Gardening & Landscaping
xtina78
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Online garden planner?
Hi everyone, I am a long time lurker with a brand new garden that came with our new house. I am wondering if any of you use any online garden planning tools that you would recommend. I am in a process of mapping out the new garden and identifying the plants.
TIA!
Me - 34. DH - 39. TTC #1 since 9/2010. IUI #3 2/3/13 + progesterone. BFP on HPT 2/17/13. Beta #1 2/19/13 = 61.9. Beta #2 2/22/13 = 71 Beta #3 77 - C/P
Re: Online garden planner?
This is what I've been going through for the past few months with our front yard foundation/front walk landscaping. I wasn't able to find any planning tools online that would help, so I had my DH draw up the dimensions of our house and all that in AutoCAD. Then I had a print out of the area and I could draw on that. I ended up going to a nearby garden center that has landscaping services and had them draw me up a quick plan. They had a in-house service where you bring the dimensions and kind of an idea of things you like and they can whip up a plan for you in a half hour for $25. So check out your nearby garden centers to see if they have any services that have them design it and you plant it. Another planning tool that I found on a gardening blog I found is to do it in Excel. Here's a tutorial: http://www.everchanginggarden.ca/GPDraw.html
Otherwise to pick plants, look online at pictures and then research the ones you like. Also go to the garden centers (not the ones at Menards, Home Depot, or Lowes, but the actual local nurseries and garden centers in your area) and ask the staff if they have any good suggestions. They should be able to tell you how much maintenance each plant will need, what plants may look good when grouped together, how much sun things need, any special needs when being planted, etc. Plus it's just easier to decide what plants you like when you're standing right in front of them. Also, right now is a great time to go the the garden centers as a lot of things are blooming. It's hard to choose plants by just a picture. Plus all the plants that will be in your garden center will be for your USDA zone. That way you won't fall in love with something online and come to find out it won't thrive in your area...
Also, when buying plants, remember that it'll probably take more plants than you expect. Buying groups (in sets of 3, 5, 7, etc) of the same plant will help fill in space if you're working with a bigger area.
Otherwise just have fun with it! I've been finding it's a lot of trial and error. Find out the return policies and keep tags and receipts. Buy what you like, return what doesn't fit in with the space. Also, sometimes having some sort of bigger shrub or structure (bird bath, obelisk, decorative planter, bench, etc) in the garden area gives you something fun to work around. And just keep asking questions! This was probably a little more advice than what you asked for, but it's what I've been learning since about 3 months ago when I was in your position! Good luck, hope this helps a bit!
I use grid paper. I measure the house and plot the placements for all the exsting features. From this base map, I can overlay trace paper and experiment with different layouts and plans.
You can also take a copy of your property plat to a full service graphics and printing center (maybe Kinkos) and have them enlarge it. Cut off the margin areas that you don't need. Put trace paper directly over that, and use your imagination.