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Annuals are for the birds… As I mentioned in my article on Easy Green Lawns, I love having one of the nicest landscapes in the area, but I also enjoy having the freedom to take shortcuts, which in turn, allows me to spend more time on enjoyable tasks.
In this post I would like to give you some tips on how to do a chore once, and not yearly.
Lets start with flowers. We want to have manicured, flower ridden beds as soon as it first hint of warm weather arrives. But why do more work than you need to? Work smarter, not harder.
Why go to the nursery every year to buy new flowers? Take the time and energy to prepare the soil, dig the hole, mend the soil, plant the flowers and water them. Then, mulch the plant to pretty up around the base.
Here are some easy choices you may want to try:
Flowers
1. Violas are the ticket, if you like the look of pansies. Here in New England, one of the harshest climates, we had these beautiful flowers blooming in the snow!
They seem to be evergreen and prolific, spreading every year. They don’t require any care after they have been hardened in. And by that I mean; plant and water every day for one week, then forget they are there.
2. Creeping Phlox: Come in all colors, evergreen and extremely hardy!
3. Ajua
Herbs
1. Mother of Thyme: Evergreen so beautiful first when the snow melts and you can walk on it, mow it, etc. Best of all, you can use it to cook all-year-round, even in the winter.
2. Lemon Thyme
If you want specific information on a certain item or color scheme, write me and I will be happy to advise.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing.
Till next time,
Loretta
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Hi Lori! Keep the great posts coming! You are motivating me - if it every stops raining!!
Dear Chris,
Thanks for reading and your great comment!
My hope is to inspire and pass on tips and shortcuts that not only make it easier, but, sustainable.
About the rain… since it is now sunny most of the day with occasional showers I want to keep it.. talk about lazy gardening – no watering!
Keep on gardening!
Loretta
I am a reitred professional Chef and do not know anything about the outdoors. Our house has a “Y” shaped drive and I dug up the grass and planted some perennials (sp). I have no idea what they are. Things that were on sale and given to me. Then I put some mat on it and mulch. These flowers are tall or have big leaves, so I was wondering what I should do now. A lot of people offer flowers but say they take over the area, which I am afraid that means the flowers I planted will die. Also I don’t know what to do about the mat. Should I just punch holes i it to plant other things? Will the flowers I planted spread since I have the mat? I have a flag pole in the middle. I would like to have a flowering bush, but hubby says it will get too big.
I do have some day lillies, lilly of the valley and iris’ that I could transplant.
I live in Indiana and would appreciate any help. Thanks.