My thumb is getting darker. How do you garden without killing everything?  | | | |  Help! My green thumb has turned black! Four years ago my dh & I installed these great beds along the front of our house. We put in a couple dwarf trees, a green laceleaf maple, about 100 tulip bulbs, 2 hyacinths, and some roses. Last summer I added some daylilies to the mix. And of course a selection of annuals. I read the books on soil acidity, sun & water requirements, etc, yet somehow only 2 daylilies and the 2 dwarf trees are still standing. The maple didn't bud this year. The hyacinths look like they're being attacked by some sort of critter (japanese beetles, maybe?), and only 5 tulips came up in the spring. Even the marigolds died this summer.
So what are some good, sturdy plants that even a horrible gardener like me can keep alive (preferably with blooms, not just green)? And what do I have to do differently to keep them alive? I live in an area with warm summers (~90 F) and cold winters (lots of snow). Thanks!
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| 1.  Scotlandthebrave (1267)
|
4 years ago
| |  Hello,
Im Jimbo,and about the only area of real expertise I have is gardening,lol
Ok,my first question is this
Can you dig up some of the tulip bulbs and relate to me what condition they are in.
I think that once we assertain that,we will have a better idea of what is going on sub surface.
If you had a really wet winter,as we did,its entirely possible that the beds couldnt handle the water and bulbs and roots may have perished.
Your mix of plants sounds ok to me,
Especially if everything was ok in previous years.
To much rain,coupled with inadequate drainage can result in acidity changing and nutrients being literally diluted or washed away.
The tulip bulbs should be firm when squeezed and the outer layer of "skin" should,at this time of year be intact.If the bulbs look shrivelled up,its a sign the roots have perished(hairy bits on bottom)
Also,how are the Roses doing?
The Maple,my knowledge is limited.But I have seen these things just stop growing
because the roots cant spread.
Marigolds are relatively easy to grow,and with the right amount of water shouldnt be a problem in your neck of the woods either
Do you dig the beds over regularly,and which type of sub surface drainage do you employ
If you like big Orange Blooms,try Calendula,they grow anywhere
Collect the seeds at the end of the season,or just let them shed
Seeds will sprout up the next year no problem.
I know,I have thousands of them now,hard to control though
Anyway,let me know about the tulip bulbs,the roses and the drainage
Maybe I can help
Not promising though!!!
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| mikinikih (184)
|
4 years ago
| | As soon as the rain stops (two days and it's still going strong) I'll dig up some bulbs. As for the roses, they're completely dead--they turned brown (they were originally red), and the breed was supposed to be acid-tolerant (the hydrangeas need fairly acidic soil to bloom blue). They were removed already. I'm surprised about the maple--it's a dwarf variety (only grows to a max of 4 ft), and the bed we put it in is round with an 8 ft diameter, which should've been plenty of space. I'm hoping the marigolds were a result of either deer, raccoons, or skunks--because it should be hard to kill those (though I have killed a cactus before, too, so I wouldn't put it past me). Since the beds are all surrounded by retaining walls, the Calendula would probably work well--I'll have to go get some. So I'll get back to you about the bulbs as soon as there's a 10 minute rain window. Thanks! | | | |
| mikinikih (184)
|
4 years ago
| | Oh yeah, the drainage. We installed a drainage pipe for each bed when we built the retaining walls, so there shouldn't be too much water buildup. | | | | | | | Light Bulb Superstore Why Pay Retail For Light Bulbs? Nation's Largest Light Bulb eStore! 1000Bulbs.com | add comment | | | |
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