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New to Gardening

Extremely new to gardening, a few questions.

16 years ago

Hi, I have a few questions. I'm in the tri-city area of virginia, and I would love to start a garden. unfortunatley, the soil in our front yard is extremely dense, dry, and sandlike. Two rose bushes seem to have thrived in it, along with an ancient oak tree, and another unidentified bush, but grass doesn't care for it. Should i just try to aerate, or should i go buy garden soil mix? What kinds of things should I plant, it would be in the shade most of the day, only getting maybe an hour or two of sun. They are on the southern side of the house though. Any suggestions? We get alot of clover, and dandelions, and a strange weedy vine that will strangle anything it grows against, that we keep pulling up but it keeps coming back. it's killed some of the small plants that our landlords randomly put out there, but no matter how it wraps the rose bushes they are uneffected. I appreciate any suggestions in advance!

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Comments (3)

sylviatexas1
16 years ago
Sandy soil needs compost just as much as clay soil, maybe more so, since it drains so rapidly & has few nutrients.

Add compost & mix it in, & plant any shade-loving plant that thrives in your area (check out your regional gardenweb forum, maybe MidAtlantic or Virginia).

& local garden clubs & groups are enormously helpful;
you'll be talking with gardeners who have decades of experience with exactly the same conditions you're struggling with;
they can advise you not only what works but what to not waste time on, & they'll have little tidbits about gardening in your area.

You can google, or call your library, newspaper, radio or tv station, or your County Agricultural Extension office to get names & contact info for local garden clubs.

Best luck, & have fun!
hsernulka
16 years ago
I REALLY SYMPATHIZE WITH YOUR SITUATION BECAUSE MY YARD GETS MOSTLY SHADE AND I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH WITH THAT THORNY VINE WEED IN YOUR GARDENS. THAT WEED IS HEINOUS! IT IS PROBABLY SOME KIND OF NETTLE. EVENTHOUGH I WORK AT A NURSERY, I WOULD NOT CONSIDER MYSSELF AN EXPERT, ALTHOUGH I DO HAVE SOME USEFUL EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE. DO NOT USE ROUND-UP TO KILL ANY WEEDS AROUND GRASS OR OTHER PLANTS THAT YOU WISH TO SURVIVE. ROUNDUP IS A GREAT TOOL; HOWEVER, IT KILLS EVERYTHING. IT IS MEANT MORE FOR WEEDS POPPING UP BETWEEN CRACKS IN CEMENT, CONCRETE, ECT. YOU WOULD WANT TO USE SOMETHING LIKE A BRUSH-B-GON BY BAYER OR A WEED KILLER THAT ONLY KILLS VINES, WOODY WEEDS, AND BRUSH--NOT THE PLANT OR THE LAWN.

AS FAR AS YOUR SOIL---ANYTHING YOU PLANT DIRECTLY IN YOUR SOIL, YOU WOULD WANT TO ADD SOME KIND OF A COMPOST---PREFERABLE A PLANTING MIX WITH A LEAF COMPOST, PEAT MOSS AND OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUND MIXTURE---- AND MIX THAT 50/50 WITH THE EXISTING SOIL. THIS WILL AMEND THE EXISTING SOIL AND AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDE A GREAT PLANTING MEDIUM.

ALSO, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE A MISTAKE WITH THE FERTILIZER. PLANTS SUCH AS HOLLIES, AZALEAS, PHODODENDRONS, CAMELIAS,EVERGREENS, ETC. ARE ACID-LOVING---SO THEY LIKE A FERTILIZER SUCH AS HOLLYTONE OR MIRACID. I SUGGEST HOLLYTONE BECAUSE IT IS GRANULAR AND SLOW-RELEASE. MIRACID IS JUST AS EFFECTIVE; BUT YOU HAVE TO RE-APPLY IT EVERY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS. HOLLYTONE FFEDS UP TO THREE MONTHS. I SUGGEST OSMOCOTE FOR AN ALL-PURPOSE FERTILIZER. THEY HAVE AN OUTDOOR/INDOOR VARIETY AND A VEGETABLE/BEDDING VARIETY. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD SUCCESS WITH BOTH, DEPENDING ON WHAT I AM PLANTING.

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY PLANTING!
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sdrawkcab
16 years ago
hsernulka- Find the [Caps Lock] key on your keyboard and press it once. Posting in all caps is bad manners.

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