Calling All Gardners

Moms View Message Board: Arts, Crafts, Gardening and Ideas: Calling All Gardners

Hi all! I just bought some flowers to plant in my patio area. I know NOTHING about flowers!! So I was hoping that all of you experts could give me a few tips. When I plant them the recommended distance apart, does that mean on all sides? Should something that is supposed to be 18" apart from another plant also be 18" from the fence? Is there anything that I can do to minimize weeds?
Also, eventually I want to get a small flowering bush for the corner. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what would do well in a part sun, upstate NY area?
Thank you so much! I can't wait to hear your ideas. ~Kelly

By Bea on Tuesday, May 4, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

It should be 18" from the fence also. That means it has about an 18" diameter growth potential. You can put down a weed guard fabric before you plant. Punch through the fabric to plant your seedlings and cover with a decorative mulch or gravel. Mulch alone will prevent most weeds from growing, but be sure you get a good quality mulch. Some cheaper brands are full of weed seeds. If you are just using mulch, I'd treat my flower bed with Preen after it was tilled and before I planted my flowers.

Azaleas do well in part sun. A butterfly bush is hardy through zone 5 which includes most of NY State. You might cover it with burlap in the winter as an extra precaution.

By Janet on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - 09:58 am:

I got my tomatoes in yesterday, and today I tackle the rest of my flowers! Yay! Finally my 1/2 day off and no rain!!!

By Momaroze on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - 12:13 pm:

Follow Bea's instructions. Just go for it. The best way to learn gardening is through your own experience. Flowers are very forgiving so if you don't plant just so.....don't worry about it.

Good luck!!

By Momaroze on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - 12:18 pm:

BTW, we have very cold winters and short growing seasons. Lilac bushes are super hardy....although they do grow big. Lupines will self seed....grow like weeds. They are a tall perenial flower that blooms mostly in Spring. If you have a huge area that needs some color and you don't care if these perennials take over, these are very hardy, self seeding and colorful. They seem to tolerate any kind of soil too.

By Kellyj on Wednesday, May 5, 2004 - 01:27 pm:

Thank you for all of your suggestions! I am so excited to get started. I bought snapdragons and petunias yesterday. It got so close to freezing last night that they are currently "planted" in my bathroom to keep the cat and the cold away from them!
I love lilacs so much! I had thought about planting a lilac bush but we live in a townhouse complex and the plant life cannot be taller than our patio fenches. Azaleas are really pretty too. So many choices!! It's probably best that I have limited space because this could turn out to be an all out obsession if my plants live!
Thanks again!