Gardening Newbie, and I am super struggling :(

xmaryrickx

I feel like throwing in the towel, but that is not an option. So, I ask you wise Nesties, are there any books or resources you reccomend that can help the novice gardener? We have a fairly large piece of property, and a lot of flower beds that were poorly made and poorly maintained. At this point we are in prep stage (weeding, pulling out the dead stuff, adding dirt, etc), but planting is going to come quickly. I have no idea even where to start, and I want to get it right. Any and all help would be appreciated!

pdxmouse

What's your region?

Check to see if your nearest extension service has a website, they'll often have lots of advice. Our local soil & water bureau offers free gardening and design classes with an emphasis on native plants. You might have something similar.

Also, have you heard of lasagna layering? I find it's not 100% effective, but it does get a really tough weedy area down to the point where I can control it.

CollegeGrrl219

Your local library would have some good books on gardening in your area.

xmaryrickx

I am in the Mid-Atlantic. Zone 7a, I think. Thanks for your advice I shall look into our local extention (is this like a gardening club?) and head to the library. If I post pics, does anyone think they can make suggestions?

GoldenGibson

I am in the same zone. I would suggest not jumping into plant purchasing too quickly and focus your attention on bed preparation including shaping and soil conditioning. It is generally not a good idea to go to the garden center without any idea of what plants you want/need for your area and you can't know that until you prep the site and design your landscape. Why don't you post some pics?

another KT

The local extension is the Master Gardener extension program administered through your state university system.  google your state university name and Master Gardener extension program and you should be able to find it.  Don't worry if you don't live you a campus; the extension program often has satellite offices and can even have home gardening information on their website.

TarHeels&Rebels

Don't be afraid to rip up beds and just put grass seed down.  Some people just go crazy and loooove to garden and the next person who inherits it is overwhelmed.

Yes, we can help with pics!

And yes, head to your library.  Grab an arm-load of books - not all will be helpful for where you're at right now.

jinksd1

I was where you are two years ago.  The existing beds were full of mostly weeds and a few plants that didn't look right or make sense.  And we had a lot of areas to work on:  a 15'x2' bed next to the porch, another 12'x2' front bed, a 5'x1' bed near the driveway, a 30'x4' bed next to the fence and driveway, a 25'x3' bed next to the deck, and a 2'x8' trellis planter, as well as various other areas in the yard and pots and hanging planters we added to the porch and deck to make them look better. 

And I knew absolutely nothing about gardening.  I couldn't identify more than three flowers or plants to save my life, didn't know anything about soil conditions or sun requirements, and could kill a houseplant just by looking at it.  I was extremely overwhelmed, but I really wanted a nice-looking yard.

Please do NOT plant anything more than annuals this first year (doing it from seed is cheapest, but you can get plants, too).  I can guarantee you will sorely regret it if you do, and you will waste a lot of time, money, and effort on it.  You absolutely need to learn more about gardening, and it's not something you can pick up in a month.  It wasn't until this year that I felt confident enough in my knowledge and garden plan (which took forever to make) to plant bushes and perennial plants/flowers in more than the small beds, planter boxes, and pots.

I did read a book or two, but they didn't help much.  I got my best education from plant/seed company catalogs, of which I get more than a dozen.  I have flipped through them for more hours than I can count, mostly in winter months.  Burpee and Jung catalogs are my favorites, just because they have a decent variety of plants, show good photos of them, and give good information about them (sun requirements, spacing, height and width of mature plants, if they spread quickly or slowly, caring for them, what kind of soil they like, etc.). 

Then if I really like a plant and am considering using it, I go online and google it, which shows me more photos and gives more info, and also sometimes tells me what people love or hate about the plant (maybe it's too invasive for beds or not just a partial sun plant but specifically likes only afternoon sun).  Between these two kinds of resources, I've learned a ton, but it takes a long time to get comfortable with it.  I'm getting where I can identify a ton of plants and flowers, besides remembering useful info about each.  It makes planning a garden easier and less costly when you know what your real options are.

The last bit of advice I have is to be patient and understand that starting a garden from scratch will probably mean that you don't have full beds that look like they should for at least 2-3 years after you plant.  Most perennials take a while to grow to maturity, and fill in the bed properly if you space correctly, and many won't flower much or at all the first year, as they are expending energy to grow.  Fill in bare spots with annuals if you must, though I don't have the money or time, so I'm just leaving them be.  I know it will look good eventually.