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Posted: Sep/06/2008 8:58 AM PST
OK now that I've asked some seed collecting questions, I'm going to start in on the seed growing questions. I'm a bit panicked about doing this right! I have a pretty big area to 'scape (about 25x60 feet, some of it will remain grass) and if stuff doesn't make it it'll look pretty trashy. How do I know which seeds to scatter on the ground now or as soon as we get the beds put in? Which ones to wintersow and plant as plants in the spring? Which ones to scatter on the ground in spring? If I'm scattering seed in an area that's not getting a bed, how much of the existing vegetation should I remove? And HOW? I have wildflowers, cultivated flowers, and grasses. Aaaaah, I'm afraid I'm going to kill my babies! |
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Posted: Sep/07/2008 5:28 AM PST
Aimee ~ a lot of your questions about when to plant certain things really depend on your zone. I am assuming you are a Z6a, so probably southern Indiana? I am a Z6b/7 (depending who you ask) so we are fairly similar. What do you plan to plant? Different seeds need to be treated in different ways. In your zone, you should be able to plant out many seeds in fall so they can overwinter and burst into plants in the spring. Conversely, many of those very same seeds can be held in a cool dry place (I use our barn) and then planted out in spring. I often plant out both ways just to see what happens  . So again, it depends on what you plan to plant. You also mentioned that some of the area will be grass. I am here to tell you that the grass won't stay put. My grassy areas love nothing better than creeping into other plantings. Ack. Hey, I know it's hard when you don't want to kill anything, but you will now and then. It's always live and learn with gardening. |
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Posted: Sep/07/2008 8:13 AM PST
You will need to clean out any existing vegetation (unless it's plants you want to keep), and work the soil until it's nice and loose. Then scatter the seeds, and keep moist. |
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Posted: Sep/09/2008 9:13 AM PST
Yeah, I'm in 6a, right on the Ohio in the toe of Indiana. Evansville. That crabgrass and polygonum are Ech Eee Doublehockeysticks to get out of the ground! I'm going to water and put some plastic down today and stew 'em in the areas I want to plant wildflowers! Hm, I hesitate to list what I'm going to plant, because I need to do more research to find out how hardy things are, how big things get, when they bloom etc before I decide what to put where. But for my very sunny and dry away-from-home lot I was thinking in a general way about: Day lilies (stella d'oro, and a burgundy variety I snatched seeds from in a park) Blackberry Lilies Various tough self-seeding wildflowers (Ironweed, sunflower, morning glory, Joe Pye Weed, Black eyed susans, Blue Mistflower (a variety from Aurora, thanks!!!!) Herbs (Thyme, Creeping thyme, garlic chives and Provence lavender for sure, maybe some woody sage or artemesia varieties) Maybe some dianthus (I'll get plants for this) Maybe some ornamental grasses Maybe some of my big daturas if I think I'll get over there to water them enough I'll be filling in also with some good old 6-for-1.79 Wal-mart marigolds and probably zinnias. Can't do anything to kill those! |
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Posted: Sep/12/2008 3:57 PM PST
You are very welcome  Sounds great! I like the idea of the grasses with the flowers  I just cleared a combo of crabgrass and bermuda grass from an area I want to turn into a new bed. Here's my method: Wait until the soil is moist- a day after a good rain works. I then use my hand-held cultivator with the tines down to loosen the roots. I don't try to dig them out, just loosen the soil around the roots. Then I gently work the clump out. Tedious, but it works with fewer broken roots to re-grow! Or on very few occasions I'll just hit everything with Round-Up, wait a week or so then dig it out like above LOL! |
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Posted: Sep/12/2008 9:23 PM PST
I was wondering about Roundup. I haven't looked closely at it, but I got some tough ol' weeds to kill, you know? How long after you apply it do you have to wait to plant? If I killed off the weeds this fall, the ground would be good to plant in next spring? |
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Posted: Sep/13/2008 5:34 AM PST
Yes ~ it will be fine. I usually wait two weeks, but I'm not even so sure you have to wait that long. Hey ~ before I forget, you mentioned artemisia. I was just looking at mine last night (I have the variegated kind). It's pretty invasive, at least here. Just so you know 
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Posted: Sep/13/2008 7:52 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by aimee I was wondering about Roundup. I haven't looked closely at it, but I got some tough ol' weeds to kill, you know? How long after you apply it do you have to wait to plant? If I killed off the weeds this fall, the ground would be good to plant in next spring?Actually Round Up works by taking the product from the leaf blades down to the root, so anything that does not get sprayed will be fine. Be sure to check the label, but I think you can replant the next day. If you are killing off an area in order to plant your seeds or plants next spring, you can lay newspaper down and them top it off with mulch. By next spring it will be a great bed for you. Otherwise, just sow/plant this fall whenever you are ready. Linda B |
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