kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:27 am Post subject: Planning a design or free form garden |
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OK, I'll admit I haven't gardened in a few years and couldn't this year due to my back surgery. Next spring or earlier I want to have some pretty plants and flowers and the more unusual the better. I prefer free form (that just looks like it came up on its own) as to rows/sections of Hostas, Mexican heather and petunias, etc. I want it all mixed. So... my question is, do I just select plants that have the same sun/shade requirements? If you think I sound crazy, you're right. And I am probably not making sense. I will have to have a defined bed, as I am not as lucky as Glenda is to just have all the room in the world and have things growing here and there. Maybe I'll have to get her to my house so she can help, since she doesn't have anything else to do now I want some Tulips, Daffodils late winter plants, then go into the spring. I want something growing all the time. Is that possible?
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glendann Official Garden Angel
 Joined: 19 May 2006 Posts: 5717 Location: Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:21 am Post subject: |
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Kuntrygal I just walk out and say to myself that might look good over there and plant it sometimes it works and sometimes it don't.If it don't and doesn't die I move it .I do make beds too but I usually plat bulbs in those
_________________
Live today to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised.
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toni Mistress of Garden Junque

Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 4202 Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:22 am Post subject: |
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If you have a shady area and a sunny area then you can have plants with different requirements. But if you have one area you are planting, the plants must be all of the same sun/shade requirement and pretty much the same water requirements.
Hostas require shade, whereas the Mexican Petunia requires full sun. Ferns and Hosta's require moist soil but lavender requires dry soil. There are many plants that will do well in Sun to Partial Shade that you could possibly put together.
Full Sun means at least 6 hours of full sun per day, partial shade could mean morning sun/afternoon shade....especially in the hot Texas sun. But if a plant requires Partial Shade to Full Shade, that means very little or no sun or possibly just a bright location without direct sun.
Since Texas, especially as far south as you are, doesn't get a whole lot of real winter weather you should have no problem finding evergreen plants or blooming plants for every season. Winter before last I had dwarf Hollyhocks blooming all during the season called winter, last year my Tuscan Blue Rosemary bloomed from November thru March even when with the ice and snow on it.
You have the option of the myriad native plants we have in Texas plus a lot of tropicals will do fine where you are without special needs such as hot houses or conservatories.
I would suggest making a list of plants you really want to have, it is very likely members here can help you with their growing requirements so you can decide if they will work in your garden.
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kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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I knew you 'pros' would come through for me! Thanks a bunch
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kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like I want have to worry about designing a garden. I mentioned in another post that I live in a mobile home community and the yards are not real large. So actually three feet of my yard next to the home to the left of mine is that persons lot! OK... I ask my neighbor (a good friend) today if she minded me making a flower bed in that 3 foot section. She said "only if it doesn't touch the skirting, because when the wind blows the plant will rub against it and make a noise".WHAT Well goodness gracious, you could have blown me away with a feather! So I will be container planting and that is good, I suppose, because I can have my shade plants and sunny plants where they are suppose to be I can handle that, no problem. And I hope she wants a pretty flower
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Droopy Slug Slaughterer
 Joined: 11 Aug 2007 Posts: 2842 Location: Western Norway (Map)
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 6:56 am Post subject: |
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Oh, my, some people are very hard to please. Containers make nice gardens too, good luck. And don't give her any flowers!
_________________ The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
-Bertrand Russell
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kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Droopy wrote: | | Oh, my, some people are very hard to please. Containers make nice gardens too, good luck. And don't give her any flowers! |
I won't
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Netty Chaotic Gardener
 Joined: 04 Nov 2006 Posts: 3598 Location: Southern Ontario zone 5
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:54 am Post subject: |
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Don't let your neighbors negativity bring you down kuntrygal! Geeze, she's lucky you don't collect windchimes LOL
Container gardens can be beautiful!
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kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 1:48 am Post subject: |
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I do
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toni Mistress of Garden Junque

Moderator
Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 4202 Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 2:08 am Post subject: |
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Actually by using containers you can probably get more plants than if you put them all in the ground. Some pots sitting on the ground, some on stands that nestle down between plants where another plant would not fit.
You could find multi-tiered planters to use too.
The plants scrape the sides of skirting and make a noise? Oh my, it takes all kinds.
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kuntrygal Texas Rose
 Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 774 Location: Lufkin, TX Zone 8
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| Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:34 am Post subject: |
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Sure does... and this lady is looking for a job (almost a year now). I would think she would be concentrating more on finding the job, than she would if a plant of all things brushed against the skirting. It's not like the plant is something hard or rough in texture. Go figure
I like the idea of actually getting more 'bang for the buck' by using containers. You are just too good to be true!
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bradytimes Just Arrived

Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Orem, UT
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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@kuntrygal
How have things turned out? I think we'd be interested in seeing pictures of what your garden looks like now.
_________________ Share Garden Plans.
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