Help 4 the new guy

18 years ago

After 40 years of Apartment/Condo living, I now have a house with a yard I can call my own. Unfortunately (since we purchased under snowcover) we couldn't tell the condition of the yard at the time.

As a newbie to the whole gardening/yardwork thing, I am not familiar with the latin names of many plant species, so do "dumb it down" a bit for me if you could. I am leaning greatly toward perennials as flowering plants, and a mixture of trees (staying clear of needled trees and the prickly Junipers. Also, drought tolerant plants are appreciated as Calgary is somewhat lacking in water resources at times.

Any suggestions for the following would be muchly appreciated.....

Grass (lawn) is anything but green. The sod was apparently laid last year and watered only twice (cut once). This year it is very patchy - in some areas just dirt, other areas are "somewhat" green. and other areas (by fences) are just plain brown. Is there hope in getting it back, or should we just have the whole thing re-sodded?

I am also looking for an appropriate tree as a feature in the front yard (faces northwest - gets sun most of the day after 10 am or so) Ideally, I would like one that doesn't get much more than 10 - 15 feet with a spread of not more than that (smallish front yard). I am not keen on any type of needled evergreen (fir, pine, etc.) but would like one that stays somewhat close to the ground in terms of branching (2 or 3 feet about groundlevel). As it will be in a "bed" of sorts, some suggestions for low-level leafy groundcover would also be appreciated (the "bed" is kinda kidney shaped)

We have a starter hedge of cotoneasters ("L shaped") along the front walkway, and am also open to some suggestions for ornamentals that will remain small (about 1 foot high) as accents in front of the hedges (will receive about 3-4 hours of sun). Preferably something that will contrast nicely against the contoneastor background (when fully grown). If there is something similar to a hosta that perhaps comes in colours other than the greens, that would do nicely I believe.

I have also run across a tree in my boss's yard that I would like. Unfortunately, he has no idea what kind it is. Perhaps from the description, someone out there may have some ideas. It is a dark wood bark, but a somewhat shiny finish (much like a birch). The distinguishing feature is that it grows very twisted and knarly..... it reminds me of those wonderful pieces of driftwood you often see as landscape accents, or in artistic photographs. As far as leaving goes, they are pretty standard leaves (about 2" across or so and 2-3 long). It branches from the ground and each brach is knotted and twisted. Each of the main braches is around 6" - 7" thick.... any ideas?

This year's endeavor is to get the front yard completed (and the whole lawn part fixed)..... next year it's the back yard I'll need help on.

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Comments (9)

clairabelle
18 years ago
Welcome New Kid on the Block!
Before you do anything, STOP!

1.Live in the house a bit before running out and buying the first thing you see.

2. Start by going to your local library and doing the RESEARCH. Make a list of what you LIKE, based on what u see in the books and magazines. You need to consider the following: sun exposure(sun, partial sun, shade, height(back of the bed, centre piece, front of the bed, ground cover), color (and bloom period if flowering plant), adult size, type of soil and watering requirements.

3. Take your list to your local GARDEN CENTRE or LANDSCAPER. Don't be afraid to ask questions; that's what they are there for! Taking their judicious advice will save you time, money, and back pain medication! lol

How's that for starters? :D

That being said, here is my 2 cents worth:
If you mix compost and regular garden soil, throw a couple of shovel-fulls (at least 4 inches) over sparse areas and seed with dwarf white clover, you'll have a luscious new 'lawn' in no time. Oh yeah, don't forget to water often the first couple of weeks.

Small tree suggestion: amelanchier canadiensis. About a 15-footer, white flowers around now, blueberry-like fruit in July (attracts birds and jam-lovers!). Hardy, easy, pretty.

Mid-height perennials in front of cotoneaster: Hosta, astilbe, campanula, heuchera, perennial geranium, ligularia, bleeding hearts, hydrangea, spirea Van Houtte(white) or Anthony Waterer(raspberry), potentilla. All these are easy to grow, tolerate less sun AND flower. I'd throw in a hakonechloa, a flowerless two-toned perennial grass that is a definite eye catcher in any garden. Also many types of ferns... You know, foliage is nice too in the garden!

The tree in your boss's yard: Dunno either, but my guess is a Caragana.

Happy gardening!
durte4
18 years ago
The tree in the bosses yard could be witch hazel. I believe I remember there is one that grows in a contorted fashion.
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You could receive better advice and make it easier on the givers of the advice if you would disclose where you live. If you were my neighbor, you could grow many of your desired varieties serially, in about three different seasons. In some colder places, you only have a short period to grow most of all of it in a short period. In some hotter locations, you may have spring and fall seasons to grow your garden. Within your listed constraints, and knowing no other facts about your situation, I would say: forget the asparagus, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. You do not have enough room to grow enough to make a difference. If you know anybody who grows zucchini, you should get all you need just by mentioning it to anyone who grows it. People who do seem determined to see that anyone who will take it should be buried in it. Asparagus is great to grow if you have room, and time to wait, knowing that you may get a 4-6 week harvest each year after a few years of work. (I have room, and have done the work, and am nearing the end of this year's harvest, which I have enjoyed immensely.) Sweet potatoes? How many do you eat? I grew them for several years, too successfully. Never ate all we grew. We only ate them at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. For me, smarter to buy what I needed. Broccoli? Not very space practical, and I long ago gave up on growing cruciferous vegetables outside. The cabbage loopers beat me. I only grow Brussels sprouts in my greenhouse in the cool seasons. I would use the 10' strip of garden to grow 2 very productive indeterminate tomatoes, such as Mule Team or Burgundy Traveler, and maybe two sweet peppers, Brigadier if you like red, or early California Wonder for yellow. The rest of the narrow soil strip, I would use for two parallel concrete re-mesh trellises, on which I would grow several cucumbers and fill the rest with pole beans. I know nothing about raspberries, so if I wanted some, I would buy them in a store. Also, have never grown garlic, and celery will not grow here in the great American desert, so I will not offer advice about it. I would build at least two cedar boxes, one 12" high, 12" wide, 3' long, the other 18" high, same length and width as the first. Grow lettuce, spinach, radishes in the shorter one, carrots, beets, celery?, in the deeper one. Grow them in the cooler part of your year. If you live in a cool area, you might grow them in mid-summer, if you can place them in partial shade, especially in the hot part of the day. I would also recommend acquiring some large planters or nursery containers, at least 5 gallons each. You can grow more tomatoes (determinates) and sweet peppers in them, even through the heat of the summer on your deck. My favorite container tomatoes are Break O'Day, Hanky Red, Mini Rose (a determinate cherry), and Sprite (a grape tomato).
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Great suggestions everyone! Thank you so much and keep em coming! I am definitely going to pick up some literature on better lawn maintenance. I'll see if I can round up some Tuna cans (sounds like I know what I'll be having for lunch all week) to test out my irrigation. Thats a great suggestion. I also would agree that I probably set unrealistic expectations for the lawn, especially considering that I started in the spring. I'm realizing that now after doing some research... its not as simple as mow, water, fertilize. I'll head to HD get the Immunox to at least apply something to the lawn in hopes of doing something. I do have two dogs and two cats (well... havent seen one in 2 days so maybe I have one now...), so I have to be somewhat careful. Thankfully, the back yard looks muuuuuuch better in terms of health, so I can keep them back there and not treat that yard with anything harsh. If I do want to attack and address the fungal issues on my lawn so that this issue isnt present or as prevalent next year, and if the fall is the best time to address the lawn overall... How would you guys approach your fall regimen were this your yard?
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BarKnCalgary
18 years ago
Welcome to the adventure!
2 (or maybe even 4) more cents:
1. Join your local horticulrural society. I've learned more, & had more garden success, in the past 2 years than in the previous 30!
2. Visit gardens & take pictures (note sun exposure) to use in previously mentioned research & garden centres. Calgary Hort. Soc. has open gardens all summer.
3. Check out GardenWeb Far Noth forum - lots of Albertans there.
4. Consider using a garden designer. I hear they cost ~$50 - &75 /hr but usually need only a couple of hours if you do your prep work.
BTW "amelanchier canadiensis" is Saskatoon Berry.
Caragena is more likely in Calgary then witch hazel

Here is a link that might be useful: Calgary Horticultural Society
clairabelle
18 years ago
Beg to differ Barkn, but amelanchier canadiensis is NOT Saskatoon berry. It's a small tree. However, its cousin...

Amelanchier ALNIFOLIA, is the Saskatoon Berry or Serviceberry bush that produces large-blueberry-looking-slash-almond-flavoured berries-slash-that-make-scrumptious-pies fruit!! :D
BarKnCalgary
18 years ago
Oops! Doggone latin. Anyway saskatoons grow wild here.
clairabelle
18 years ago
Oh Barbara, please send me a pie or two!!!!!!! The last time I tasted Sask.berry pie was in 1976... and I'm STILL salivating!!
lol :P
jetred
18 years ago
All of the above is great advice. My choice of a tree which I have in my small front yard is the Japanese Lilac tree form.
BarKnCalgary
18 years ago
Clairabelle,
Here's a vacation idea: come & get some! We could have a ball.
<: barbara>
clairabelle
18 years ago
Barb, would love to! Send money!! lol :D

Help 4 the new guy

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clairabelle

durte4

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