Overgrown garden

MrsVMS

Our new yard has about a 3x15 sq ft garden area that has rhubarb but is overgrown with tall grass and weeds. I'd like to clean it up and plant something new but have no idea what to do with it or where to start. Is it too late in the season to plant anything? Does it make sense to bring up the rhubarb and till it so it's ready for next spring? Thanks!

another KT

Are you thinking vegetables or perennials and shrubs?  If you are thinking about vegetables, there are some vegetables that you can start now and still harvest this year.  For perennials and shrubs, I try not to transplant anything between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend.  I live in Massachusetts.  I've had 100% success with planting in September and early October.  Many garden centers/nurseries also have sales come the fall. 

MrsVMS

I am actually thinking perennials. Can you plant perennials up until fall? I'd like to do veggies eventually in that area, but prefer to have something a little less maintenance for now (not sure if perennials are less maintainenace.)

TootsieK

What KT is saying is do NOT plant perennials in the summer.  Wait until the cooler weather of fall.

 Where are you located?  That will affect your choice of perennials to some extent.

MrsVMS

midwest, hot summers and cold winters with, normally, lots of snow. This is perfect, gives me more time to clear it out since we still have a few more months until cooler weather.

TootsieK

Does it get good sun?  If so, you could plant Knock-Out roses, for continuing color from spring until frost.  I know a lot of people look down their noses at them, but I'm delighted with mine -- had blooms past Thanksgiving last year, even in New England (granted, it was a late, mild winter).   They're small enough that they would fit the space.  Hydrangeas (look for the kind that bloom on new wood, like Neverending? Endless? Summer) would also be a pretty look.  Daylilies might work, but go for the continuous blooming type -- otherwise the flower show is pretty brief.  Happy Returns is a lovely, soft yellow.

You might also want to plant some taller, slim evergreen shrubs beween and slightly behind the flowers, so it doesn't look barren in winter.

And add early bulbs along the front, for foliage and color in the early spring -- daffodils, etc.  Or liriope makes a nice border plant, but here in NE it's slow coming back in the spring,

Whatever you plant, I suggest putting a soaker hose in the bed, because that long, thin shape will be hard to water otherwise.