I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (Full Version)

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bzirk -> I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/9/2008 7:19:14 PM)

Maybe there is a thread like this already, but if not, then here it is -- the place to ask questions that you feel make you look stupid, but you want to ask anyway. [8D]

Here's mine:

I like peonies, and I would like to plant a couple of bushes in my front flowerbed (the one next to the front door). But I've heard peonies attract ants, so I'm wondering about that and anything else that is a negative about them. I'd like to hear the positive too. [:D]

Thanks.



furrypurrykitty -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/9/2008 10:16:32 PM)

I think peonies are lovely (I especially like the pink ones), but when it rains they look bedraggled.



Kerrlaw -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/9/2008 10:21:14 PM)

quote:

I'd like to hear the positive too


When it comes to social organization and cooperation, ants are in some ways more evolved than humans, acting for the survival of the colony rather than the individual.

Ants also help control pests by eating the eggs and larvae of more destructive insects. They even remove the carcasses of dead insects.

And they aerate the soil.

[sm=icon_smile_approve.gif]



Liveloved -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 12:18:37 AM)

Peonies are beautiful. I have dozens of different colors, varieties. I have one outside our front door although we have a porch so it is probably 10 ft from the door. I've never noticed ants being a problem. (There are always ants on peonies but they've never marched into the house.[:)])

The foliage is also nice and once established they make a nice sized bush. Of course they'll die back in the winter. They are best planted in the fall and plant the crown a little above the ground level. Don't know what color you're thinking of but Karl Rosenfeld (?) is one of my favorites---a deep rose. Anyway, enjoy!



IonMoon -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 9:08:01 AM)

I was always told that the ants are helpful because they help the blossoms open- I don't think it is true, though (but I like the idea of it [:)]), so if you want to plant them there you could treat the area to prevent the ants.

Or if you don't like chemicals and can't find an organic method of keeping the ants away... you could plant the peonies farther from the house. Maybe that would draw them away from the house!

I am a bad gardener, too, though... My dilemma. I really want a vegetable garden. I have really lousy soil. Plus I am pretty sure it is contaminated. Sooo... even though it is late in the season, I am building a raised bed (Doing it this weekend!). I grabbed a few left over plants from WalMart and have some seeds for carrots, radishes, beets, greens, which all grow quickly.

Now... my only problem is that I have no area in my yard that gets a lot of sun. I finally figured out that exact middle of the side yard gets the most sun, so I am putting it there... but it is a weird place for it, because it is just smack dab in the middle of the only really flat section of yard we have!

So... what does everyone think... will my garden even be worth the effort if it gets less than 8 hours of direct sunlight?

We do get a lot of sun at the front of the house, but it would be practically on the road- which can't be healthy!

Tara P



agapetos -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 11:21:16 AM)

I'd say go ahead and plant the peonies and see what happens! You can get biological controls to deal with ants if you do get them.

Tara ~ how much sun does the rest of your garden get? Mine has a high wall on the east side and a huge tree at the south so while it does get sun, there's a lot of shade too. I'm pretty sure that none of my garden gets 8 hours of sun though! I'm pretty sure that light is as important as direct sun. I'm also using raised beds (I'm trying to cope with ground elder in the ground so they're all lined with a porous fabric). There is a thread here about container gardening too.

Personally, I think that you and bzirk should just go for it!



agapetos -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 12:40:39 PM)

(BTW ~ I've put some pics of my garden in my blog ~ post #120). It's a bit crazy, but there's method in the madness.



Auben -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 2:24:02 PM)

I must be a moron too then because I planted a peony by my front door 3 years ago and this year (the first year it opened) I was told about the ant thing.

I personally haven't had problems with ants there. I have problems with them elsewhere (they get in by the back door and the bathroom but they always have..we deal with them every year) but either we haven't noticed them by that peony and that section of the house or that is an old wives tale.

I love the peony. It's just about the only thing that grows there consistently. Maybe the ants were eating the other flowers I planted. [8|]


I also have a lot of shade in my yard. Other than the side yard (which is paved naturally) I have trees everywhere. Sun-loving plants (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, etc) need at least 5-6 non-sequential hours of sunlight. I notice many of my beds get sun for a few hours, then shade, then sun again in the late afternoon. I have a few other beds which get a lot more shade (most of the time). So far beans (bush, soy) are doing fine there. I had potatoes and cucumbers there last year and the potatoes did terribly (maybe a dozen tiny potatoes from as many plants) and the cucumbers did okay (5 cucumbers from 2 plants) but not as productive as usual. I can't get tomatoes or squash to grow there at all.

I've read that basil and some of the leafy plants (lettuce, etc) do better in the shady areas then most other plants. I may try that next year but my shady area is under trees bordering my yard and that's where the squirrels, chipmunks, and bugs hang out.

Another possibility is planting in containers. You can put them in the sunny sections of the yard even if a whole bed would look strange there. I'm growing potatoes in pails in our paved side yard.



Auben -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 2:38:07 PM)

One thing about gardening is that there is always more to learn about it. Even the expert who's been gardening for 40 years can still be surprised by things.

I started a year or two ago and I'm really enjoying the trial and error. Even when I'm at my busiest I can stop outside for a few minutes to pull a few weeds or just see how things are doing between putting wash on the line or taking the dog out.

It's really satisfying to watch something change and grow so quickly.

Books I enjoyed when I started:

Ruth Stout's No Work Garden
Lasagna Gardening
Gaia's Garden: at home Permaculture
The Square Foot Garden



bzirk -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/10/2008 2:43:20 PM)

Thanks everyone for the replies and thanks for the book suggestions. I'll look into them. I did read the lasagna book a few years ago, and tried it on a bed in my back yard. It does work. I just hope the other books are for gardening dummies like me.

Truth be told my real problem with gardening is that I don't want to have to learn that much. I just want someone to tell me what to do and I'll do it, and whatever it is, it needs to be idiot proof. [:D] There I said it. [8D]



IonMoon -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/11/2008 11:08:06 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bzirk
Truth be told my real problem with gardening is that I don't want to have to learn that much. I just want someone to tell me what to do and I'll do it, and whatever it is, it needs to be idiot proof. [:D] There I said it. [8D]


That is exactly how I feel. There is so much you can learn... but I don't want to figure out ph levels and soil to compost ratios and all that... I don't need a perfect garden (like my dad, mom, & sister can all grow!).

I just like being able to go outside and pick something that magically sprouted from a seed!

Anyhow... my dad and ds are picking up my 800lbs of soil and compost today. My dh built the frame yesterday.

Tomorrow I am off, so I will be filling it and placing the plants then. I am really excited.

I bought a couple of reduced tomato & pepper plants- I don't remember what else. And my dad has some seeds. I want to put in some lettuces and carrots, radishes, and beets.

Tara P



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/11/2008 11:45:15 AM)

quote:

I just want someone to tell me what to do and I'll do it,


OK, here is my advice in a nutshell. Look for plants that have interesting leaves. Flowers may last for 2 or 3 weeks, but when the flowers are gone you still want the plant to look pretty and interesting. Look for plants with silver leaves, one example is Japanese painted fern. Look for red leaves like coleus. Not only bright red but also a deep burgundy color that many plants have. Another interesting color is lemon-lime (some hostas have this color).
Look for plants that have a pattern on their leaves such as geraniums. Even when the flowers are gone, the leaves can be eye-catching.



Auben -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/11/2008 12:29:10 PM)

I don't think gardening has to be complicated, but like cooking it sure helps to know why you do some things.

How the world works is so amazing. Once you understand how 'dirt' is made up of dead plants and other organic things it makes so much more sense to keep your grass and leaves instead of having the city haul them away (or burn them). Compost keeps a constant buffet for your plants. If you take away the rotting plant life then the remaining dirt gets sucked dry by your plants and year after year they become more stunted with smaller yields.

I prefer simplicity in my garden. Break up the dirt a little bit (I don't even use a tiller) to get rid of the other plant life. I plant. I weed once or twice until the plants are big enough to mulch. When plants show enough for me to mulch around them I mulch with dead leaves or grass. If it gets real hot and dry for a long time (over a week) I water it if I remember.

That's it. I don't fertilize (I spread compost at the beginning or end of season). I don't usually water (but I live in the North).

I make mistakes. I plant sunny plants like tomatoes in the shade (lol). Things die from insects or animals but enough things make it through and I learn every year.



IonMoon -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/12/2008 9:35:17 PM)

Yeah... see my dad makes everythign perfect- and I know that make it grow better... but I would be perfectly happy with a good garden- it needn't be great! I don't need perfect tomatoes- as long as they are edible, I will be happy!

I got my garden filled in a planted today! I'll try to post photos tomorrow.

Here's what I have:

Plants:

5 Tomato- two cherry, 1 pink beefsteak, 1 I lost the tag, I think it is a beefsteak, and 1 microtom (grape tomato)
2 pepper- 1 banana, 1 purple bell
1 cantaloupe
1 honeydew
1 acorn squash
1 cucumber
1 Thai basil
2 mystery squash from my dad

Seeds:

carrots- two varieties
onions
cucumbers (I was reluctant on this one, my dad says they will grow, we'll see!)
swiss chard (dad will also be giving me some plants in a few days)
iceberg lettuce

The stores have no seeds [:@] I am still trying to find some, because I would like to do some radishes and beets at least, and also try broccoli and cauliflower and/or some different greens (though I am running out of room).

Tara P



bzirk -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/12/2008 9:37:39 PM)

Thanks, everyone. Tara and I are totally on the same page.

I said I didn't want to be a moron, but I also don't want to invest in being an expert or even anywhere close, and I'm glad to know I don't have to be. I really like the suggestions so far. I also happen to really like hostas, but now I'm wondering if there is anything heinous about them. They seem to be fairly idiot proof or is that just wishful thinking on my part? [8D]



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/12/2008 10:16:42 PM)

Hostas get bigger and bigger every year. That can be a good thing if you are trying to fill in a space. Eventually they get crowded, but then you just divide them up and give them to your friends. Hostas come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Green with cream, lemon-lime, dark green, bright Irish green, Blue green. There is one type of hosta that even has red stems. Some people like all of one kind, but I like to mix and match the colors.
This photo is "my" garden at the church showing a few hostas, the red coleus and a silver fern and a few others.
Photo



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/12/2008 10:21:46 PM)

More hostas.

You see the wide variety of colors? It's fun to mix and match. In a shady area the lemon lime color really stands out.



zmanfan38 -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/12/2008 10:39:54 PM)

Does anybody have experience with pruning a rhododendron? I have one that blooms these gorgeous fuchsia blooms every year, but this Spring I've have a few dead looking stalks. I don't know if I should prune around where the bloom should be or lower. It's been pretty hardy in the 11 years that we've owned this house and hasn't needed any help until now...help![:D]


Thanks for this thread. I'm a gardening goof as well.[sm=icon_smile_blush.gif]



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/13/2008 9:33:44 AM)

quote:

pruning a rhododendron?


You can prune lower. Get all the dead stuff off. Do it now. In late summer and autumn it will be making its buds for next Spring so you don't want to prune in the autumn. Same is true for lilac bushes.



zmanfan38 -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/13/2008 2:20:17 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wild-Rose

quote:

pruning a rhododendron?


You can prune lower. Get all the dead stuff off. Do it now. In late summer and autumn it will be making its buds for next Spring so you don't want to prune in the autumn. Same is true for lilac bushes.


Will do...thanks for that![:)]



bzirk -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/13/2008 6:06:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Wild-Rose

quote:

pruning a rhododendron?


You can prune lower. Get all the dead stuff off. Do it now. In late summer and autumn it will be making its buds for next Spring so you don't want to prune in the autumn. Same is true for lilac bushes.


So I should prune my lilac bushes pretty soon?

Thanks.



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/14/2008 7:47:04 AM)

Yes. I assume they are done blooming by now? You can prune them after they are done blooming. Then during the late summer and autumn they get ready for next year. People who prune in the autumn ruin their chances of having nice blossoms the following Spring.



Auben -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/15/2008 4:33:13 PM)

Hostas are very hard to kill and will live in complete shade at the base of trees.

I've separated them at every time of the year (save winter) and they've still survived so I consider them to be good and hardy (like black-eyed susan).



Wild-Rose -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/15/2008 4:51:08 PM)

quote:

my front flowerbed


Bzirk, this area that you are working on, is it in mostly sunshine or shade?



bzirk -> RE: I am a moron about gardening, but I don't want to be (7/15/2008 9:24:55 PM)

Mostly sunshine.



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