I have sold my home :( and downsized ,but I need ideas on small garden
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I will have a10'x14' patio and some small patches in back yard for planting ,need plants that come back ever year and need little attention ..WOW that is a lot to ask ..LOL
8 answers
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Are your patio and back yard sunny or shady, Mary? Do you have access to irrigation? Are you looking for trees and shrubs or just perennials?
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 23, 2013
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Pictures would be helpful, but there is one rule of thumb which applies to all small gardens: Everything in the garden should "work" for you. Perhaps you might want to build a Pergola over your patio or a trellis "wall" at one end to create a garden "room" and to provide support for flowering vines. Select flowering shrubs for garden boundaries and allow for beds in front of the shrubs for perennials. You can also bring interest to a small garden by creating stone or paver pathways with prostrate plants (e.g. wooly thyme, star creeper or corsican mint) growing in the spaces between. Don't forget to go vertical! A leaning ladder to support clay pots held in place by wire hoops is an example. What are you cultural conditions, i.e. sunlight, soil, moisture?
Deborah Donovan-Navarro
on Aug 23, 2013
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Thanks Doug for replying ,there is a small patio 12x14 and then a small back yard . It looks like the back yard will have aslope on it and I am looking for perennials . The tree that they put in front of home are all flowering cherry [i think ...lol]
Mary McNamara
on Aug 27, 2013
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Penn State has a list of perennials known for their long bloom time here: http://extension.psu.edu/ipm/resources/pestproblemsolver/perennials-annuals/point-of-purchase/long-blooming.pdf You will probably want to incorporate some small-scale evergreens—something like "Green Mountain" boxwood or Cryptomeria japonica 'Black Dragon'— to provide structure and winter interest. We look forward to seeing photos of what you come up with.
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 28, 2013
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We are a "BIG" fan of PSU ...thanks Doug
Mary McNamara
on Aug 28, 2013
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WOW..... Deborah Navarro that is all such good advise ...Thanks ! I would love to send pic ,but the yard is not in yet and I am not sure how it will all play out .I was thinking of box wood around the patio with two large planters for height . I will show pic next year this time hen all is done :0)Thanks again The home is built to share with someone else ,all on one floor I need my out side space ,I miss my old gardens sooo much
Mary McNamara
on Aug 28, 2013
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Use plants that are native to your area and you will enjoy the birds, bees and butterflies. Natives pretty much take care of themselves once established :)
JanB
on Aug 28, 2013
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Thanks Jan great idea !
Mary McNamara
on Aug 28, 2013
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