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Need help with my landscaping/gardening makeover - PIP
In the new home we bought I'm completely ripping out the landscaped area (that hasn't been tended to for years) and starting over. I went to a local nursery and talked to someone yesterday so that I could get started - but I still have a few questions and thought someone here might be able to help - I'm very new to gardening. Ultimately, I want this to be a garden bed with shrubs, perennials, hostas, etc.
I basically need to get up tons of ugly tan landscaping rock, dig up small trees, bushes (some not so small), 1/2 of them are dead. The good news is there's some hostas that are in pretty good shape that I can keep!
When I am digging up some of this stuff, mainly the small trees and bushes, if I find it's still alive, do I need to literally get every bit of root out of the ground? Or should I be using something to kill the item off? Not sure how to do this.
Also, once I'm done with all of this, I bought one of those kits to test the PH of the soil, so I'll know what kind of compost, dirt, etc. I need to lay next. Where are the best and cheapest places to get compost and dirt, etc? Even though this is such a big project I need to keep $$ as low as possible.
Anyone know where I can get rid of my ugly tan rock too?
Thanks for your help! Here's pics if it helps.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll80/lily2521/Garden3.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll80/lily2521/Garden2.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll80/lily2521/Garden.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll80/lily2521/Garden1.jpg
Re: Need help with my landscaping/gardening makeover - PIP
Are you doing all of the work yourself? I might consider doing it in stages if you are. The area you are not working on first you can trim those bushes and trees and it will really make it look much better.
No, there is no need to remove every little root. You do want to make sure you understand why the dead plants died. If the plant was diseased it could infect the next plants you put in.
I can't speak to you area, but the cheapest compost comes from you. Are you already composting vegetable scraps, leaves and grass clippings? It's worth starting so as you work in more areas of your yard you will have free amendments. You community may offer free pick up yourself compost. You're best bet is to ask the local master gardeners club, they should be able to help and direct you to local sources. Ours comes to the farmers market every weekend and dispenses advice.
Best of luck.
I am doing all of the work myself, and because it's such a big job I'm planning on the whole summer to do it, hoping that I can plant in the fall for next spring, or just plant next spring.
Thanks for the compost ideas. I don't compost myself, I've never tried! I might have to look into that.
Another compost question though - do you really need it? Can't you just put down dirt? I guess I'm unclear on what compost really does.
Thanks, but I am asking different questions this time though. After researching more I'm finding what I can and can't do, and now that I'm really digging in I'm coming up with new questions. I know last time you mentioned making the area bigger, and unfortunately because I'm in an association development that isn't an option for us, we have to work with what we've got.
Compost amends, feeds and enriches the soil. Your plants grow best when there are a lot of nutrients in the soil. Compost delivers those nutrients. Compost also improves aeration in the soil and helps retain moisture as well as ensuring the water goes deep and doesn't puddle or runoff. Dirt (sometimes called fill dirt) is whatever the local dirt is. Here in Virginia that's heavy on the clay, light on the organic materials. Our unamended dirt provides a poor diet for our plants which is why we add compost. Composting is so easy - we started with a compost pile and recently bought a composter. There are better directions on the internet than I can write here, but it's a little step to save the planet that has big green repercussions for your yard.
It looks like our garden wraps around your house. I would start with a small section, remove all the rocks, remove the plants you are not keeping, amend the soil, put down landscaping fabric, add in the new plants and mulch. Then repeat with the next section. You'll learn a lot along the way, get a sense of your yard to course adjust and probably discover increasingly efficient ways to do each step.
Thank you so much for your help. I know I have a big project ahead of me - but I'm excited to do it and see the end result!
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If you want to amend the soil - compost - don't mulch. Use manure too. We get compost from the local dump for free. Look into it.
The only way to get rid of the rocks is to dig them out (BTDT). Yes it is a pain and lots of rock will stay behind but it is worth it. As to how to get rid of it, Craig'slist or Freecycle. People take anything for free.
Make sure you WANT the Hosta. You can not kill those things and they are BEASTS in terms of growth. Deer love them so you have to spray them all the time with rotten egg mixture (lovely to smell) so that they stay away.