Newbie questions

16 years ago

Thanks for all the help from everyone especially about holes in my containers. I got 21 containers of perennials out yesterday. I hope to do about the same today. I have a few less immediate questions:

1) When should I put out the annuals (I guess they are hardy or semi-hardy)? I was thinking March?

2) What is plunk and run?

3) Does anyone have a good explanation or link for making flower beds quickly and easily. I have seen the term lasagna bed so if anyone has a good link for that, I'd appreciate it. I am being very optimistic about my containers!

Thanks,

Gina

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Comments (5)

ghoghunter
16 years ago
I do a lot of my annuals in March and that should be fine for you too. The plunk and run comment means that when Spring comes and there are a lot to plant you just plant them very quickly using the "hunk o' seedling" method. There are usually so many seedlings that you don't take time separating them. Just take a hunk from the container and plant it!

The lasagna method of making a new bed is a way to make a bed without digging. You basically layer all kinds of compostable materials on top of each other and plant right on top of it. I made a lasagna bed a few years ago and it works. You start with a layer of wet newspapers or some use cardboard that is always the first layer to keep the grass and weeds from growing up through your new bed. Then start layering on the ingredients...straw, grass clippings, old leaves, garden waste, peat moss, coffee grounds etc. Pat Lanza wrote the book and she said to make it 18-24 inches high. Some folks don't make it that high but that's what Pat Lanza recommended. Then you just move aside the layer and place your plant in. I covered mine with mulch and you couldn't tall it wasn't a regular garden. After time goes by it gradually sinks down and decomposes into nice beautiful top soil! You should have a ratio of 4 browns to 1 green. Browns meaning stuff like straw and leaves and greens are the items high in nitrogen like cow manure, coffee grounds and fresh grass clippings. The book is available from amazon or at your library. It's "Lasagna Gardening" by Pat Lanza.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lasagna Gardening
greylady_gardener
16 years ago
There is also a method for making quick beds called appropriately enough "instant beds". The link to the thread about it is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: instant beds
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bakemom_gw
16 years ago
You can do your annuals right now. There seems to be a lot of confusion this year that contemplates timetables for planting certain seeds. Some of us have found over the years that certain things are best left held back until later in the season. The reason is that certain seeds will sprout quickly with the least bit of warm encouragement and then IN ADDITION will be sensitive to a late frost. This is not the case for most of the annuals on my list - it's an exception for a few.

Cold sensitive annuals will know not to sprout and hardy annuals will sprout and be fine. For me, it's those few inbetween that I hold back.

Zinnias
cosmos
morning glories
marigolds
burry
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks to all of you for your answers and explanations. I have saved many of those in my "clippings."

Bakemom, I'll just hold those 4 back that you mentioned, but go ahead with the other annuals.

Gina
bakemom_gw
16 years ago
Snaps, bachelor buttons, poppies, larkspur, alyssum, strawflower, all can go out now.

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