Hmmm, sorta.

Late last summer the removal removal of two very large ailing oak trees prompted a whole front yard re-do. For one thing, what had been dappled shade was suddenly full sun, and even though we've planted new trees to replace the oaks, it will be a while before they cast any significant shade.

For another, the front shrub border had overgrown its purpose, while more screening was needed along the east property line, where the neighbor's tree canopy was overshadowing the perennial bed a bit much. So ... I decided to flip 'em, and work 6 cubic yards of mushroom compost into this sandy soil as part of the project, put in that white picket fence I've always been wanting and develop the front perennial/shrub border on both sides of it.

I'd not been working, so thought I had all the time in the world, but in the middle of it all secured the dream job - in a public garden of all places! So, working all by myself and with less time available, the project took longer than expected and, racing cold weather, I wound up sticking the temporarily potted plants just about anywhere I could find room, having also neglected to mark the varieties of some plants, as I was sure, when I dug them up, that I'd remember which were by the patio and which by the gate, which in the black pots and which in the brown. heheh. Needless to say, there were some surprises this season. Some quite pleasant, actually.

Maybe I crammed things in a little too closely, or maybe it was the mushroom compost (I've never seen things grow like this in my 30 years of gardening), but a little bed-expansion is going to be needed this fall, as well as some re-placement. Wish I could call it "tweaking" but that really would be an understatement. I've been taking photos, making notes, and tagging plants all season, in hopes I'll be better organized THIS time around.

But I didn't get rid of anything. As a matter of fact, I had a lot to add and am just beside myself with joy and satisfaction with the way it's turning out. I did rip out quite rudely some of those same "ditch lilies" to make way for a climbing rose. Tossed them behind a convenient bush intending to get them later ... forgot ... they not only grew leaves, lying there with their tubers exposed, but they bloomed!

Under the category of "mistakes": Allowing the Star of Bethlehem to remain in the yard, not realizing how invasive they can be. Allowing some of the morning glory volunteers to share the front perennial bed. Between the full sun and the mushroom compost, something is developing out there that has not the slightest concept of "sharing". I know I should rip it all out now, before it sets seed ... but they look oh so pretty when I leave for work in the morning.

My beds will probably never be neat and tidy themselves. When I get to feeling they look a little untidy, I ask one of my sons to mow the grass and then I freshen the trenched edge ... and all is right with my world.

Kudos to you for taking the bull by the horns and making your garden just as you want it. That's just how it should be :-) It's a lot of work, but it sure is worth it, isn't it?

Diane

Yes I have done that. I am in the process right now. I have lambs ear taking over my front flowerbed! Why did I ever plant it? It's even growing in Clay! I am going to take every perennial out and start over! I want to change it all.

Diane,
Dumb question, but is mushroom compost the same as the bags of mushroom mulch I see down at my local garden center?
Tracey

Oh, geez - I go on a shovel-wielding rampage seemingly every year....

Not always because I'm unhappy; rather, a lot of time I just want to make it "better" - I'm always looking to improve or try different plant combinations. I may plant a plant that does well in a particular spot then realize after having it a while that it would look smashing next to those plants over there, which sets off a cascade of shovel activity.

But then there are times when I'm just not satisfied with what I'm looking at and will re-do pretty much the whole bed (which keeps happening in my front beds - I just don't like the front of my house, which I've whined enough about already on the board....)

I'm seriously considering digging up all the phlox in an established phlox bed that have been there for many years. This year they have really yanked my chain, mildew, brown stem and leaves, weak blooms, general unhappiness. Too tell you the truth, most of their problems are most likely due to my NOT digging into them and dividing. But this would mean starting all over again and waiting for height and filling out in that corner. This is all a part of gardening,tho.

I do it all the time...as long as the weather permits the establishment of transplants, new plants, etc.

I'm pretty ruthless about shovel-pruning what doesn't work. I've got a list for this fall of things to get rid of and better substitutes.

What fun would gardening be if the beds were actually finished? Wouldn't that be like telling an artist to stop painting? LOL

Cameron

Here is a link that might be useful: my gardening blog

Tracey, I don't know if they're the same thing, as I've never seen the bagged product you mention.

Upon the recommendation of a fellow gardenere, I purchased a truckload of the mushroom compost from a nursery in the area that is very strong on organic gardening. This stuff is horse manure that was used in the caves of Pennsylvania to grow mushrooms. After the nitrogen's been depleted, they shovel it all out to replace it with fresh material, selling the used stuff to people like me who really need to increase the organic matter in our soil. Based on the recommendation of the nursery, I added a little organic fertilizer as I worked the m.c. into the beds.

Hope this helps.

Diane