is available in your locale.

Yes, ask family, friends, and neighbors. I am going to be arranging a plant swap in our neighborhood this summer and we wil see how it goes.

With grass it depends on where you live and your needs. I think it would be best to check with your gardening center or extension office.

GL!