Calling all GREEN-THUMBS!!?

I bought a house about 8 months ago %26amp; I haven't done a thing to it.. the outside that is!!





I want to start caring for my lawn %26amp; planting flowers and all that good stuff..


But the honest truth is.....


I have NEVER done this before!





I need ideas on some easy things to do -such as flowers to plant %26amp; should I plant them around my two baby trees (tree's are about 5 yrs old) OR should I just put mulch in the ground around the trees so the trees can grow better..


I have no idea ..





PS


Try to keep it short N sweet %26amp; simple.





THANKS IN ADVANCE!





Oh I'm in Austin, TX and it gets super hot so IDK if that matters, I'm sure it does.

Calling all GREEN-THUMBS!!?
%26lt;waving from San Antonio%26gt; Howdy neighbor. I'm zone 9a, you appear to be 8b.





Easy thing to start with are bulbs. Stay away from Tulips unless you want to dig them up EVERY year and put them in your frig to hibernate for like 4 months. Crocus, Iris and Gladiolas do great.





Here is a list of nurseries, find a place that is close to you and just do some browsing. When something catches your eye, write down the name and either ask one of the folks there or go home and look it up. If you are going to ask the folks working there, do it during a slow time. Saturdays and Sundays are not slow times so they won't be able to go real indepth unlike say during the week day mornings.





http://austin.citysearch.com/yellowpages...
Reply:Hey Hard at Work,





You should just mulch the trees - so you don't injure the trunks by mowing, and so you protect the root growth (by not digging and walking on the roots - compressing).





You need to think how you want it to look. Take a picture and imagine.... This is the planning phase. Get a lot map, giving the dimensions of your yard, and placement of the house and all patios, trees, etc. Just draw circles and put lables. As you said - keep it simple.





In the end, the difference in what you want, and what you have is the work you have to do. Make your yard look like your drawings, in otherwords.





Look up all your plants on the internet - be sure they are good for your growing hardiness zone. Find out what kind of grass you have and treat it according to the Clemson Master Gardeners presentation (web site below). That gives mowing heights, ferterlizing needs, etc.





Austin TX does matter! Your hardiness Zone is 8b. You occasionally get a freeze.





Congrats on the new home - have fun doing the yard, smile a lot when you see things grow, don't worry when they fail (it is going to happen). Happy Gardening!!





htt p:// www. clemson.e du/sandhill/page.htm?pageId=3323


htt p:/ / www .usna .usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-sm1.html
Reply:yes use mulch and native plant's. It does get hot and dry in the summer months in Austin !
Reply:Congratulations on your new home!





Have a professional put in your lawn the first time. BE SURE to ask them how to take care of it. In Texas, watering is very important (we live in West Texas).





You are gonna love gardening, don't try to do it all in one year. Get to know where the sun shines the most, and where the shaded areas are. Because you will need flowers for the sun areas, and flowers for the shaded areas.





Since you are a beginner, this year start your garden with plants that you get from a garden center or nursery. They are called bedding plants and come in a six pack. Look for a little tag sticking in the six pact showing directions on how to grow the plants. If the tag is not there, ask for one or buy something else. Directions are VERY important.





Seeds are not always easy to grow. And wildflowers are the hardest so don't be disappointed if they don't show up.





Two good things to do for yourself is to call your local County Extension Service and ask for all the information that they have about gardening in your area. They usually have a packet/kit of things for the home gardener.





And number two would be to pick up a couple of beginner books. You really do need to know about soil, compost, mulch and etc.





To keep from over watering or not watering enough, buy a water analyzer from a nursery or garden center. Be sure to read the directions. This will be one of your best tools.





Send for some free gardening catalogs and get use to the different types of plants, colors, and when to plant. They are filled with good informtion and pictures. And they will keep you company during the long winter months. Here is a list of just a very few. There are hundreds more:





http://www.waysidegardens.com


http://www.dutchbulbs.com


http://www.jacksonandperkins.com (Roses)


http://www.parkseed.com


http://www.burpee.com





Other catalogs:


http://www.leevalley.com


http://www.gardeners.com


http://www.GardensAlive.com


http://www.deerbusters.com (all types of animal control)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Contai... boxes needs:





All need holes in the bottem for water drainage,


Potting soil that comes in bags,


Slow release fertilizer for flowers (not for green plants), OR liquid fertilizer that will need to be used more often-read directions,


Water crystals to be mixed into the soil for holding water,


Bedding plants or full grown plants.





Here is an excellent link to check out for color combinations and plants that look good together:


http://www.fernlea.com/awesomeaccents/re...
Reply:I would start with just some sedum plants at the base of the trees, they do well in those location over time. For the rest of it I would just go to the nursery and see what they are selling for your area - look for a few shrubs (pay attention to the ultimate height if you do not want to have to trim them all the time!) and try to buy some nice perennials. Then put down some marigold and zinnia seeds in the sunny edges of the beds and those will come up really nicely for you at almost no cost (they also re-seed themselves). AND I would be sure to let your neighbors who go out and work in their yards know how much you like their gardens and what they would suggest for your garden - because most gardeners will give you a few of their "volunteer" plants and things they need to divide so they do not need to throw the extra plants in the compost heap! Just be friendly and inquisitive - if you like something and they have extra to spare, they are sure to think of you and perennials are truly "the gift that keeps on giving" over time, since they come back each year!
Reply:Oh I have the best idea!!! get a place in your yard that sort of has shade. Get the grass out of the area you want. Get rocks, and shape that area you want for your garden. Plant all the flowers you want, (smart idea get flowers that grow back each year) and if you want it to look pretty get more rocks and form a path to a bench looks beautiful!! and I would suggest not to put mulch down it doesn't look that homey!! : )
Reply:Parrnell plants will come back every year.


annuals you have to plant every year.


You will need plants that due well in hot weather.


If it is full sun around your house you will need plants that due well in full sun.


I have planted flowers around trees before, the problem comes when you mow.


You have to hand weed around the flowers and trees.



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