Any Gardener's Out There?

[pleasteasme]

I have started to garden/landscape/beautify the house I moved into *it needs some help* lol

I'm curious if any of you have used the wine barrels cut in half to plant roses/crepe myrtle trees/or any other in?

What process did you use?

Did you line the bottom with a layer of gravel to improve drainage?

What did you plant?

Any tips on soil/mixtures/ammendments I should use?

I have 5 of them and was really thinking of growing roses - trained to resemble a "tree" and then plant various things in each of the barrels....ivy, flowers, trailing plants, etc.....as a ground cover, so they aren't so boring

Any other ideas or suggestions?

I have yet to do more than soak the barrels, so I am open to any/all ideas!

Thanks

 

[shmily]

pleasteasme,
We have used the 1/2 whiskey barrells. Currently I have assorted flowers in 2. I put a layer of lava rock on the bottom (to help drainage), a big layer of compost, then top 6 inches of a good potting soil. The flower are doing great.

Last year we did Tomatoes in them. same formula. the tomatoes did wonderful.

You can do just about anything. Ferns would probably do good. Ivy ~~ probably better in something smaller. A chefalaria (sp - ? /phonics) would do good, it would have plenty of room to grow.

Roses would do good - look for a varity that is more bushy. Close to the ground.

Good luck
S

 

[trendyredhead]

A lot will depend on where you live --- what are your winters like? If you have cold / sub-zero winters, you will need to be sure they aren't left out to freeze. I do better when I put my roses in the ground, but in the midwest, things freeze above ground. I only put annuals in pots outside - everything else goes in the ground.

 

[pleasteasme]

Thanks for the responses shmily & trendyredhead!

Lava rock.....that would be much better than ordinary gravel!!

By chance, did you mix perlite or vermiculite in with your potting soil to help with aeration? Or straight potting soil mix?

I live in CA so our winters are, well far from 'harsh' Where I live, I think there were maybe 5-10 nights that were around the 'freezing' mark.

I rent, so I don't want to put something in permanent and what I am doing with the wine barrels is creating an illusion of line (like a fence in the front of my yard) since I don't have one, lol

This is a good start! Now....where do I find lavarock? Home Depot? Lowes? Orchard Supply & Hardware? hmmmmm.......

Thanks again!!!

 

[shmily]

PLease - I think we found the lava rock at Home depot. Didn't mix anything extra in the potting soil - We bought Miracle Grow - it has all the stuff mixed in. The compost was from a local seller that sells all kinds of dirt, soil, rock etc.

s

 

[pleasteasme]

PLease - I think we found the lava rock at Home depot. Didn't mix anything extra in the potting soil - We bought Miracle Grow - it has all the stuff mixed in. The compost was from a local seller that sells all kinds of dirt, soil, rock etc.

s

Thanks shmily

I will look around for a local dealer!

 

[Nightbird]

Hmm lets see, compost, compost, compost.. LOL I even have a worm composter set up and going well.. Although thats harder to do if your just renting.

 

[Lynxie]

I'm still going through the nailbiting process of buying a house, but if we get the one we're after, I'll be revisiting this thread for sure. It needs a lot of landscaping help, and my thumbs are far from green.

For example, what would you do plant-wise with a large cement retaining wall that dropped off from the front yard to an area where there used to be a driveway (there's still a garage door on the side of the house, but it's used for tool/lawnmore/bike storage presently...lally columns make it impossible to use for cars; the new driveway is on the opposite side of the house). Currently there's a lovely crop of briars and poison ivy growing in the spot, but I'm thinking short flowering trees or shrubs below (to hide the wall), and maybe some ivy up top (to flow over and cover the rest of the visible cement). But I really have no idea...

Assuming we get the house, I'll be back with pictures and pleas for help. Great idea for a thread, Pleasteasme!

 

[LadyG]

I'm still going through the nailbiting process of buying a house, but if we get the one we're after, I'll be revisiting this thread for sure. It needs a lot of landscaping help, and my thumbs are far from green.

For example, what would you do plant-wise with a large cement retaining wall that dropped off from the front yard to an area where there used to be a driveway (there's still a garage door on the side of the house, but it's used for tool/lawnmore/bike storage presently...lally columns make it impossible to use for cars; the new driveway is on the opposite side of the house). Currently there's a lovely crop of briars and poison ivy growing in the spot, but I'm thinking short flowering trees or shrubs below (to hide the wall), and maybe some ivy up top (to flow over and cover the rest of the visible cement). But I really have no idea...

Assuming we get the house, I'll be back with pictures and pleas for help. Great idea for a thread, Pleasteasme!

I have a retaining wall in the back - our townhouse is one of only three that have the backyard access from the basement.

I've put trellises up along the wall and grow a mix of clematis and climbing roses. It fills the wall up quite nicely!

 

[Lynxie]

I have a retaining wall in the back - our townhouse is one of only three that have the backyard access from the basement.

I've put trellises up along the wall and grow a mix of clematis and climbing roses. It fills the wall up quite nicely!

Thanks LadyG, that idea sounds awesome and might actually work better in the space.

 

[pleasteasme]

Great Ideas!!!

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I am getting into gardening a bit more.......in an attempt to stay away from the YKYSF thread *giggles*

I'll post pics when ther is something worth posting. Right now....it is a lot of loose ends, and a lot of work! Fun though!! I look forward to more discussions.

Today I went to the local Home Depot and they didn't have any lava rock. They only had some pea gravel and then some decorative rock....need to check out the yellow pages! It's good, I am still soaking the barrels so, it gives me a little time.

Anyone ever hear of using those styrofoam "peanuts" they use in shipping, in potting soil? A friend mentioned that....just sounds, odd.....any ideas

 

[Guest]

 

[Quoll]

..........
Anyone ever hear of using those styrofoam "peanuts" they use in shipping, in potting soil? A friend mentioned that....just sounds, odd.....any ideas

I suspect the ones he means are not actually styrofoam, there are several types made out of either potato or corn starch, these will break down in he soil or you can even dissolve them in water.

 

[pleasteasme]

I suspect the ones he means are not actually styrofoam, there are several types made out of either potato or corn starch, these will break down in he soil or you can even dissolve them in water.

Thanks quoll!

I should probably stop trying to be a cheapskate and bite the bullet and go to a nursery, lol!!! Maybe, I will be pleasantly surprised with prices comperable to national retail chains......or.....not?! We'll see.

 

[kikmosa]

Thanks quoll!

I should probably stop trying to be a cheapskate and bite the bullet and go to a nursery, lol!!! Maybe, I will be pleasantly surprised with prices comperable to national retail chains......or.....not?! We'll see.

You can get lava rock where they sell gas grills. That's what they put in them to spread the heat. My sister has used styro peanuts instead of gravel but I don't feel they do as well. Try some of the mosses on that retaining wall. Irish moss is low growing and very hardy but it won't take over everywhere else. It also helps hold in moisture in areas that don't get enough rain. Mosses do well around bushs and roses.

 

[Cathleen]

Hi Tease....... every year I try to do something different and I've been having some fun looking at ideas. Here are some of the sites I've found for inspiration. Flowers add so much to spaces.

http://www.freefoto.com/browse.jsp?id=12-60-0

http://www.flowerframers.com/

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gr_indoor_container/0,2028,DIY_13849,00.html

 

[Lynxie]

Here's another helpful website (I'm hopelessly addicted to HGTV):
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gardening/0,1784,HGTV_3546,00.html

 

[pleasteasme]

Thanks Cate & Lynxie! All excellent sites!

I used to be the hooked on HGTV.....but, don't have cable/satellite now....I'm deprived! lol

Cate, do you have window boxes? They are so pretty!!!

Kikmosa ~ I finally found some lava rock! I was really surprised that it was not very expensive.

I'm still in the contemplating stage of it all......there is just so much I could do!!!! It is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Thanks again for everyone's contribution

 

[Nightbird]

Does anyone have any good web sites for Vegetable gardening? I've got a Rabbit and slug problem... Any ideas??

 

[Cathleen]

Does anyone have any good web sites for Vegetable gardening? I've got a Rabbit and slug problem... Any ideas??

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gardening/0,2028,DIY_13830,00.html

NB, this is the same link as above but the index page. On the left you'll see the listing, it has pests and insects as well as veggies.

 

[Cathleen]

Thanks Cate & Lynxie! All excellent sites!

I used to be the hooked on HGTV.....but, don't have cable/satellite now....I'm deprived! lol

Cate, do you have window boxes? They are so pretty!!!

Kikmosa ~ I finally found some lava rock! I was really surprised that it was not very expensive.

I'm still in the contemplating stage of it all......there is just so much I could do!!!! It is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

Thanks again for everyone's contribution

Hi Tease,

I do have boxes and containers. I live in a condo and I have them on my decks. I have four square boxes and this year I'm going to add a few railing style boxes.

I am so behind this year. We've had terrible storms and it was too cold for too long. I haven't even sketched anything yet - but THIS is the weekend!

I find it so enjoyable.

 

[Nightbird]

Thanks Cate... Errr thought you were going to bed?

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/gardening/0,2028,DIY_13830,00.html

NB, this is the same link as above but the index page. On the left you'll see the listing, it has pests and insects as well as veggies.

 

[Cathleen]

Thanks Cate... Errr thought you were going to bed?

Yea, I am now.... thanks for reminding me. G'night NB

 

[TirelessTongue]

Gardens? Lately I've had a sudden urge to plant some Irises. They are hardy for my climate zone and come in many different colors and sizes. Its hard to decided which ones I want.

 

[pleasteasme]

Gardens? Lately I've had a sudden urge to plant some Irises. They are hardy for my climate zone and come in many different colors and sizes. Its hard to decided which ones I want.

Irises are beautiful! If you are looking for bulbs, I have always had good luck with www.dutchgardens.com

I recently bought A BUNCH of bulbs through them from a friends fundraiser!