Saturday, October 24, 2009

I am trying to Plant flowers around a big tree in my front yard?

I am new at this so I went to the store and bought that big round black thing that goes around the tree some steaks to hold it down and i bought the top soil and the flowers. I started digging a trench around but something dosnt seen right! Can anyone please guide me step by step THANKS Its all in my front yard now LOL
Say
FlowersBirthday FlowersSympathy FlowersFirst set up your plastic ring. you should only have to dig it in about 2". Remove weeds grass and seedlings from your new flower bed. Cover with your top soil. Plant your flowers.





You should look for things that grow in the shade. Here are some I think are pretty easy to grow.


Perennials (come back every year)


Hosta


Toad Lilly


Lilly of the Valley


Ferns


Ajuga


Astillbe


Columbine


Bleeding Heart


Daylillies





Annuals (will die with the firs frost/freeze)


Coleus


Impatiens


Torenia, Wishbone Flower


Wax Begonia, Fibrous Begonia


Ageratum, Floss Flower


Browallia, Sapphire Flower


Lobelia


Nicotiana, Flowering Tobacco


Pansy, Viola


Salvia


Sanvitallia, Creeping Zinnia
Reply:I planted impatiens under my big maple tree, in a ring as you describe. I used potting soil with feed mixed in and topsoil to create a soil depth of about 10 inches. Then I placed my plants into the soil. I covered the top with about 3 inches of cypress mulch for moisture, since these plants wilt quickly when its hot or dry. I used brick edging. I watered it whenever I could do so in the morning, since this allows time for the plants to absorb moisture during the day, and helps prevent any fungus or bacteria from settling in the wet plants overnight. The first summer the plants flourished, however, by autumn, the tree roots had suffocated the entire growing area of my little flower bed. So, I would recommend the black skirt (it helps prevent tree roots from invading the bed area, and for moisture retention and weed reduction). It is easier not to dig trenches near tree bases, as you can damage tools and surface feeder roots of the tree. A raised bed is easier to maintain in the long run, and can always be removed by shoveling it away to a compost pile, and planting new grass seed to cover the space.
Reply:Define the black thing (does it have holes or is it just a tarp like material?). First I would recommend researching about your flowers. Some flowers require a certain length below the ground in order to grow, plus did you check how frequent the flowers need sun? Some require as much sun as they can get, others require only a half days worth, and some it doesn't really matter. After you plant them in, too, the best time to water them is at night (when the sun is going down) if you water them when the sun is still up it actually burns them (at least in direct sun, under the shade maybe not a problem).
Reply:Best to remove the grass from around the base of the tree, plant flowers adding top soil as needed. (hope you chose shade lovers; impatiens, begonia, hosta...)





"black thing" could be landscaping fabric which is an expensive inefficient weed barrier, 7-9 layers of newspaper work better, add mulch.





"black thing" could also be edging which helps prevent encroachment of lawn grass and weeds to a degree.





good luck.
Reply:Big black thing?





Is it landscaping fabric?





Honestly, compost, shade loving flowers, mulch and maybe some edging to hold back the grass is about all you would need.





EDIT: Black thing sounds like edging...good. Usually tit doesn't need stakes, it goes into the soil between the grass and dirt.





It sounds like you have everything you need!





Put the edging in first. Then mix in your top soil to richen or soften the existing dirt. Dig a hole big enough to place your flower in, and then water.





You didn't say what kind of tree it is...but hopefully they will get enough sun!
Reply:I hate to say it but the plants probably won't do well under the tree. The tree is taking nutrients and moisture from the ground and shading it.





The Muse
Reply:Well trying to hold it down with steaks might be a bit difficult unless they are awfully tough . . . maybe that's your problem.make up

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