Wel, I Failed.
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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- 8 years ago
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I need flower bed design help! I failed miserably (pics)!
Comments (31)Aggie, the journey can indeed be frustrating and paved with failures. but each failure is a learning experience. What people with experience can do is help you identify the lesson, and maybe also help you to differentiate the possible from the impossible, but don't let anyone rob you of the journey or of giving it a try. At the risk of repeating myself, you are asking a lot of yourself to get both your foundation planting and your flower gardening out of one spot. If colour and seasonal variation are really important things for you, I really would suggest you consider adding a bed somewhere to give yourself more opportunity in better growing conditions - and that is tough to do nicely if you don't make a new bed out of the same stone. But maybe you can do that. The other thing that is a bit uphill for you is that you can only get so much uniqueness when your plantings are in the same PLACE as everyone else's. I suspect in your old neighbourhood, there was variety in WHERE in the yard people put their plants, as well as variety in what plants they had. If I drive through the neighbourhood, everyone's plants are probably at the foundation, and if only the details vary, the overall impression is still very similar. So your bed at the foundation is working against your desire to do something original on two counts. But it can be done... if you haven't already asked in the conifers forum, ask there for some suggestions for specialty conifers that would do well in these conditions. You do need evergreen plants - the bones, so to speak - and they can be broadleaf or needled evergreens. If you want a lot of variety in your flowering plants, you might enjoy having repeats of some interesting evergreens... I keep thinking of Chamaecyparis 'Wissel's Saguaro' but that might just be because I like it a lot. No idea if it works in your conditions. Even boxwoods would look good as consistent, repeated forms to offset the variety. If, on the other hand, you want consistency in the flowers (all purple petunias or peach roses), then go for variety in the conifers. Who knows, you might develop a talent for topiary :-) Some of my favourite yards are amazing topiary confections. I don't have the patience or the discipline for it though. Then you can do amazing things with quite ordinary plants. Pruning makes all the difference between green blobs and interesting shapes. Broadleaf evergreens will also offer some options for you; try asking for advice at a couple of nurseries - not big box stores. I don't know if the Ilex family would work or not, but if so, Ilex 'Mariesii' is a lovely plant - varies in form, can have some fun with it. Whitecap is right that people like me from outside your area may not be much use for specific plant recommendations, but we can help with form, and process. I've linked below to a site that explains the principles of landscape design in a way that I like. It doesn't all translate to the design of a single bed, but you can maybe play with some of the ideas. Karin L Here is a link that might be useful: Principles of landscape design...See MoreKumquat Failing? Not Failing?
Comments (6)Looks to me you might be in a serious need of a repot...Too, if you can't provide all the sunlight like you once did, it is common for a tree that size to drop branches, twigs and leaves to find a way to survive for such little sun...It can not support all that growth on much less sun. This happens to one of mines once in a while after a great growth year and then it will do that once you rob it of it's happiness.. You soil concerns me now that it will not dry out as frequyently as it once did in lots of warmth and sun... Take a lokm at the roots and examine the mix and please tell us what they look like..I always look to the roots first if bugs are not doing it... I am sorry it is goiung through this, it stinks to be quite blunt. Been there done that. I have one just like it and I can't wait until it gets lots more sun soon..It went from a 4 foot full 3 feet wide lush canopy to about 20 leaves left and no branches..Disgusting for me in my eyes( The best soils are the ones that come as close to 'nonlimiting' as possible. The one property of soils that presents the most limitations is the amount of water they hold at container capacity. Container capacity is the measure of how much water a soil retains after it was fully saturated and just stopped draining. If parts of the soil are completely saturated and devoid of air, the saturation limits root function and can cause root diseases, usually fungal in nature. Soils based on a very high %s of fine ingredients (peat, compost, coir, composted forest products, topsoil, fine sand ...... hold more water than most of us consider conducive to good root health. Ideally, the particles a soil is made of would be large enough that they can't hold water in the spaces between the particles. This means that roots always have access to the air they need to drive root function/metabolism, no matter where the roots are located in the pot....See MoreTotal OxyClean Fail! Or laundress fail?
Comments (14)The buttons would have surprised me too, I don't think you could have anticipated that. I don't find fresh berry juices to be a problem but I do try to wash the same day dirtied. I picked wild blackberries in a white 100% cotton sweatshirt yesterday. Tide HE, hot, and sparkling clean this morning, no soak....See Morehelp! magic eraser fail! did i ruin my cabinets?
Comments (46)This thread is actually really old but I felt I should mention something different bc I did not see this as a possible solution for those who are trying to remedy the problem of sheen damage to their cabinet doors. Rubbing a dull sheen when cleaning can buff up the sheen making that area noticeably stand out with high sheen spot. Just as a door with a higher sheen can be rubbed with a more abrasive material or chemical this can have a lowering of the sheen effect. In either case a good approach to this would be first to ensure to prep the surface before applying any type of sheen corrector on it . !st Best way is to first use a damp cloth mild soap and water (Dawn is a safe brand to use) to remove sugary film or grease residue on surface. 2nd Once clean and dry you will want to lightly sand with a super fine grit 2000 sand paper the area so that the sheens both shiny and dull are fading into each other. This will make it easier to coceal when you touch up the area. 3rd Identify what kind of material is used on cabinets. It is important because if the product your cabinets are not catalyzed what ever you use can have an adverse reaction to ti. For instance am uncatalyzed poly or an oil enamel finish will not be able to be touched up with a clear lacquer spray , reaction could make the finish crinckle and lift. To ensure this does not occur it is best to test out a small area . Preferrably the back of a drawer front for a reaction prior to using a clear lacquer spray can. 4th Choose to spray the back of a door to get the hang of sheen blending by first lightly sanding with 2000 and then lightly spraying that area . Choose the appropriate sheen level by Using a easy to spray touch up spray can like deft or valspar Clear Lacquer Matt, Satin , Semigloss or gloss, spray a light coat starting from one end of the AFFECTED AREA TO THE OTHER. These spray coating are very light and thin making it easy to blend into finish. If you are not satisfied with the first pass . You may need to hit this area again , keep in mind of blending your mist coat so that it basically disappears into the original sheen. Practicing on the back of a door is important to do so you can have the confidence and experience to hit the faces of the doors to be corrected....See More- 8 years ago
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Elizabeth