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2014-03-29 11:08 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by bootygirl Hi! My weekly update - the bricks made it into place for the main back yard bed along the fence. I have since stained the tops rusty, and the leaves and coffee filter layer has been stomped down flat. Mr Booty wheel barrowed the blocks all around to the back yard and put them in stacks, but left the engineering and brick laying to me while he went to a gun show. (Can we log "brick laying" to the logs?). On sat night I was struggling to move. Stakes, strings and a level were used, of course. By the time I finished, I have an "L" shape of 86 sq ft in two blocks high. For reference, the long edge of the bed runs roughly N-S, with my yard on the east east side. We backed away from three blocks, and now have blocks for a 2nd bed or something - right in the middle where the best sun is, for peppers. I need to acquire some more rebar to secure it at intervals, but filled with dirt, the structure seems sound. By the time I toss in the dirt from my former mounded beds, and then my own compost, I still have about 14 inches of dirt to buy and fill in. I'm shopping around. "Mel's mix" will run me a fair amount. (Not telling Mr. booty about that cost). I am not so sure I am sold on the "soilless" soil for something this big. Suggestions welcome.

. In the center of the yard, not in the bed, to the far end of the "L", will go a fruit tree. Apple or peach.

I am not keeping the beds for 100% veggies - looking to mix in some things to have something going the other 7-8 months of the year so it doesn't look so dismal. The kale palm trees are my only year long plant right now! I am looking around my neighborhood and not seeing a lot of options. Grasses that row tall, rosemary, maybe some succulents that can survive a Reno winter, if we ever have one again. (In the '70's all weekend and my freckles are OUT). I am not sold on "lawn" here, but maybe there are some grasses I could plant in the ground that would not take a lot of water. I bought the Sunset Small Yard Makeover mag, and I gots big ideas!

First of all the project looks great. If y'all were a little closer I'd have a job for you. The cheapest route for soil is to buy bags of top soil and add to it. Use a ratio of about 2:1 topsoil to whatever you choose to add. Since you already have your own compost, use it, it will greatly improve the topsoil. I am guessing here, but since you live in Reno, your soil has sand so make sure to blend a little in as well. If you run out of your own compost, you can purchase bags to blend with the topsoil or peat will do as well. If going the organic route, a little aged manure goes a long way so be careful. Good luck and let me know if this makes any sense or you have further questions.

But starting from the top down, how many inches of good soil does she (one) need for a raised bed? 

I assumed those were 8 inch block for 16 inch beds so personally I would fill them completely. Generally speaking though, 6 to 8 inches would be sufficient unless you get into an extreme ph or heavy clay because you need to break up the soil that is the base of your raised bed for drainage and transition. If she wanted to she could put gravel and sand in the bottom and then her good soil blend on top. That all said, someone much wiser than me once said a good soil is a deep one, which is why I would fill the whole raised bed. Hope this answered your question.

It does answer my question! I was just thinking that if soil is hard to come by, maybe a compromise for Mary would be to fill in a few of the bottom inches with something cheaper.  I believe you're our resident soils expert

 

I live at the base of the Sierra's and my native "soil" is poorly developed clay rich soil over paleo fluvial deposits - clay and sand filling in around rounded granite cobbles and boulders. (I am a geologist). The cobbles dug up in digging a foundation can be enough to clad your entire house in my neighborhood. I imagine "top soil" in my yard was brought in - the house is 1938, I don't know what they did back then. But dig down 6-12 inches, and the soil turns light brown and the cobbles start. So - I want nothing to do with anything more than a few inches deep. What I had been gardening on was mounded up top soil plus amendments. I found a place on line with organic amended soil for a lot less- it seems to be an enterprise operating on the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility.



2014-03-29 11:53 AM
in reply to: bootygirl

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by bootygirl
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by bootygirl Hi! My weekly update - the bricks made it into place for the main back yard bed along the fence. I have since stained the tops rusty, and the leaves and coffee filter layer has been stomped down flat. Mr Booty wheel barrowed the blocks all around to the back yard and put them in stacks, but left the engineering and brick laying to me while he went to a gun show. (Can we log "brick laying" to the logs?). On sat night I was struggling to move. Stakes, strings and a level were used, of course. By the time I finished, I have an "L" shape of 86 sq ft in two blocks high. For reference, the long edge of the bed runs roughly N-S, with my yard on the east east side. We backed away from three blocks, and now have blocks for a 2nd bed or something - right in the middle where the best sun is, for peppers. I need to acquire some more rebar to secure it at intervals, but filled with dirt, the structure seems sound. By the time I toss in the dirt from my former mounded beds, and then my own compost, I still have about 14 inches of dirt to buy and fill in. I'm shopping around. "Mel's mix" will run me a fair amount. (Not telling Mr. booty about that cost). I am not so sure I am sold on the "soilless" soil for something this big. Suggestions welcome.

. In the center of the yard, not in the bed, to the far end of the "L", will go a fruit tree. Apple or peach.

I am not keeping the beds for 100% veggies - looking to mix in some things to have something going the other 7-8 months of the year so it doesn't look so dismal. The kale palm trees are my only year long plant right now! I am looking around my neighborhood and not seeing a lot of options. Grasses that row tall, rosemary, maybe some succulents that can survive a Reno winter, if we ever have one again. (In the '70's all weekend and my freckles are OUT). I am not sold on "lawn" here, but maybe there are some grasses I could plant in the ground that would not take a lot of water. I bought the Sunset Small Yard Makeover mag, and I gots big ideas!

First of all the project looks great. If y'all were a little closer I'd have a job for you. The cheapest route for soil is to buy bags of top soil and add to it. Use a ratio of about 2:1 topsoil to whatever you choose to add. Since you already have your own compost, use it, it will greatly improve the topsoil. I am guessing here, but since you live in Reno, your soil has sand so make sure to blend a little in as well. If you run out of your own compost, you can purchase bags to blend with the topsoil or peat will do as well. If going the organic route, a little aged manure goes a long way so be careful. Good luck and let me know if this makes any sense or you have further questions.

But starting from the top down, how many inches of good soil does she (one) need for a raised bed? 

I assumed those were 8 inch block for 16 inch beds so personally I would fill them completely. Generally speaking though, 6 to 8 inches would be sufficient unless you get into an extreme ph or heavy clay because you need to break up the soil that is the base of your raised bed for drainage and transition. If she wanted to she could put gravel and sand in the bottom and then her good soil blend on top. That all said, someone much wiser than me once said a good soil is a deep one, which is why I would fill the whole raised bed. Hope this answered your question.

It does answer my question! I was just thinking that if soil is hard to come by, maybe a compromise for Mary would be to fill in a few of the bottom inches with something cheaper.  I believe you're our resident soils expert :)

 

I live at the base of the Sierra's and my native "soil" is poorly developed clay rich soil over paleo fluvial deposits - clay and sand filling in around rounded granite cobbles and boulders. (I am a geologist). The cobbles dug up in digging a foundation can be enough to clad your entire house in my neighborhood. I imagine "top soil" in my yard was brought in - the house is 1938, I don't know what they did back then. But dig down 6-12 inches, and the soil turns light brown and the cobbles start. So - I want nothing to do with anything more than a few inches deep. What I had been gardening on was mounded up top soil plus amendments. I found a place on line with organic amended soil for a lot less- it seems to be an enterprise operating on the Northern Nevada Correctional Facility.

Awesome!  I stand corrected--you are our resident soils expert :)

 

2014-03-29 3:47 PM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Took a drive down to Minden (I always forget how pretty it is down there ) and geeked out with this earnest young hippy dude about dirt. They get nearly all the components that go into their soil locally, and even the biproducts of building and mining, as well as the local livestock industry (lots of sheep and cattle down that way). They even compost food waste from casinos - how Navadan is that! They make their own "peet" out of pine needles from the Sierras, which takes longer, and they wash it to bring down the acidity, saving the waters for other processes. Nevada soils are rather alkaline. While it's not cheap, it is way less expensive than "Mel's mix", and I can afford to fill the whole bed with it! http://www.fullcirclecompost.com/

Edited by bootygirl 2014-03-29 3:54 PM
2014-03-30 4:20 PM
in reply to: bootygirl

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by bootygirl

Took a drive down to Minden (I always forget how pretty it is down there ) and geeked out with this earnest young hippy dude about dirt. They get nearly all the components that go into their soil locally, and even the biproducts of building and mining, as well as the local livestock industry (lots of sheep and cattle down that way). They even compost food waste from casinos - how Navadan is that! They make their own "peet" out of pine needles from the Sierras, which takes longer, and they wash it to bring down the acidity, saving the waters for other processes. Nevada soils are rather alkaline. While it's not cheap, it is way less expensive than "Mel's mix", and I can afford to fill the whole bed with it! http://www.fullcirclecompost.com/


That's great that you can fill the whole bed, your plants esp. the deep rooted ones will do much better. Both my brothers were geologists, did well and retired early. Me entomology and agronomy, make a living and can't afford to retire!
2014-03-30 6:03 PM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by bootygirlTook a drive down to Minden (I always forget how pretty it is down there ) and geeked out with this earnest young hippy dude about dirt. They get nearly all the components that go into their soil locally, and even the biproducts of building and mining, as well as the local livestock industry (lots of sheep and cattle down that way). They even compost food waste from casinos - how Navadan is that! They make their own "peet" out of pine needles from the Sierras, which takes longer, and they wash it to bring down the acidity, saving the waters for other processes. Nevada soils are rather alkaline. While it's not cheap, it is way less expensive than "Mel's mix", and I can afford to fill the whole bed with it! http://www.fullcirclecompost.com/
That'sgreat that you can fill the whole bed, your plants esp. the deep rooted ones will do much better. Both my brothers were geologists, did well and retired early. Me entomology and agronomy, make a living and can't afford to retire!
if your brothers made good money being geologists, they must have worked in the oil patch. We gold fields goe's struggle.....
2014-03-31 10:03 AM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by bootygirl Took a drive down to Minden (I always forget how pretty it is down there ) and geeked out with this earnest young hippy dude about dirt. They get nearly all the components that go into their soil locally, and even the biproducts of building and mining, as well as the local livestock industry (lots of sheep and cattle down that way). They even compost food waste from casinos - how Navadan is that! They make their own "peet" out of pine needles from the Sierras, which takes longer, and they wash it to bring down the acidity, saving the waters for other processes. Nevada soils are rather alkaline. While it's not cheap, it is way less expensive than "Mel's mix", and I can afford to fill the whole bed with it! http://www.fullcirclecompost.com/

Mary, that's great!  That sounds like a very cool business and excellent resource.  The food waste from casinos must be INSANE!  And the pine needle option sounds much better than depleteing peat bogs.  Too cool!



2014-03-31 10:09 AM
in reply to: JoshR

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

I was in Orscheln's over the weekend buying a 2 x 2 x 6 galvanized stock tank (on sale, $93), and I noticed they had prefab chicken coops for sale. I was blown away buy how nice they looked and how (relatively) cheap they were.  I have no idea how long they'd last, and the hinges and sliding bolts would need coon reinforcement, but check it out:





(chicken coop.jpg)



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2014-03-31 1:27 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Those coops are nice. I've seen a lot of them around here for fairly cheap, but I wanted to build my own.


My first Aspargus of the season. Still can't eat it until next year though.



(CAM00186.jpg)



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2014-03-31 1:32 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by switch

I was in Orscheln's over the weekend buying a 2 x 2 x 6 galvanized stock tank (on sale, $93), and I noticed they had prefab chicken coops for sale. I was blown away buy how nice they looked and how (relatively) cheap they were.  I have no idea how long they'd last, and the hinges and sliding bolts would need coon reinforcement, but check it out:




Thats cool, but I couldn't have my chickens living better than me and my family! Now if that stock tank was under $10..........wait that was the other thread.

Tilled up the gardens around the house and planted 300 row feet of popcorn. Trying them on 30 inch rows with a higher seed count per row, so we will see. Next weekend will put down peppers and tomatoes. It may be a little early, but if the weather holds I'll get started.
2014-03-31 1:36 PM
in reply to: JoshR

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by JoshR

Those coops are nice. I've seen a lot of them around here for fairly cheap, but I wanted to build my own.


My first Aspargus of the season. Still can't eat it until next year though.


What variety and how many roots did you plant ? Most of mine never make it into the house, I just eat them while I work in the yard, gardens. Gotta love 'em.
2014-03-31 2:26 PM
in reply to: NXS

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by NXS

Originally posted by JoshR

Those coops are nice. I've seen a lot of them around here for fairly cheap, but I wanted to build my own.


My first Aspargus of the season. Still can't eat it until next year though.


What variety and how many roots did you plant ? Most of mine never make it into the house, I just eat them while I work in the yard, gardens. Gotta love 'em.


Last year we planted 6. I don't know the varieties (my wife picks out most of the types of plants we use), I just refer to them as green and purple. This year we just planted another 6 plants worth.


2014-04-01 5:52 PM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by switch

I was in Orscheln's over the weekend buying a 2 x 2 x 6 galvanized stock tank (on sale, $93), and I noticed they had prefab chicken coops for sale. I was blown away buy how nice they looked and how (relatively) cheap they were.  I have no idea how long they'd last, and the hinges and sliding bolts would need coon reinforcement, but check it out:

Thats cool, but I couldn't have my chickens living better than me and my family! Now if that stock tank was under $10..........wait that was the other thread. Tilled up the gardens around the house and planted 300 row feet of popcorn. Trying them on 30 inch rows with a higher seed count per row, so we will see. Next weekend will put down peppers and tomatoes. It may be a little early, but if the weather holds I'll get started.

WOW--300 row feet of popcorn!  NXS, I don't know about row crops to know what the standard would be for popcorn.  How is what you planted different?  What made you decide to try this?

I am so jealous that you're already able to do peppers and tomatoes.  That seems so far away for us...

 

 

2014-04-01 5:54 PM
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Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by JoshR Those coops are nice. I've seen a lot of them around here for fairly cheap, but I wanted to build my own. My first Aspargus of the season. Still can't eat it until next year though.
What variety and how many roots did you plant ? Most of mine never make it into the house, I just eat them while I work in the yard, gardens. Gotta love 'em.

We rarely have enough make it into the house for the exact same reason! The kids just hammer them fresh :)  They even troll the ditch asparagus.

2014-04-01 5:59 PM
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Josh, I think it's infinitely better to build your own coop, for so, so many reasons.  Your coop kicks that coops azz :)

I guess I was just kinda surprised to see how much the urban chicken movement is taking off.  Farmers don't buy those coops--families with a few of birds do.  To see a farm store offer a chicken coop like that just speaks to the movement, which I think is cool. 

I'm glad to see that there are some coops for purchase for less than the Williams and Sonoma prices.  Some people really want to have chickens but they don't know how to even begin to build a coop.

 

 

2014-04-02 6:43 AM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
In my own garden I had always put corn on 36 inch rows, but most corn (field) now has been planted on 30 inch rows and the trend is going even narrower. With narrower rows you can decrease seed count per row and have a more efficient use of light and fert. I increased the rate on the popcorn because the stalk is so much smaller than field corn so I figure I can get the same light/fert. benefits. May have just reduced the yields Anyway we will see. And 300 row feet really isn't that much, esp. compared with the number of tomatoes you said you planted one year! I may be replanting my tomatoes and peppers at some point because with my luck, we're in for another frost/freeze.
2014-04-03 6:23 AM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Well, it took me a lot longer than expected to get the thing to pass the leak tests - mostly due to an incredible lack of available free time, but I finally got the aquaponics system up and running last night.

I still have some fine tuning to do with the bell siphons to ensure that the grow beds flood and drain reliably, but she's been going solid for 12 hours now.

 

Rather than posting pictures directly in here, I'm just posting a link to the album on Facebook: Pictures!

 

Plants will be going in beginning tonight.  Looking at lots of leaf lettuces, scallion, kale, baby cucumber, etc...



2014-04-03 10:10 AM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by cgregg

Well, it took me a lot longer than expected to get the thing to pass the leak tests - mostly due to an incredible lack of available free time, but I finally got the aquaponics system up and running last night.

I still have some fine tuning to do with the bell siphons to ensure that the grow beds flood and drain reliably, but she's been going solid for 12 hours now.

 

Rather than posting pictures directly in here, I'm just posting a link to the album on Facebook: Pictures!

 

Plants will be going in beginning tonight.  Looking at lots of leaf lettuces, scallion, kale, baby cucumber, etc...




Very nice, and from the looks of your set up, you have been very busy. What is the max square footage of grow surface for a system your size?
2014-04-03 11:33 AM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread

Originally posted by NXS
Originally posted by cgregg

Well, it took me a lot longer than expected to get the thing to pass the leak tests - mostly due to an incredible lack of available free time, but I finally got the aquaponics system up and running last night.

I still have some fine tuning to do with the bell siphons to ensure that the grow beds flood and drain reliably, but she's been going solid for 12 hours now.

 

Rather than posting pictures directly in here, I'm just posting a link to the album on Facebook: Pictures!

 

Plants will be going in beginning tonight.  Looking at lots of leaf lettuces, scallion, kale, baby cucumber, etc...

Very nice, and from the looks of your set up, you have been very busy. What is the max square footage of grow surface for a system your size?

 

You can do a 2:1 ration on grow bed size to fish tank size (based on volume).  With the two sumps plus the volume of the fish tank, this system would probably support up to three more grow beds of the same size without a problem....  so, at roughly 4.6 sq ft of surface area per bed, a total of 26 sq ft?  Plus the deep water bed which has room for 7 plants.  It doesn't sound like a lot of space, but things grow faster in a well established system like this, and plants can be put in a LOT closer together than they might otherwise be placed, so you can be really efficient with it.

 

This system was built to fit into a very small space (in a very small house) as more of a learning experiment to see how well it does.  The kids have been really digging it, too.    If it does well, the next system will be scaled up greatly - perhaps to the 100 sq ft range and in a greenhouse.

 

 

 



Edited by cgregg 2014-04-03 11:36 AM
2014-04-03 2:54 PM
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Chris that is really, really cool.  Thank you so much for sharing the pics.  Please keep us posted on how it goes.

2014-04-03 2:59 PM
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Originally posted by NXS In my own garden I had always put corn on 36 inch rows, but most corn (field) now has been planted on 30 inch rows and the trend is going even narrower. With narrower rows you can decrease seed count per row and have a more efficient use of light and fert. I increased the rate on the popcorn because the stalk is so much smaller than field corn so I figure I can get the same light/fert. benefits. May have just reduced the yields :o Anyway we will see. And 300 row feet really isn't that much, esp. compared with the number of tomatoes you said you planted one year! I may be replanting my tomatoes and peppers at some point because with my luck, we're in for another frost/freeze.

Haha--nobody lets me forget that year of tomatoes :)

How many ears of corn do you get per stalk of popcorn?

Do you plant plants or direct seed for tomatoes and peppers?  Would a floating row cover give you enough protection for a frost/freeze?

2014-04-03 3:25 PM
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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread


Chris,


OK, that makes sense. That is a real cool project and I understand how children would love it. Looks like a great science fair project to boot!


Edited by NXS 2014-04-03 3:38 PM


2014-04-03 3:36 PM
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Here is my garden plot.  It used to be a rose garden, but I am out of that phase.  It has had nothing planted except a few day lilies for a few years now.  I am getting my yard ready to put the house on the market and want to put in something low maintenance, not too expensive (I haven't been to the garden center in a long time so I don't know how to budget.  I am thinking about $1000 to 1500 for plants and mulch.)  I have some decorative ceramic stepping stones.  The space is surrounded by trees but gets midday sun, maybe 3 or 4 hours.  The plot is roughly triangular, 30' by 60'.  The soil is in good shape and has had grass clippings regularly tilled in while it was fallow.  The back side is a dry-stacked stone wall and so the drainage is excellent.   There is an automatic irrigation system available in the bed.   I would have to lay out drip lines to the new plantings.  I was thinking mostly flowering shrubs so that something would be blooming year round, and some foliage shrubs .  I like azaleas, camellias, crape myrtle, boxwood, holly etc.  Maybe some easy annuals for my own enjoyment this year.  The house will probably not be on the market until fall.

So the floor is open for suggestions, planting designs, and witty repartee.  The view is from the deck overlooking the back yard.

GardenPlot-Medium

 



Edited by tech_geezer 2014-04-03 3:48 PM
2014-04-03 3:37 PM
in reply to: switch

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Subject: RE: 2014 Garden Thread
Originally posted by switch

Originally posted by NXS In my own garden I had always put corn on 36 inch rows, but most corn (field) now has been planted on 30 inch rows and the trend is going even narrower. With narrower rows you can decrease seed count per row and have a more efficient use of light and fert. I increased the rate on the popcorn because the stalk is so much smaller than field corn so I figure I can get the same light/fert. benefits. May have just reduced the yields Anyway we will see. And 300 row feet really isn't that much, esp. compared with the number of tomatoes you said you planted one year! I may be replanting my tomatoes and peppers at some point because with my luck, we're in for another frost/freeze.

Haha--nobody lets me forget that year of tomatoes

How many ears of corn do you get per stalk of popcorn?

Do you plant plants or direct seed for tomatoes and peppers?  Would a floating row cover give you enough protection for a frost/freeze?




One good ear per plant, sometimes a secondary, and ears are small, real small. Its fun to grow and to put an ear in the microvave to pop. Brings out the kid in all of us. We plant plants that my son has started mainly because I use a preemergence herbicide (trifluralin) in my larger garden. OK I am lazy and have better things (honey dos) to do than weed the garden. If it looks like we'll get a frost I'll cover them with straw or visqueen.
2014-04-03 4:02 PM
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I like the shrubs that you've mentioned (love, love azaleas) but for 3-4 hours of sun, I might recommend rhododendrons and viburnum (Carlson's is a great resource for Rhodies and Azaleas http://www.carlsonsgardens.com/).   They both have beautiful flowers, and Korean Spice viburnum (as well as many other cultivars) have a delicious scent.  Other times of the year they have very nice foliage.  Both of these shrubs would be right at home in a spot like this, though like Azaleas, Rhodies require some acid.  A Japanese maple might also be interesting for fall color and some of the cultivars have lovely habits.

Another shrub that can be quite pretty is a variegated variety of  Weigelia called "French lace".  Bright pink flowers and interesting leaves.

Maybe some sedum and hosta?

A great resource in the spring for plants is Craig's List.  Lots of gardeners looking to divide their plants.  If you're willing to go over and do some work, you can probably get some very inexpensively.

2014-04-03 4:48 PM
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Originally posted by switch

 

I like the shrubs that you've mentioned (love, love azaleas) but for 3-4 hours of sun, I might recommend rhododendrons and viburnum (Carlson's is a great resource for Rhodies and Azaleas http://www.carlsonsgardens.com/).   They both have beautiful flowers, and Korean Spice viburnum (as well as many other cultivars) have a delicious scent.  Other times of the year they have very nice foliage.  Both of these shrubs would be right at home in a spot like this, though like Azaleas, Rhodies require some acid.  A Japanese maple might also be interesting for fall color and some of the cultivars have lovely habits.

Another shrub that can be quite pretty is a variegated variety of  Weigelia called "French lace".  Bright pink flowers and interesting leaves.

Maybe some sedum and hosta?

A great resource in the spring for plants is Craig's List.  Lots of gardeners looking to divide their plants.  If you're willing to go over and do some work, you can probably get some very inexpensively.

Thanks.  I should have said 3-4 hours of full sun.  The bed gets filtered sun the rest of the day, not deep shade.  Grass is fine in the same area so azaleas should bloom.  Roses actually did ok in the same spot and they need more sun than azaleas.   Most soil in Tennessee is acid.  I have an inexpensive pH meter.  I will check before planting.

I like sedum and hosta.  There were deer this morning eating the hostas on the other side of the yard.  I might make a curtain of Leyland cyprus along the neighbor's side.  That  would be on the north side and wouldn't shade the garden.  A couple of Japanese yew and a Japanese maple with some ilexes spread around  might give it a bit of Japanese garden flavor.  I will study some books tonight to pick some variegated foliage plants to go with that theme.  It is all fun planning until you put the stuff in the ground then you are stuck with making it grow for a few years.  

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