A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Wild Out Back HELP!

Oh I see now that you said it is a Hosta Sieboldiana...

Neko your yard is pretty..Sometimes I wish I had a more managable size..Or the money to have a fulltime gardener..<yeah right>

This Fern is pretty..http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/29041-product.html

Burgandy Lace.

http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/29041-product.html

OOPS!!!

That's how that hosta was marketed.

Will be gone for a few days. Taking a winter getaway -- see you when I get back this coming weekend.

There are Ferns called Winter Ferns...that stay green in winter...What do you think about that??

Also there is an Evergreen Clematis...I could use that on the wire fence instead of English Ivy.

Decisions decisions..

Planning this keeps me busy..Since I cannot plant or transplant anything. At least I can get the plan in place..I am anxious to see my new Day lily in bloom, the Little Missy...The package shows a lovely fushia colored flower..

I still have not removed my junk from the area...It has been raining..<which is good, the ground will be soft>> so I can dig out the unwanted plants easier. Once I get everything dug out then the whole area will be covered with thick plastic to keep it weed and plant free til planting time.

The Day lilies and hosta that I have in the front are coming up. But it was freezing last night..So I am waiting for about a month to transplant them to the back.

I forgot I have a Gardenia tree too..It is about 4 ft tall and in the front. I am moving that to the back also. I may extend the garden to the left of the big tree so I can put in the lovely sitting area that rue suggested. I want that whole area to be a lovely flower garden. I did not want to make too much work..Too much work always deters me..So a little at a time. The area to the left of the big tree is pretty flat. It use to be a huge dog kennel. The 6ft fence would be extended to the tree..And I am plotting to put a black marble wall fountain in that area backed up against the would be 6ft fence...Ahhh I have to stop plotting or I will make the project too big.

It is about 15 ft by 10...Rue do you have any ideas for that area???? I could just plot it out and put down plastic to clear out any plant growth and then continue with that part next spring...That way I could get the benches at a discount in Fall.

I also have 4 fushia Crape Myrtles..Currently they are planted in my version of a nursery...On the edge of my vegetable garden. They are about 4-5 ft tall they are the 8-10ft size..

The Crape Myrtles could go in the sitting area..To flank the bench and fountain...<<<it is SUNNY in that area>>...I would love to make the seating area all fushias..<my favorite color>> Maybe some whites and purples..<NO yellow or orange>>And loaded with scented flowers. I am a little worried about the large tree..it is a black cherry which has a tendency to splinter. Anything I plant near that tree could end up squashed by a fallen branch. I have one of those large cherry trees in my front yard too..I have a bench swing under it..One day I was sitting there and just got up to walk over to my porch for a minute..I was not more then 5 ft away from that bench when a HUGE branch broke off of that cherry and slammed into the bench swing...<<<Phew luck huh??>> I didn't hear any warning sounds before the branch fell either...Yes I am paranoid of my Cherry trees dropping branches without warning on my head...

By the way the wild out back area is Northern exposure...East is by way of the horse stable.

Don't use plastic---> lay newspaper down 12 sheets thick and cover with compost, manure, mulch, leaves, topsoil, etc. Which ever is easiest to gets your hands on!!! I am guessing it will be the manure. LOL!!

The newspaper smothers the grass and weeds and by next spring you will have a wonderful place to plant. The manure will have aged and it will be a wonderful bed.

The grass and weeds decompose and add more good stuff to the bed.

There is an evergreen fern that is native the christmas fern

Ferns will like the wood you place around your bed. I think the wood stays moist and so they are very happy.

alabama wildflowers


virgin\'s bower

I meant "no plastic" for the second area you are talking anout not the first. I would be way too impatient to wait for that !!

Yes, plan your whole yard, on paper is is easier to change your mind then regrowing grass or moving entire beds, or diveways. Then tackle a bit of the plan wherever you can time AND $$$ wise.

Think about the approach to your house (guests first impressions), your work area, where kids/adults play, relaxing spots, nature and birdwatching areas.

I am still landscaping that area this spring so I only have about 30-40 days to get the area ready...I was talking about the area in front of the big tree as the area I work on next spring..

Can I still lay down newspaper with such little time to go???

Did I misunderstand your message??

Yep you are right rue I have LOTS of horse manure and oak leaves...Both are acidic though so I would have to lime the area before planting anything right??

Then do I til it after I leave the paper N stuff on it??? Will it work in 30-40 days??

Oh, I thought you were doing the part left of the tree next year! The newspaper method takes a few months to work.

If the manure is aged you can put it right in the beds.

HOW long does it take for manure to age???

Yes that is right I am thinking of waiting til next spring to do the area left of the big tree. Okay now I know what you were talking about. I don't know how long it takes for manure to age..I would guess it is aged when it is dry and powdery.

I do know that horses will not eat plant growth that comes out of their manure..I deliberately spread his manure all over the front pasture (that never has grass because of the horse) And Grass actually grew because the Horse would not touch any of it..He had his 2 back pastures so it was ok. BUT 6 months later all the grass was gone again. So I guess it takes 3 to 6 months for it to age...At least enough for the horse to eat up all the grass that grew out of it..

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/components/7540_04.html

I found the above information re manure..But I didn't see anything about aging...The composting is suppose to kill all the seeds that are in the manure..That would be good because I do feed my horse a variety of grains..If I do not kill the seeds in the manure first I will have wheat, corn and grass growing in my garden.. <smile>

http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item60106.aspx#

http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item49108.aspx

I found thil little planter bridge and some metal cranes...Now I am thinking of making the "Wild Out Back" wider and putting in a dry creek bed...

Hummmmm....If I make it too complicated I will get discouraged..Maybe I need to stop thinking about it..

And I found these angel planters which I thought would be nice for marking my Cat Graves.

http://www.collectionsetc.com/Item52225.aspx

oops I mean...THIS little planter bridge..

The Wild Out Back is clear....



I trimmed this wild bush..to look like a tree. I do not know what it is but it blooms little white flowers in spring.

AFTER>>>


BEFORE >>>


You can only see the edge of the original bush. But hopefully you get the idea.

More.....

Before>>>




After >>>

This stuff that is growing at the bottom of the first big tree is Crocus.I had decided I did not like them where I planned to plant them and just threw them in there near the tree. They are coming up!!!!

The ground is VERY soft back in there..

Tommorrow I clear out the rest of the unwanted plants...Meaning the grass and misc wild ground cover aka weeds..


PS the BIG rusty pipe is MORE of my neighbors junk it is sitting directly on the lot line.

The measurement I originally gave was wrong..The area is 47 ft. by 11 ft...

Wow you have been working hard. It is looking great.

47 x 11 is definitely enough room for a very nice colorful bed.

I am ready for some color, but we still have a long few months of cold left.

Rue I love your idea re adding decorative rocks to the mix..Only problem is big rocks if you cannot find them in nature are expensive..<pout>>

I have access to unlimited quantities of black slate..My neighbor <<yes the one with all the junk on the lot line..>> Has a small finger of the flint river running through the back of his property. He has tons of black slate in there..He said I could have it all...

Do you think if I remove all his slate that it will upset he ecology of the river??

The slate is relatively flat and all about 10-12 inches, kind of round shapes...BUT,it is fragile <<cannot be used for stepping stones. But, could be used as a border wall.

Oui - do you have a Hobby Lobby in your area?
They have an incredible collection of garden statuary, decorative birdhouses, pretty metal doo-dads, etc.

Have you looked at those kits for shade gardens? That would probably give you a good list of plants for that area with a variety of heights and color. Just a thought.