New Flower Bed Plan- Help! UPDATED!!!

[vfem]

WOw... My husband knows how to blow my mind. ..And push my buttons at the same time.

I asked him to borrow the neighbor's tiller and get the area I want to plant the corn tilled up so it was done before my class came in less then 2 weeks. He said no problem, he should have it mostly done by dark. So off he went, got talking to the neighbor and came back 30 minutes later.

I did help a bit, but I'm mainly exhausted from finishing moving sand and pebbles today around my old garden paths (almost done!Woohoo).

Well, he got it ALL tilled up... with time to spare... so he tilled in paths around the beds by the corn area... then off to the front yard he goes and tills up a 32' x 6' bed I wasn't ready for! ARGH! So he gave me more work for me to do after all that.

Now the questions... what should I plant in the front bed?! Its the north side of my house. Its shaded during the fall/winter but gets almost full sun all day long during the summer. I was thinking of moving the 4 azeala bushes on the west side of the house over there. They aren't doing well where I have them now.

Really could use the advice. I don't have a lot of $ to put into this right now, so I have to be careful. I may have to plant at least 50% annuals this year to be on the cheap and then rotate in perennials and shrubs over time. What do you guys think?

 

[thistlebloom]

Now the questions... what should I plant in the front bed?! Its the north side of my house. Its shaded during the fall/winter but gets almost full sun all day long during the summer.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRWw5wSZlGc/TzxPjHMOPbI/AAAAAAAAA5E/UNlkbIVNhJw/s400/02_04_2012+251.jpg

How about a wild variety of sunflowers? Short and tall, Red ones, white ones, multi- colored ones as well as the familiar yellow too.You could toss some BOSS in there too if you feed that to your hens. It sprouts and blooms very easily. That will give you a season to plan and save for the clearance sales in the fall.

 

[lesa]

I think you should never leave a man alone with a tiller, or a chainsaw!! What about something easy and fun? Buy a bag of sunflower seeds and have a sunflower garden? The chickens would enjoy them, and they would look mighty cheerful?

 

[lesa]

thistle, you read my mind!!!

 

[thistlebloom]

thistle, you read my mind!!!

I know! Aren't we smart?!!

 

[catjac1975]

Wait...So your're complaining that your husband did too much work?

 

[lillie]

Oooh I would love a new bed to fill!! Oh the possibilities...

How about a knot garden? You could just use different colored annuals instead of the little shrubs.

(No, sadly this is not my garden.)

 

[RustyDHart]

How about Dahlias? I could help you get started in a hurry....

 

[vfem]

You guys are too much! HAHAHAHA

I'm redoing a few already made beds, and getting ready for spring. Honestly, my illness has been draining and its really hard to keep up with everyday life let alone more work on my plate. So I am a little sad. He did tell me last night he's planning on helping the whole way through, he knows I need the help to get it done and he's going to clean out the bed and then till in some compost for me this weekend. That takes a load off.

With him not working full time, $$$ is tight so I can't get everything I WANT. I think the sunflower idea is good. My issue is I have some hydrangea, gardenia, azealas and mums all set up in the existing bed against the porch... I'm thinking I may need to move those things?

Hubby found 4 crepe myrtles behind the shop he's been working out near the woods off the rental property, and he's planning on taking those trees to move here and transplant. I think they may get too big for a front bed. So lots of ideas swirling around the head. I wonder if I have some cosmo seeds left over?

Rusty... you tease! hahaha

 

[catjac1975]

Remember you can create a lot of new plants from cuttings. My favorite lazy woman's way is to pull a branch down to soil level and cover it with soil. I just noticed a new hydrangea that is ready to be move in the spring that i did in this way. I also shove clippings from prunings into the soil. If one or two grow-free plants. Keep your eye out for volunteers take any offered plants from friends and neighbors. I give away loads of plants to any neighbor that's walking by or certain friends that I know will come when I call them. Lots of discount stores sell quality seed for a low price. I have never had trouble with this seed.