Any gardeners out there?

PepperStick

We just moved to our new house this past October and I finally, FINALLY can start a garden. This year I am focusing on the front of our home that needs a lot of TLC. 

I'm just curious as to what plants/flowers you would recommend for this. I'm looking for plants that will come back every year. (Annuals? Can you tell I'm new to this?) The space I have is probably 20-30 feet by two feet. The area right in front of the house, between the house and sidewalk.

I'm planning on starting this weekend. Any tips or websites?

Thanks! 

ajs0924

I'm not a gardener.  Bachman's will draw up plans for $50 and hour.  I'm guessing your area would only take an hour.  They send you a kit where you take pictures and draw a map of your yard on graph paper.  We went to them once for the front yard and once for the back yard.  I think I took soil samples the first time we went too.  They came up with a good plan both times and you don't have to buy plants from them but they do give you a list of everthing that's on your plan and the prices so you can easily order everything but I used the list to price shop other nursery's. 

vettymama

Hostas and fern peonies are good starters. That is as far as I have gotten around my house.

pryncesMN

You want perennials.  Hostas, Day Lillies, Shasta Daisies, Black Eyed Susans, sedum, aster, phlox, lupine, lilies to name a few. Also you want things that bloom through out the summer in stages. It's no fun having everything bloom all at once then have nothing.  Look for things that can be divided which will help your garden grow!  From personal experience I would stay away from ferns and lily of the valley.   They take over and you can never get rid of it!  Check the zones of plants too.  I know places sell perennials but they are not for our zone and end up being an annual! 

Check Craigslist before you shop for a ton of plants!  Most people like to give things away!   

jetskreemr

A lot of it depends on if the are is sunny or shady. Start by counting how many hours per day the area is in sunlight. Then go for plants based on that. For example, most hostas prefer mostly shade. If it's up against the house too, consider evergreen shrubs so it will look nice all year, and gives some height.

I agree though, if you have no idea, it wouldn't hurt to have Bachman's draw up some quick plans as they will know what will work best/easiest in the area.

LolaBelle515

I really enjoy the idea of gardening, but in reality rarely make it a priority!  SOO...I've learned the perennials are my best bet.  I've planted a ton of lilies (tiger lillies, day lillies, and stelladora lillies), a few rose bushes, hydrangea, hosta, and black eyed susans.  These all grow well and easily come back in Minnesota. They are also a variety of heights and colors, to provide some visual variety in the yard.  I barely have to maintain them, which helps me out. 

 

I have a few hanging plants and window planters that I will do simple annuals in to change it up year after year, but since those are removable, it's no big deal if I don't get to them.

Hope that helps. AND, if you're interested, one of the biggest plant sales of the year is happening this coming weekend. It's at the State Fairground Grandstand and is a fundraiser for the Friends School. Seriously, it's ginormous and has great deals:  https://friendsschoolplantsale.com/

 

sevans1975

I would be careful about planting too early.  Average last day of frost for MN is May 15th and since our Winter took its sweet time going away, you might want to focus on preparing the beds and wait a little bit longer to actually put plants in the ground.

PP's are right, you definitely want perennials for plants that will come back every year; just need to know sun vs. shade, etc.

I stumbled across this website a couple of weeks ago and it is very informative and also entertaining.  He gives a lot of tips for planting and care...you don't want to over water or under water, etc.  I got lost in the site for a few days and he is local.

www.renegadegardener.com

 

MesmrEwe

quite honestly, I'd recommend working with a landscaper to develop/draw up a plan for the space and make recommendations for plants based on your soil type and light for that area.

IMO, you'll be money ahead that way since you aren't familiar yet with the in's and outs of landscape plants at this point.  It's a lot easier to maintain a landscape than it is to make one. 

Gertens would be my landscape/plant supply place of choice because their staff is incredibly knowledgeable as a whole.