Garden Fairy's profile

Hi Coastal Gardener. I live in MA as well and love, love, love your gardens, they are beautiful. I have a sloping backyard like yours and it's very sandy and rocky back there. My husband and I want to put a garden back there and currently we're digging up the weeds and grass back there to create the bed. With such a large area, how did you decide what to plant first? I'm having a hard time getting started, because it's such a large space.

Hi Garden Fairy--Thanks for your nice comments on my gardens! It seems like you're in the same position I was 10 years ago with a new house and very few plantings. I also had a very challenging slope to conquer in my back yard. Have you seen my posting about "The Challenge of a Hill . . ."? I shows what I started with (actually, nothing but some stone steps my husband put in so we could get to the top) and what it looks like now. I started by planting some birch tree seedlings I found in our woods. They have a shallow and wide-ranging root system that I knew would keep the hill from eroding. Next I chose some flowering shrubs, mainly hydrangeas, spireas and azaleas, and then began filling in with divisions of perennials I had in my other garden beds. Its still a work in progress (what garden isn't!) as I continue to add something new each year. We keep the hill mulched because trying to weed on that slope isn't easy. I'd love to chat with you more because I love seeing and hearing what others are doing in their gardens -- and since we share the same gardening zone and common problems, it would be helpful to both of us.

Hi Coastal Gardner, thanks for the tips for the hill. I'm going to start with some trees and shrubs. You're hill is where I would like to get to, it's my inspiration! :) It's funny that you mention Birch trees, that's what I'm getting my husband for Father's Day, one of his favorite trees (which we don't have). I definitely want to incorporate some flowering shrubs, my favorite are Hydrangea I just love them so. I planted some more this year, although last year the hedge on the side of my garage ended up with Cottony Hydrangea Scale, I was so upset. I've been treating with Horticultural Oil in hopes of getting rid of them. I also moved the hydrangeas away from the house to allow for better air circulation. That was one mistake I won't do again, planting shrubs too close to the house. You mentioned dividing some of your perrenials, do you think it's to late to still do this? Happy Gardening.

Hi Coastal Gardener. I live in MA as well and love, love, love your gardens, they are beautiful. I have a sloping backyard like yours and it's very sandy and rocky back there. My husband and I want to put a garden back there and currently we're digging up the weeds and grass back there to create the bed. With such a large area, how did you decide what to plant first? I'm having a hard time getting started, because it's such a large space.

Hi Garden Fairy--Thanks for your nice comments on my gardens! It seems like you're in the same position I was 10 years ago with a new house and very few plantings. I also had a very challenging slope to conquer in my back yard. Have you seen my posting about "The Challenge of a Hill . . ."? I shows what I started with (actually, nothing but some stone steps my husband put in so we could get to the top) and what it looks like now. I started by planting some birch tree seedlings I found in our woods. They have a shallow and wide-ranging root system that I knew would keep the hill from eroding. Next I chose some flowering shrubs, mainly hydrangeas, spireas and azaleas, and then began filling in with divisions of perennials I had in my other garden beds. Its still a work in progress (what garden isn't!) as I continue to add something new each year. We keep the hill mulched because trying to weed on that slope isn't easy. I'd love to chat with you more because I love seeing and hearing what others are doing in their gardens -- and since we share the same gardening zone and common problems, it would be helpful to both of us.

Hi Coastal Gardner, thanks for the tips for the hill. I'm going to start with some trees and shrubs. You're hill is where I would like to get to, it's my inspiration! :) It's funny that you mention Birch trees, that's what I'm getting my husband for Father's Day, one of his favorite trees (which we don't have). I definitely want to incorporate some flowering shrubs, my favorite are Hydrangea I just love them so. I planted some more this year, although last year the hedge on the side of my garage ended up with Cottony Hydrangea Scale, I was so upset. I've been treating with Horticultural Oil in hopes of getting rid of them. I also moved the hydrangeas away from the house to allow for better air circulation. That was one mistake I won't do again, planting shrubs too close to the house. You mentioned dividing some of your perrenials, do you think it's to late to still do this? Happy Gardening.