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Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 550
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 7:39 am: | 
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The back corner of our property was some old shrubs that we cut down, leaving a 6' X 8' corner of dirt that we are eventually going to do something with....until then, any suggestions on how to cover the eyesore? It's too bumpy to cover with grass or mulch.... I thought about a couple handfuls of wildflower seeds (the kind they put in the middle of the highways sometimes), but I didn't know where to buy them or if they'd last longer than a month.
I'd love suggestions. Ideally, the solution would involve a trip to Home Depot, and 1 hour of work at home. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 64
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 8:37 am: |
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HD sells a box of wildflowers (a sun version and a shade version). You "prepare" the site by raking it smooth, scatter the seeds from the box via your preferred method (spreader or the old grab-n-toss), water well, and within 14-21 days, sprouts of wildflowers.
(There are better directions on the box, but this is what I remember doing).
If HD is out, you can look up I want to say WildSeed Farms (they're out of Texas and are the major contractor selling seed mixes for states planting wildflowers along highways). I'll see if I still have their catalogue. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 551
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:00 am: |
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Have you used these before, to any degree of success? Also, in your experience, how long does the flowering last? |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 134
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:07 am: |
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It would make a lovely rock garden. (I am sure with the NJ soil, you would have no trouble finding rocks) Space the rocks on the berm of soil and in between place some shady annuals. Bleeding heart is beautiful and reliable and comes back every year. I would have no problem looking at the space and giving advice. I have a beautiful garden in Millburn that all are invited to view. |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11298
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:11 am: |
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From reading the box the theroy is that there are various varities of wild flowers included that bloom at different times of the year, but I imagine a lot depends on your soil and light conditions. It is probably worth a shot. I don't think the stuff is particularly expensive. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 552
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:24 am: |
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Thanks, maybe a combo Rock garden/Wild flowers for now will suffice....I wonder how you keep weeks out of the Wild flowers? Anyone know? Sherri, how do you keep them out of your rock garden?
Also, how do you keep the rock garden from becoming a rats nest like area (bees/bugs/worse etc)? I'm really curious, do you have a photo you can post as a model? |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 137
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 5:44 pm: |
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I personally do not have a rock garden as most of my property is level or I have boxes on the side. (I am on a corner and my home is slightly raised from the street). However, my neighbors across the street have a lovely one. If the wildflowers are packed closely together then weeding should not be a problem. Otherwise you have several ways to go. Before placing anything down, put black landscaping fabric on the mound of dirt. Then the rocks, then cut through the fabric where you want the individual plants to go (this would work for naturalizing wild flowers) then mulch about 3 inches. Or you could use Preen. Or just chill out once a week and sit and pick the weeds out. This is what I do. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 569
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 11:38 pm: |
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Maybe Vinca Vine. This is an annual vine. It'll grow like crazy all summer then die and you can rake it up.
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Whats/vinca2.htm
Probably not a trip to Ho Po, maybe Metropolitan Plant exchange, but also probably less than an hour at home. Don't even need to smooth the ground. But I think it'll need sun.
J.B. |
calypso
Citizen
Username: Calypso
Post Number: 17
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 8:53 pm: |
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AAAGH!! NO, don't do the "wildflower" mix. My neighbor did, and yeah, for the first summer it looked pretty OK. But the next summer, most of the pretty flowers were gone (they were annuals), and all of the not so pretty, invasive, hard to eradicate plants had gotten a good toehold in the space. Really, its been a drag. Personally, I would suggest either grass seed (if wildflower seeds will root, why not grass?) or mulch (if you're putting in railroad ties, the mulch will stay, and will do a great job of keeping down weeds as long as the mulch layer is deep enough).
Or you could do what I did when another neighbor had a front garden she'd cleaned out but hadn't decided what to do with yet: thick layer of mulch, lots of tomato plants, and any other cheap plants they happen to have at Home Depot or the supermarket that day. Yes, it will take longer than an hour, but given a thick layer of mulch you won't have weeds, and given minimal care and some water you'll have lots of tomatoes. |
Jersey Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 574
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:05 pm: |
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I was at Metropolitan Plant Exchange today. They have Vinca Vine and it doesn't look floral, just a nice varigated vine. I've read the other posts, but I think MY solution is THE BEST.
Sorry, I don't remember what they cost. Under $10 definately.
Do it. Do it.
J.B. |
Amateur Night
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 1835
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 9:57 pm: |
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JB, you crackme up. Love your posts. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 66
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
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I have used the box o wildflowers because they were cheap (about $10) and it didn't take a lot of time (maybe 5 minutes of raking the dirt, ok, maybe 10, 1 minute to open the box, and maybe 5-10 minutes of grabbing and tossing seeds. Then maybe 5 minutes to walk to the garage, get a large pot, fill with dirt, and toss another handful in) 30 minutes and 2 weeks later - presto! Instant garden!
They didn't last because, well, frankly I prefer a more formal look to my garden and the 2nd year I ripped everything out. But it worked. It was my first garden and thought it sounded like a good idea (cheap and easy! what could be worse!?). To figure out which were the wildflowers and which were the weeds, I even planted a handful of the seeds in a container so I could compare the sprouts to identify the weeds (I was new, remember?).
I think it was after planting the box that I found Wildseed Farms. Which also has a mix that may have fewer annuals than the cheap box, but it's accordingly more $$ and takes more time. |
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