Gardening help please

[Happy prose]

My daughter just bought a house, and we plan to do her gardens this weekend. She is in zone 6b, and it looks like both front and back have pretty much full sun. One garden in the back is built around a tree, so that may be a shady spot. Where do we start? Lol.

So far we have day lily bulbs and bags of soil. I was thinking impatients for around the tree, and maybe azalea bushes and lilies in the front. Does the azalea bush stay green in the winter? We're operating on a shoestring budget, so prefer perennials, but will use some annuals for a splash this season. 

After we turn the dirt and add some bagged soil, do I put newspaper down? If so, before or after we plant? We'd like to mulch in the end. 

Suggestions on flowers, bulbs, or any tips? Thanks!

[Tennesseer]

Not all azaleas are evergreen.  Some are deciduous.  The tag on the plant should tell you.  Also their sun requirements.  In sw Tennessee, many azaleas grow in light shade but not dark shade.

Day lillies good for full sun.  Impatients good for morning sun (considered part sun) and shade in the afternoon (heat of the day).  Full sun is considered afternoon sun.

Don't go overboard this first year.  See what the yards look like sun/shade and water/rain wise through out the summer.  Light will change.  Some plants don't like wet feet.

[countrygirl2]

If you want some flowers that are just pretty and for color petunias and geraniums are pretty, both will take hot sun.  They will bloom profusely if watered and given some plant food and you dead head them.  They will not come up again but would add color till you decide what you want.  I don't really like azaleas yes, they bloom pretty for just a short time then you just have green shrubs.  I like lilac, snow ball bushes, things like that.  Or you may want various types of shrubs.  Just depends on the look you want in the end.

[Lizard Queen]

I really like the ornamental grasses, and I think most of them like full sun. There's some really colorful, fancy ones, but the ones at my old work were just some ordinary variety that turned a gorgeous reddish shade for winter. I think they cut them down to nothing every spring, and they sprouted right back up. Even the ones we grew from seeds in the mostly shade, grew for us. Going from seeds should be cheap.

[chapeau]

As for the newspaper, I prefer to plant large plants, then put the newspaper down, then add the small plants afterwards. It’s a pain in the neck to try to origami the newspaper between a bunch of smaller plants. I’d wait until the day lilies breach the surface to mulch those.
I envy your daughter, starting with what sounds like an almost blank slate.
And don’t forget what I call the used plant rack. There won’t be anything there now, but in a couple of weeks, haunt your local big box hardware type place looking for half dead plants on deep clearance. They need some babying (usually a good, long drink of water every day, and many desperately need to be repotted or at least gotten out of the too small pots they’re sold in). I’vepicked up some lovely perennials or self-seeding annuals for less than $1, including asters, Shasta daisies, and even host as). Day lilies spread quickly, IME, so you could have extras to spread around the yard in a year or two.
And take Tenn’s advice to watch the yard for a year, particularly before planting things that are expensive to buy or expensive to remove.

[chapeau]

Ooh, and impatiens around here have been sporting some lovely fungus the last couple of years, to the point that nurseries and greenhouses aren’t carrying them. A local greenhouse will probably know if that’s an issue where you are and be able to recommend other shade-friendly options.

[Tennesseer]

Regarding big box stores with garden centers.  In addition to looking for discounted plants that have seen a better day and might be on sale, find out what day the garden center's supplier of plants brings in new inventory.  Often times the supplier is tossing bad looking plants into the dumpster.

To avoid being arrested, ask the store rep in the garden center if you can pull some of the more salvageable plants out of the dumpter. Free plants.  I often see this (in the dumpster) with herb and vegetable plants.

[CCL]

Don't forget hostas. They do well in shade. Mine are fine with some sun, too, as long as I keep them watered.

Be sure to water everything frequently the first couple of weeks after planting.

If you purchase trees, shrubs and perennials, I believe, from Lowe's or Home Depot they give you a 1 year guarantee. Other stores may do the same.

[CCL]

Impatiens need too much watering for me, even though I do like them, they usually wilt by lunch time.

[Tennesseer]

Best time to plant trees and shrubs, (for that matter, perenials too) is in the fall.  The trees and shrubs don't have to spend energy on both keeping the leaves green when planted late spring or summer, while trying to grow roots too.

Fall planted trees and shrubs only have to focus on growing roots in the fall and winter.  Come spring, they will be in pretty good shape.

[busymom]

Don't put in too many plants the first year.  It's best first to figure out what type of soil you have.  To date, I've only lived in one state, and have always been amazed by how different the soil is here from region to region (clay, sand, etc).  It can make a difference, and you may need to amend the soil to allow your plants to grow better.   

I agree with Tennesseer about putting in trees & shrubs in the fall.  Check with your local greenhouse to get the best estimate on what weeks to put them in before your first hard frost hits.  

[Tiny]

 Can you put the word out that you need plants?  You might get a wind fall for free this year or for next fall/spring. )  It's spring and most gardeners (even the 2 times a year ones) are possibly splitting/thinning their perennials.   Things like day lilies, lily of the valley, hostas, coneflower, blackeyed susans, and sedum need to be thinned/split every few years - I usually offer up some of the Herd (day lilies, hostas, sedum, etc) to family and friends.   Over 20 years I've probably "landscaped"  10 houses.    

You might even score some Tulip bulbs or Jonquils for free... the kind that "naturalize" get a little aggressive once they've been "naturalizing" for years and years... and need to be thinned  

[Tiny]

May 4, 2018 20:24:23 GMT -5 CCL said:

Don't forget hostas. They do well in shade. Mine are fine with some sun, too, as long as I keep them watered.

Be sure to water everything frequently the first couple of weeks after planting.

If you purchase trees, shrubs and perennials, I believe, from Lowe's or Home Depot they give you a 1 year guarantee. Other stores may do the same.

My advice is to NOT assume that the plants offered for sale at Lowes or Home Depot (I HATE that store) are suited or appropriate to your area/zone.    Do your homework BEFORE you buy. 

(Every spring HD puts out all sorts of azaleas and perennials and shrubs and what not - and very few of them are actually suited to our zone...  I have no idea why people here keep buying azaleas - they do NOT grow here and $50 for a plant that's going to look nice (bloom) for a few weeks and then not survive the winter seems silly to me -- but people keep buying them.   In fact, when I was looking for lilacs the local Big Box stores had ones that were barely suited to my area.  Some of the varieties had NO fragrance (who thought that was a good idea??)     Good thing I have a list of 3 varieties that I felt where best suited to my yard/need for scent... took me awhile to find what I wanted (usually a sorry looking thing in a bucket at the back of the garden center).  The new lilacs (survived and became Happy Plants)  currently look and smell great (and work well with the existing 50yo lilac bushes).   

[weltschmerz]

May 4, 2018 18:44:26 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

My daughter just bought a house, and we plan to do her gardens this weekend. She is in zone 6b, and it looks like both front and back have pretty much full sun. One garden in the back is built around a tree, so that may be a shady spot. Where do we start? Lol.

So far we have day lily bulbs and bags of soil. I was thinking impatients for around the tree, and maybe azalea bushes and lilies in the front. Does the azalea bush stay green in the winter? We're operating on a shoestring budget, so prefer perennials, but will use some annuals for a splash this season. 

After we turn the dirt and add some bagged soil, do I put newspaper down? If so, before or after we plant? We'd like to mulch in the end. 

Suggestions on flowers, bulbs, or any tips? Thanks!

Bougainvillea.
 Gorgeous.

[Tiny]

Oh yeah, do alittle research so you don't buy something that's considered INVASIVE.  My neighbor put in a Trumpet Vine... it doesn't like their yard so now it's taking over the fence and my shrubbery/yard.     They planted it because it's good for butterflies or maybe hummingbirds.    I also hear that not that it's on my side of the fence it will keep sending up more vines/plants... and that it's very hard to get rid of/contain.    

I foolishly planted Snow on the Mountain aka "Bishop's Goutweed" and it's horribly invasive... and it kills things in it's path.  Round up doesn't kill it.   I fear I'm stuck with digging it out of everywhere every spring.    

My flower beds came infested with Peppermint... I managed to knock that back about 10 years ago - but every spring I go around and carefully spray any new peppermint sprouts with Round UP  (I make a "shield" with a soda pop box so I only get the peppermint.   I only had two new plants last spring and I didn't see any more of it during the course of the summer - so I may have finally killed it.  ::sigh::  I hate using Round Up.  

The Google is your friend.  Search for your State/Area and Invasive plants and then DON"T buy them at the Big Box store - no matter how pretty they look.    

(Don't plant bamboo... just don't) 

[tskeeter]

May 4, 2018 22:56:56 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Oh yeah, do alittle research so you don't buy something that's considered INVASIVE.  My neighbor put in a Trumpet Vine... it doesn't like their yard so now it's taking over the fence and my shrubbery/yard.     They planted it because it's good for butterflies or maybe hummingbirds.    I also hear that not that it's on my side of the fence it will keep sending up more vines/plants... and that it's very hard to get rid of/contain.    

I foolishly planted Snow on the Mountain aka "Bishop's Goutweed" and it's horribly invasive... and it kills things in it's path.  Round up doesn't kill it.   I fear I'm stuck with digging it out of everywhere every spring.    

My flower beds came infested with Peppermint... I managed to knock that back about 10 years ago - but every spring I go around and carefully spray any new peppermint sprouts with Round UP  (I make a "shield" with a soda pop box so I only get the peppermint.   I only had two new plants last spring and I didn't see any more of it during the course of the summer - so I may have finally killed it.  ::sigh::  I hate using Round Up.  

The Google is your friend.  Search for your State/Area and Invasive plants and then DON"T buy them at the Big Box store - no matter how pretty they look.    

(Don't plant bamboo... just don't) 

I’ve found I sometimes need to use a couple of different types of herbicides.  Round Up is absorbed through the leaves, so it works well on leafy weeds and most grasses.  Ground Clear is absorbed through the roots, so works where you don’t have leafy plants.  It was the only thing that worked on a type off grass that formed a very dense root mass.  Watch out with the Ground Clear, though.  You are treating the soil, not the plant.  I used Ground Clear about a foot from some irises several years ago.  Killed half the iris plant.  It still hasn’t recovered.

[Happy prose]

What about peonies? Any difficulties?

[finnime]

Peonies are heavy feeders, spectacular in the spring. Need good sun and support when they grow up each year, or the heavy flowers will droop to the ground.

Check the planting zone before choosing plants as well as the siting (full/partial sun, wet/dry, sandy/clay).

Mountain laurel is a beautiful hardy evergreen shrub. I took this picture of some growing wild here in metro DC area:

[Happy prose]

Just looked up the mountain laurel. So pretty, and just might work in her garden. I have to see what the nursery by her has.

[Happy prose]

I also think I'll stalk around her neighborhood to see what neighbors are growing. 

[dogmom]

Peonies are great plants.  Beautiful blooms, but, they attract ants.  If you plant them, make sure you plant away from your home's foundation. 

[Tennesseer]

May 5, 2018 5:34:19 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

I also think I'll stalk around her neighborhood to see what neighbors are growing. 

Excellent idea.

[dogmom]

May 5, 2018 6:27:38 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 5, 2018 5:34:19 GMT -5 Happy prose said:

I also think I'll stalk around her neighborhood to see what neighbors are growing. 

Excellent idea.

Sometimes there is a garden club or an area plant sale.  Usually the plants sold thru them (since this won't take just one day) will give you some good venues to pick up what will grow.    Good luck!

[Tennesseer]

Good ideas, dogmom.

Also consider plants (and shrubs?) Which offer food for wildlife.  For example, coneflower flower heads offer seeds for finches, especially goldfinches.

Perenial milkweed leaves are eaten by monarch butterfly caterpillars and once they are flying, the flowers offer nectar.

Like hummingbirds?  Plant hummingbird friendly plants.

If you (general you) identify a plant which interests you, look it up and see if it offers any benefits to wildlife. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

May 5, 2018 5:19:09 GMT -5 finnime said:

Peonies are heavy feeders, spectacular in the spring. Need good sun and support when they grow up each year, or the heavy flowers will droop to the ground.

Check the planting zone before choosing plants as well as the siting (full/partial sun, wet/dry, sandy/clay).

Mountain laurel is a beautiful hardy evergreen shrub. I took this picture of some growing wild here in metro DC area:

We had a mountain laurel in my childhood yard. It got so large, we used it as a fort, LOL. We used to spend hours popping the little buds with our fingers. We also used to pop the blue buds on the row of hostas as leading to the door. Ahhhh, memories. We were brats. 😜

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I vote for taking it slow and spending this year taking stock of what is already in the yard and how the light moves through the season. Eight years ago, we saw our house in February and closed at the beginning of May. The former owners were avid gardeners; my own gardening knowledge was very limited at the time but has grown immensely, since. I am still learning about my yard and the wisdom of many of their gardening choices that, at first, didn't match my uneducated preferences but now are treasured, valued, plants. Have your daughter take pictures once per week from various angles in her yard to create a season-long map of what is already there and build or re-build from that over the next few years.

As far as planting in general, trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs are the most bang for your time, money, and effort, but annuals can be gloriously colorful accents. Check out gardening magazines (Garden Design is one) and books (Kerry Ann Mendez', a highly-regarded Master Gardener, most recent book focuses on gardening on a budget). Also try PBS for their archived gardening shows. Tour local botanical gardens and go on local garden club tours. All will help your daughter develop a feel for what types and varieties of plants she likes, match those to her climate, and work from there. She doesn't want to rush and spend a bunch of money only to find out in a few months or a year that she really wants something different or the plants she bought don't work in that space.

I also want to recommend that you shop at, and get to know the staff, at a local independent nursery rather than a box store. Their selections (appropriate for your area) and knowledge and advice are well worth a few extra dollars. In addition, their products (plants, supples, tools, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) are usually far superior in quality to those carried at box stores. For example, bagged mulches don't come naturally in an array of colors; colored mulches are dyed and that dye washes into your soil over the course of the season. Independents will carry undyed, clean (ever had scary-looking growths or plastic or metal chunks rise out of your cheap box store mulch?) BARK mulch. Many independents garden centers also offer free or very low cost classes and workshops designed to share their expert knowledge with the newer gardener.

Have fun!!!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I bet the people who bought our last house were surprised in the Spring. I had maybe 5000 bulbs all over the place. Many perennials like peonies that aren't above the ground during the Winter. They couldn't miss the row of 30 forsythia along a road bordering one side of my property (all grown by me taking cuttings from an apartment complex nearby  ) 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

May 5, 2018 5:57:00 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Peonies are great plants.  Beautiful blooms, but, they attract ants.  If you plant them, make sure you plant away from your home's foundation. 

what is currently in the garden? do you know that it is not well-planted?

[weltschmerz]

You can also put the word out on Freecycle, or another Free Stuff website.
I found someone there looking for little lilac saplings. I had too many. I called her and said "They're yours. Just come and dig them up.".

[Happy prose]

May 5, 2018 11:21:05 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

May 5, 2018 5:57:00 GMT -5 dogmom said:

Peonies are great plants.  Beautiful blooms, but, they attract ants.  If you plant them, make sure you plant away from your home's foundation. 

what is currently in the garden? do you know that it is not well-planted?

Just got back from her house. So far, just some hostas. We cleaned up the flower beds, and so far planted the yellow day lilies, and some lilies of the valley. We planted annuals in big giant pots she had. We bought geraniums, petunias, and vinca (?). It's in the impatient family, but this one takes full sun. We bought impatients for the back, around the tree, but didn't get to plant them yet. And we also started a fairy garden there. It's my new obsession, but can get expensive!