Gardening Scares Me

Lyricb · 11-22-2006, 02:20 AM

I have always wanted to plant a garden. When we moved into our new home four years ago I had grand notions of having a vegetable garden along with all sorts of beautiful flowers. So where am I now? I have a small patch of flowers which I planted right where, unbeknownst to me, bushes spring up every year. How embarrassing.

So how in the world do I get started in all this? It seems like so much thought has to go into this sort of stuff. This is the sort of planning which intimidates me:

"Most people plant flowers to enjoy their beauty, aroma etc. I have many flowers that I grow for those reasons but one in particular, Butterfly Weed (a milkweed), I started from seed a couple of years ago in hopes that the local Monarchs would leave their young to feed on them. This is the first year the plants actually look like plants and not like little weedlings. There are 4 or 5 and all are flowering now."
Kerry’s Garden » Blog Archive » Here Kitty Kitty

Does anyone have some advice on any sort of good books or something which can get me started?

snoopy · 11-22-2006, 02:25 AM

How about weeding out the bushes just when they are sprouting out? This way, you can keep the weeds in control, I guess.

Sister · 11-25-2006, 01:43 AM

I am hopeless with gardening. My dad comes every few months and does it for me!

Lyricb · 11-25-2006, 05:30 AM

Sister, would you mind sending your dad my way?

I don't even have anyone near me who can help me out unless I want to hire a professional.

Slashmire · 11-25-2006, 05:32 PM

Gardening simply doesn't interest me, I don't really care much about the length and beauty of stylized flowers

Alexa · 11-25-2006, 06:38 PM

I'm hopeless with plants and gardening, too. I don't have "the green hand". I prefer to take care of animals.

ozzie · 11-25-2006, 09:30 PM

I love gardening and have had a lot of success with it. I started out small with a planting of flowers around our lamp post many years ago. Now our yard has about a dozen large flower beds. I've aged a lot and can't take care of all of it now.

kelkat · 12-01-2006, 07:43 PM

Don't let gardening scare you. Nothing has to be permenant. If you don't like it where you put it (or if a bush springs up) just move it.

Gardening is an art as much as it is a science.

ninikins · 12-04-2006, 07:16 PM

I can see your point, as with most things in life, you can always change the garden back cant you.

Plumley · 12-14-2006, 05:06 PM

Pick up a few magazines with articles and pictures. They'll give you some ideas and how to's but mostly they'll give you confidence, because you'll see that gardening can be a learn as you go process. Also, next time you're in a used book store, see if you can find anything by James Crockett. His books are easy to follow and lots of un. Good luck!

11-22-2006, 02:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lyricb Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 45	Gardening Scares Me I have always wanted to plant a garden. When we moved into our new home four years ago I had grand notions of having a vegetable garden along with all sorts of beautiful flowers. So where am I now? I have a small patch of flowers which I planted right where, unbeknownst to me, bushes spring up every year. How embarrassing. So how in the world do I get started in all this? It seems like so much thought has to go into this sort of stuff. This is the sort of planning which intimidates me: "Most people plant flowers to enjoy their beauty, aroma etc. I have many flowers that I grow for those reasons but one in particular, Butterfly Weed (a milkweed), I started from seed a couple of years ago in hopes that the local Monarchs would leave their young to feed on them. This is the first year the plants actually look like plants and not like little weedlings. There are 4 or 5 and all are flowering now." Kerry’s Garden » Blog Archive » Here Kitty Kitty Does anyone have some advice on any sort of good books or something which can get me started?

11-22-2006, 02:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
snoopy Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 10	Re: Gardening Scares Me How about weeding out the bushes just when they are sprouting out? This way, you can keep the weeds in control, I guess.

11-25-2006, 01:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
Sister Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6	Re: Gardening Scares Me I am hopeless with gardening. My dad comes every few months and does it for me!

11-25-2006, 05:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lyricb Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 45	Re: Gardening Scares Me Sister, would you mind sending your dad my way? I don't even have anyone near me who can help me out unless I want to hire a professional.

11-25-2006, 05:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Slashmire Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 26	Re: Gardening Scares Me Gardening simply doesn't interest me, I don't really care much about the length and beauty of stylized flowers

11-25-2006, 06:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Alexa Alien investigator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 546	Re: Gardening Scares Me I'm hopeless with plants and gardening, too. I don't have "the green hand". I prefer to take care of animals.

11-25-2006, 09:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
ozzie Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 14	Re: Gardening Scares Me I love gardening and have had a lot of success with it. I started out small with a planting of flowers around our lamp post many years ago. Now our yard has about a dozen large flower beds. I've aged a lot and can't take care of all of it now.

12-01-2006, 07:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
kelkat Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	Re: Gardening Scares Me Don't let gardening scare you. Nothing has to be permenant. If you don't like it where you put it (or if a bush springs up) just move it. Gardening is an art as much as it is a science.

12-04-2006, 07:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
ninikins Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 17	Re: Gardening Scares Me I can see your point, as with most things in life, you can always change the garden back cant you.

12-14-2006, 05:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
Plumley Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 11	Re: Gardening Scares Me Pick up a few magazines with articles and pictures. They'll give you some ideas and how to's but mostly they'll give you confidence, because you'll see that gardening can be a learn as you go process. Also, next time you're in a used book store, see if you can find anything by James Crockett. His books are easy to follow and lots of un. Good luck!