Alyga: This weekend is a free plant swap worth the drive northeast to Redmond, WA as we've brought home more than imagined. Amazing that it's all free & lovely plants of all types from trees to dahlia tubers. Perennial vegetables & fruits of all types as well if that's your interest also. The parking lot gets filled to the max, so be sure to arrive by 10am if you can. If you have a wish list that is also helpful as someone will likely direct you to it elsewhere in the parking lot! People trade from the backs of their cars as well as drop off plants in a free area near the church entrance. Jim has a crew set up & serve hot coffee/tea as well. We've been in pouring down rain as well as sunshine & still gardeners everywhere with pots and plants. Enjoy, Corrine From the Pacific Northwest Garden Exchange Forum Posted by greenelephant Woodinville WA (My Page) on Fri, Sep 24, 10 at 14:20 You are invited to share in your "Autumnal Abundance" Saturday November 6, 2010, 10:00 AM to Noon Church of the Holy Cross 11526 162nd Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Jim Eichner host 425-223-7249 cell anytime. November is an excellent time to divide and conquer your garden: move woody plants, empty containers, divide perennials, gather seeds and store frost-tender tropicals. While we are at it, it is time to exchange and share plants and talk about the highlights of our summer gardens. Here is a link that might be useful: Green Elephant Plant Swap Details & Directions

what is the problem with b&b? ===>>> first off... most of us.. do not have a husband who has very large machines .. to move these things around... lol ... i 6 foot BB... can weight.. 200 to 300 pounds.. you arent going to be hoiking that size things.. out of the car pictured above ... its no real problem getting them into the car ... and i often joke with the burly young men loading it at the nursery.. if they are willing to follow me home to get it out ... even if you have them delivered to the driveway .. moving them a couple hundred feet across the yard.. can be a lumbar disc killer ... sans heavy equipment ... now.. a large BB was field grown ... and if .. as it is said.. a tree is twice as big below as above ground... and you dig up a 6 foot tree .. with at most a 2 or 3 foot rootball.. you should be able to conceptualize ... that a vast majority of the root mass is cut off ... and since no one can see into the ground.. there is some loss.. simply because the digging itself causing severe root loss ... so.. based on all the above ... i would never go.. about a 3 footer ... and do be prepared.. that once you sink the roots ... it might only be a 2 footer.. lol ... so when i say 3 foot .. i mean the tree part ... its all about the stress you are applying to the plant ... thru digging .. transporting.. and planting.. and the larger the plant.. the larger the stresses involved ... i highly recommend you call your COUNTY extension office .... and ask them about their suggestions for your COUNTY ... that is a good way to start with LOCAL opinion .. feed us back that knowledge .. and we can go from there ... i even found out.. they had a tri-county forester on staff.. and though it took a few weeks, he eventually visited and offered many opinions ... and also ask if they have any spring plant sales.. my MI soil conservation dist offices sell 1 to 2 foot trees and conifers for a buck or two .... this is a good way to plant a lot of stuff .... on a low budget .... and do understand.. there really is no instant gratification in this project ... one thing you really need to get thru your head though.. is that this is not suburbia .... and this is not a one year project ... i would suggest.. with the scope of what you are trying to accomplish.. a min of 5 years.. to get this done ... coffee buzz is kicking in.. and my eyes are vibrating.. no chance to reread the above.. lol... gotta go .. perhaps do a couple laps around the acreage ... lol ken

I'd adapt her plans for your fence beds to work within your budget. Often this just means reducing the number of shrubs, spacing them a bit further apart or starting with smaller product initially. Actually, a mixed hedge concept is an excllent one to implement in stages - look for your larger evergreen foundation trees/shrubs first and add smaller deciduous material as the budget permits. Cuttings or divisions from friends or local plant sales/swaps are a good way of increasing your plant supply on a budget. There are very few layered type of plantings like this that absolutely have to be planted simultaneously.

A. Yes, I can envision it :-) It is a relatively common practice on larger properties in my rather rural area. And It was something I did myself in my old garden, although on a significantly smaller scale. Here, one tends to find a percentage of conifers included in the mix as well, which may be something to consider for more year-round uniformity of appearance or privacy. Additionally, this type of mixed planting appeals to the plant geek in me as it offers the opportunity to choose and plant a lot of different stuff! And as Ken likes to point out, this type of mixed planting obviates many of the issues that may arise with a single species or monocultural planting scheme. B. This is entirely your choice. As a designer myself, I am never hesitant to suggest employing a landscape designer :-) But you seem to have a pretty clear grasp of what you want to accomplish so I am not sure whether this process is really necessary. If you are familiar with the plants you intend to be using, recognize their individual cultural requirements and suitable placement and spacing, a general, 'designed' layout is something you should be able to develop yourself. I think one of the features of this type of mixed planting scheme is the degree of randomness involved. The result should look quite natural rather than carefully planned (even though it may be). Depending on the depth of this border, I would include some natural pathways/trails through to access the areas that may need hands-on attention as the plantings establish and mature. You might find The Natural Garden by Ken Druse a helpful resource. Well illustrated with a lot of inspirational photos outlining virtually exactly what you intend. And it may also offer some plant choices you might not have considered. You can find this used on Amazon for next to nothing or maybe available at your local lending library.