Planting Flowers ~ need help!

Hello All,

I need some help. I want to finally do some landscaping at my home. I've planted a few flowers here and there but I'm looking for something permanent. Outside of my job is some beautiful red bulbs? I don't know the first thing about planting so does anyone have any ideas for me. I was thinking of planting seeds this year.

What do you think? Ideas? Remember I'm a beginner at this.

I put 17 different gardens in at my last home.  I would see something new in another yard, and just have to have it in mine!  They were beautiful, but so much work.  I almost want to kill the person who bought that house, because they ripped everything up!

Red this time is year are likely tulips.  These are bulbs, and bulbs are planted in the fall.  You'll find them everywhere in the fall -- Meijer, Lowes, Home Depot, any gardening center.  Or, you can come on over to the westside of Michigan to Holland, and spend a fortune on all the amazing choices they will have!  The Tulip Festival is coming up, and you can tour the grounds of the tulip farms to pick out what you like and order in the fall (although you pay to do this, which I could never quite understand!)  Bulbs are relatively easy.

Most garden centers will be glad to help a novice.  My advice would be to stick to what is native to Michigan if you are planting perennials (which are plants that will come up year after year, and usually multiply).  Annuals are what you usually find in flower boxes or trimming boarders of flower beds, and these you plant and they don't come up the next year.

Personally, I don't put anything in the ground until June 1st, but others say May 15th.  You would probably be safe with mid-May around you, but jus****ch out for frost warnings (and cover the plants at night if there is one).

Seeds can be started in the home now (or earlier!), and can be put in the ground when you are sure that frost won't hurt the delicate seedlings.  Annuals are usually started by seed, if you don't want to pay for the flowers at the garden center.

A great way to save money on perennials is to get a 'cutting' from someone.  A lot of experienced gardeners will start thinning out their plants in the spring, and this is a great way to get your perennial garden going.  Just ask friends with landscaping if they can give you a cutting of whatever (hostas, mums, daisys, peonies, etc...).

I always have a 'kitchen garden' going as well, which are fresh herbs that I use while cooking.  If you are into that, check out a local farmer's market for the starting plants.  The variety is usually great and the people selling them are more knowledgeable than the average garden center.

Also, getting the garden to what you want it to be usually takes a couple years, because you add things and move things around each year.  It can be a lot of work or very little work, depending on the plants you decide upon.  I found it to be very meditative and great exercise, but very time consuming with the number of gardens I had, so I have scaled back considerably.  Good luck!!

Kimberly ~ thank you. I am seriously ignorant to planting so your post has really helped. I know I want some hostas but was thinking about some perennials in the front that come up every year. I have a lot of yard and I have the wine? driveway so I have landscapping to do in that area as well. thank you for taking out the time.

Wow, great info to have Kimberley!! I'll remember who to go to if I decide to venture out & plant anything this year:)

Do you know how much easier it will be for both of us to play around in the dirt this year?!?!

You let me know if you need any help, switch sister!

I have never planted flowers from seeds.  At least that grew  I like to plant perennials.  They come up many years without having to replant every year.  I plant hostas were there isn't much sun.  I have irises and crocus that come up ever year.

Good Luck with your green thumb.

Hey Pineview01.  Arnt  you the one I was talking with you and your husband at my 6 week followup at Hurley on Robert T Longway?  If so, hope to meet up with you again at the support group on the 4th.

Yep, my DH was with me.  I sure hope to see you on the 4th.

1st do you want sun or shade plants.  I can give you some of both.  A patient gave us daisy's and I decided not to use them so I have about 8-10 small plants of those, she said they flower white.  I also had a huge tree taken down last fall and I don't think the hosta's that were under it are going to like all the light their going to get.  I'd be happy to give you some of those.

As you can see I live in Clarkston, if your interested PM me and we'll set up a time, you can either come on up or I'll dig them out (may take a week or so) and I'll meet you somewhere.  The daisies are already in pots, so I could give them to you anytime.

Let me know.

Edie

Edie,

That's the problem..........I have a sunny area (backyard) and a shaded area. I would love anything you could offer at this point. lol :) I will PM you!