Need suggestions: new bed available

11 years ago

Hi, garden friends! I have a new bed available with some unique features. I'm hoping you can help me figure out what to plant. All suggestions welcome.

That's a hand-dug water well from 1878. It is non-operational. We haven't decided what to do about it (new house) other than cover it safely.

Those are walking onions left over from the previous owner. I worked them all summer and couldn't keep up with them. New plants rooted every day. And they stink- like onions. And I don't really like onions. Needless to say, I hate them and am digging them all up ASAP.

Bed is full sun pending any shade created by whatever I plant on the East side. It will surround the well on four sides.

I would like something new. Probably flowers as opposed to a bush or shrub. Dont really care much for succulents. We have all perennials- did not plant a single annual last year. I like bright colors and sweet smells but both characteristics are not required. I don't mind some work, but don't want anything that is super high maintenance. Watering and fertilizing and normal weeding are expected. Bonsai-type trimming would be too much for me.

I'm going to post some shots of other areas of my garden in bloom for your review.

Thanks for reading my long post!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author
11 years ago
View one.
BlueBirdPeony
Original Author
11 years ago
View two.
Related Discussions
cover crop suggestions for new garden beds
Q
Comments (2)
Well, I am not much of a cover cropper, but in the few times I have done it I have just used ultra cheap seed mixes and mowed the plants down before any had the chance to go to seed. By using a mix those that are right for the area/time of year grow and those that aren't don't. If you want nitrogen fixers, go to the grocery and buy the cheapest bag of mixed bean/pea seeds you can find. If you want general miscellaneous stuff go buy the cheapest bag of mixed bird seed you can find. Saves on stressing out on the various 'formal' cover crops, when they should be sown, in what area and all that. Also saves money.
...See More
Pics of my new bed, any suggestions?
Q
Comments (4)
My advice would be throw in what you got, sounds like the manure was pretty aged so that is a good thing. If you can get your hands on more stuff, good but don't stress yourself too much over it. Your idea to try testing a few seedlings in it is a good one! There are some plants that take much better to growing in a compost bed than others. Potatoes and pumpkins are a couple that I've heard like growing in bins of leaves and other compost stuff. I've had lots of onions, garlic, carrots, kohlrabi, parsley, turnips, parsnips, spoon mustard, chinese kale, broccoli, and some volunteer melons all growing quite happily in new lasagna beds. What types of plants are you wanting to grow? Plants that I've found difficult to grow in really new lasagna beds include corn and sunflowers(it needs to get it's roots down into hard ground to stay upright well in my experience), peanuts (they need a sandy soil surface or something they can easily peg the flowers down into so the peanuts can form underground). Peas and beans are supposed to be sensitive to young compost but I can't say how much, they have grown well enough for me but I usually try and give them the more finished compost where I grow them. Just remember that building soil is a work in progress. Keep adding organic matter to the bed each season. Try new things. Have fun. Here is a link that might be useful: My Garden
...See More
Ideas and Suggestions for New Bed!
Q
Comments (16)
Dax- Now that you mention it, I forgot that they carry it. They are out though, I saw that a few weeks ago. I found the place who introduced it too and they have a list of nurseries that carry their products. I was going to give them a call and see if they could order one for me if I can't find one online. Mark- Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not that familiar with Jap. maples...I have a few...But only if they catch my eye...I don't know enough to go looking for specific ones... The 'Shirazz' sounds pretty awesome...But I'm not sure I want that kind of height on the top...The top of the falls is nearly six feet high already!!! Ken- That's what I figured. It's a shame I can't put a spell on it and keep it as it looks for the next fifty years...No growth or anything...But what you gonna do??? I'll either find another place for it this year, or let it go for a few years till some of the other stuff starts to fill out and then tear it out... Thanks again all! Eliot
...See More
In the market for a new bed - any suggestions?
Q
Comments (8)
We bought a Tempurpedic a couple of years ago, and love it. It has helped tremendously with the hip bursitis I was having (it's gone). I do think it was the mattress that got rid of it. We bought the Celebrity pillowtop model. I think they have other models available that they didn't have when we bought ours, though. I don't think you can get an adequate test in a store. Watch out if you buy Tempurpedic that you don't invalidate the warranty; I'm not sure if you get the full warranty or 90-day return policy if you don't buy the base for the mattress also. We also got the mattress cover Tempurpedic recommends, which we like. They do deliver the mattress, which is very heavy, and set it all up.
...See More
BlueBirdPeony
Original Author
11 years ago
View three
freki
11 years ago
I'm a big fan of no-maintenance perennial beds myself. The list of full sun perennials is pretty long, but can I suggest roman chamomile, lemon thyme & bee balm, for the scented foliage. A couple of annuals you might consider, because they are so easy are mignonette, for evening scent, & calendula for the blooms. Both come easily/cheaply from seed, & the calendula is self-seeding in zone 5.
docmom_gw
11 years ago
I love your gardens! They are neat but relaxed, lush but not crowded. Each grouping of plants is able to be appreciated.

Good luck digging out those onions. If they're anything like wild nodding onions, any tiny root left behind will come back as a new plant. It may be a several year process.

As far as what to plant, I'd encourage you to include some milkweed to support the Monarch butterflies. Asclepias incarnata is well behaved and a favorite for females to lay eggs on. Even if you don't get butterflies, the blossoms will attract hummingbirds and other beneficial pollinators. In fact, that spot would be a fantastic butterfly/hummingbird spot. You could plant salvias, monarda, penstemon, liatris, delphiniums, columbine, coral bells, and on and on. If you include annuals, the list doubles. Enjoy your project.

Martha
gardenweed_z6a
11 years ago
Perennial geranium (not the bright red annual polygonatums that you see everywhere) makes a nice, zero-maintenance filler/edger as does Nepeta (aka, catmint).

Caryopteris/blue mist shrub is low-growing & low-maintenance where I am plus it has a mild fragrance and attracts pollinators.

Chelone (turtlehead) makes an appearance in late season with pink or white blooms (shaped like--you guessed it, a turtle's head) when not much else is blooming + it attracts bees.

Dicentra/bleeding heart is a springtime bloomer that I've always found was high-impact but zero maintenance, either the species (red) or hybrid 'Alba' (white).

If you have a bit of shade, snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa) is zero maintenance. Its fluffy plumes of white flowers attract pollinators and is another late-season bloomer.

Another interesting perennial is Trycirtis hirta/toad lily--unique flower shape and one that blooms very late in the season. The bees love it. It prefers shade but I have it growing in part sun.

You might be interested in a book entitled 'Perennials for Every Purpose' by Larry Hodgson since it allows you to narrow in on what you're attempting to accomplish in your garden beds.
terrene
11 years ago
Bluebirdpeony, you certainly have some beautiful established beds at your new house! The previous owners were obviously accomplished gardeners, and it's nice that you are interested in gardening too.

How about a butterfly and hummingbird garden in your new bed? Ooops just looked up and Docmom suggested the same thing. So I second that!

Freki, what is a no-maintenance perennial bed? I don't have any of those.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Freki, what is a no-maintenance perennial bed? I don't have any of those.

LOL!! I was about to say the same. No such thing as a no-maintenance perennial. - low maybe: no-maintenance, no way! The only no-maintenance plants of any type I am aware of are those made of plastic :-)
BlueBirdPeony
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, everyone! I actually love the idea of a butterfly and hummingbird garden!! Why didn't I think if that? We're in the country surrounded by a 600 acre cornfield. Our birds tend to be what I would call "farm" birds: blue birds, swallows, finches, etc. Oddly, we don't get any cardinals, robins or blue jays.

If we plant it will they come? Even thought we are more farmy and have no surrounding gardens? Thoughts?

Favorite hummingbird or butterfly plants other than those Martha suggested?

Thanks!!

Need suggestions: new bed available

Comments (9)

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

Related Discussions

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

freki

docmom_gw

gardenweed_z6a

terrene

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need suggestions: new bed available

Comments (9)

BlueBirdPeonyOriginal Author

BlueBirdPeonyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

BlueBirdPeonyOriginal Author

freki

docmom_gw

gardenweed_z6a

terrene

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

BlueBirdPeonyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author

BlueBirdPeony
Original Author