• My Little Fat Greek Bed October 24 - 8:34 pm [7]

I have two unfinished beds right now. This one is more of a make-over than a new bed. It had to be emptied of plants to get the new fence put in, so I've took the op to enlarge it as well as put in the sorely needed French drain and lots of soil amendments.

The lower end of the yard has this 30ft wide ribbon of extra-heavy clay that seems impossible to right, even though it gets the same as everywhere else. The strip just won't give up to the good things that right the rest of the garden.
This is how bad it is... When Larry dug out the lawn to widen the bed, he couldn't get the clay off the grass roots. So he threw the turf clumps in a wheelbarrow of water to sit overnight. In the morning, the clods hadn't melted down at all.

We just threw um in the compost pile. If that doesn't fix it,, I might as well just get a kiln.

Oh Maggie....I feel your pain! It is a wonder we Texans can garden at all between the heat and the soil we have to contend with. Just keep thinking of how wonderful it WILL be!

Did someone say SANDY LOAM....Im sorry, I thought ya'll were talking about my soil??? Sorry wrong thread!! HA......HA......

Okay David... he who gets to sit on the ground to dig new-plant-holes with his bare hands... we want to see some sandy loam produce.
I KNOW you now have a digi camera. .. and a beautiful shade garden to share with us...

Send me some picies ~~~~ NOW

Tis bout time we had a David Sandy Loam Shadester thread.

In ref to the Brug hardiness subject from the other thread ,,, that is a peach blooming one in the top pic - to the right of the tree trunk.

I kept it in a pot for a couple of years to get its roots matured before subjecting it to ground planting. We've had some really mild winters lately, but one never knows whats to come. So I take those 'just in case' cuttings in fall too.

It was so very dormant when the wall was being built that I didn't try to remove it,, deciding that if it lived, good. If it didn't, I still had the rooted cuttings. Was glad to see it pulled through after being tromped on by workmens big clumsy boots.

The above bed is almost replanted now,,, will post pic soon.

Maggie, if I might ask, what did you replant the bed with? I have the same problem with clay soil!

CAC

Certainly - Glad to have your interest. This time I have mounded materials on top of the yuck, instead of working them into in to it. Huge amounts of mushroom compost, homemade compost and shredded native cedar, plus rice hulls and gypsum.

The rice hulls and cedar give instant lofting to the compost, while the gypsum works on the clay base - more slowly, but longer. Gypsum does not have the clay-bustin ability in acidic soils, as it does for alkaline. This area’s pH is an 8 - before a year or so of composting which can take it down to a 7.

What part of TX of you in CAC?

The bed is bermed up rather than held with a taller stack of retainers. Plant roots will retain the berm. Someone brought me 2 flats of begonias, which will work for now. I will plant either ajuga or the tiny mondo grass between them soon. Dear D brought me some white caladium bulbs which will brighten up the back of the begonias.
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The plantings are not yet complete and I don’t expect it to look very interesting until next year anyway, as is the way with new beds containing mostly perennials. The plan is some variegated leaves with white and red blooms. I never seem to have a place for red in the garden, so this solves that problem and I think the red & white will work well against the black and white fence wall.

I want to keep the plants low or airy so as not to block the southerly breeze that comes straight through the fence to the lower garden. It often feels 10 to 20 degrees cooler down there, than the upper half because of tree shade, lawn and the breeze.

trying again...

Maggie, the bed looks wonderful, I love the flowing lines! I hope I can pick your brain a bit? I went a bit of a different route, I used cotton husk compost mixed in( for acidity ). I mixed the soil aka clay with sand,about 2 bags 50# each yard of area. I also mulched with the cotton husk compost, I have heard compost type amendments long term won't keep the bed from reverting back to clay which is why I added the sand in what I think is large enough increments to change or loosen and improve soil drainage. Am I thinking along the wrong lines? Also, I have heard mushroom compost was a very salty compost, have you had any ill effects with it? I tried some a few years ago, and it had this god-awful regurgitated (sp) looking mess oozing out! That was it for me (hehe) until I had the courage to ask someone, hate to think I have alien creatures making this underground!

Annuals sure seem to fit the bill while decisions are being made May I ask what the perinnials are in the back right also infront of the Brugmansia?
Just curious, a couple thoughts? How would Madison Star Jasmine be as a ground cover? And minature gardenias in front to edge? I can just imagine the perfume wafting from the southern breeze. Madison Star is hardy here and stays evergreen, the area looks kind of protected, minature gardenias would also be evergreen, both are white blooming and nice foliage between flushes of blooms? Mine have made it through 2 winters here North of the Metroplex. Another plant which isn't evergreen but smells fragrant and is root hardy here is Alpinia Nutans, that cinnamon/cardamon aroma is wonderful when you brush by it. But alas, it is a full shade plant..I discovered a new to me plant this past year which is an arborvitae fern? The fern doesn't like sun at all, but is a wonderful texture and evergreen. I just love white Caladiums, and has anyone seen that new ajuga? Love the varigation! I tried a variegated alstromeria last year, but it didn't come back. I have seen pictures of a new crinum which is variegated, has anyone heard anything about it? I grow a hidden ginger which is variegated with white and takes an hour or 2 of direct sun, it is spreading very nicely this season, it is about 18 inches tall.

links to variegated crinums and other plants:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Variegated/message/557

http://www.tytyga.com/crinum/pg7.html

http://www4.ncsu.edu/~alan/plants/variegates/pg8/1.html



I have written too much! Hope you guys don't mind, I sure like identifying and trying new plants which thrive here and are different I am still very new to gardening and might be a bit overexuberant. I love the look of the wrought iron, what a wonderful thing to have! I am envious, very very envious ;) I also meant to add yesterday that this website and your gardens gave me hope and visions I didn't think I would be able to achieve, maybe one of these days it will look as nice as yours.

CAC

CAC...nobody writes "too much". Your input is great. If you haven't done so, go to the Before and After thread and check out 2 new beds my husband and I did a few months ago. Just as more reassurance that you CAN do it!

CAC, you write fine....It will only take me Lunch and half of Dinner to read your post!!! (Haha)......Do not treat the Variegated Crinum like the regular Crinum's It is not root hardy here.....I even grew one in a pot and it didn't like it!! until some one perfects this one it is not worth $$$$$.....and I agree with Leann, nobody can write too much....I, on the other hand try to write just enough.....and then good bye for now.......

Okay CAC, you can write long posts, as long as you answer my ???s too.
I didn’t know about variegated crinums, thanks guys. Before I read David’s post, I was wondering why we don’t see them up here. Love folks to add links for us.

Where is your source for cotton hull compost CAC?

My experience with sand added to clay proves to require continuous use of compost to keep the clay and sand from forming adobe. ,, which is fine since any bed performs its best with one or two annual applications of compost anyway. In Europe, they use “grit”, of a larger size than sand. Shame we can’t get it from landscape suppliers around here. I understand that quarry dregs or even crushed concrete can help long-tern with drainage and aeration.

The goop you had with mushroom compost isn’t always a problem. I’ve used tons (literally) of the stuff without getting any alien tube stations : ) It may have been sim to what Leeann had. I’ll get back to that on the m c compost thread.

The first round of perennials planted in above bed include Texas Star hibiscus in front of each pillar. I love its airiness and motion in a breeze. There is a gardenia in front of the brug for evergreen. It was an orphan that needed a home. Someone cut all its 1-2 inch trunks to nubs by the time it got to me, so it is in sad shape for sure. I love the sound of the dwarfs you mentioned. Know a local source???

Also the jasmine sounds lovely. I planted 2 types last fall that did not return, even tho they were meant to be hardy enough to. I consider that a personal challenge ;-) and need to try another type.

I adore the arborvitae fern. Tried it once before the sprinkler system was installed,,, and just couldn’t keep it moist enough at the time. But I feel sure it would really take well to the dark side of this bog bed. Great suggestion. The Alpinia Nutans sounds very interesting.

There is a clump of variegated Lysimachia nummularia in the begonia bit that would spread rampantly enough to contain soil erosion, but its on probation. I’m considering letting it mingle with the dark-leafed ajuga-to-come and see who wins. It’s more cream than yellow, so might be nice with the red and white blooms.

This is one of those beds that I'd like to have a little bloom of something each month, rather than just one strong season of color.
There is a Camellia sasanqua on the far end for winter flower and evergreenery. (yes, I invented that term) That poor old gardenia is planned to keep green at the other end and a ancient rose in the middle keeps it variegated leaves most of the winter. There is also a favorite repeat-blooming white iris – set high and dry at the sunnier end and some day lilies among the other begonias in front of them. Also, a young variegated Turks Cap. Hardy red amaryllis will bloom in April. I have some red hardy hibiscus somewhere that I might dig up and put in there. They should be in bud by now,,, are prob in the hot end of the long border jungle, about to pop.

I too have never had any success with alstromeria around here.
I’m wondering if you are referring to the Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow' or a diff one. I too love it – grow it in the violet bed. It is never very strong for me unless the soil is manure-enriched and moist.

I’m going to start a new topic for variegated lovelies, since they are so popular with so many of us.

WOW, I didn't realise the bed was that large! I buy cotton boll compost at Haslett Feed Store, 6 dollars for I think 2 cu. ft. I get alot of my fertilizers and ammendments from the feed store, they seem to be more reasonably priced than chainstores. I have been using the sharp construction grade sand for ammending, I just buy enough for each area that I am redoing. I bet the concrete places would have this too, but I don't make a habit of browsing concrete places ;) I had heard about adobe being a problem if there wasn't enough sand used with our "wonderful" clay soils. I haven't had any toughening or cracking of the soil where I amended it. I first used that lava sand, but found that this sharp sand seemed to do the same thing for less money. I still have a long way around the garden to do this, I am just taking it one bed at a time.

There is a local source for minature gardenias, the place I got mine is called Hermanns and is in Fort Worth. It is a landscape wholesaler, but they let people come and buy there. The prices sure are right!

The Lysimachia nummularia, is that also called "Creeping Jenny"? I am still trying to learn the latin names, but some of the finer points get by me. I haven't seen the variegated form before, that and the ajuga "burgundy glow" sound wonderful together! I have the golden creeping jenny in an area with purple wandering jew. I like that combo.
The Arborivitae fern I got from a place in Denton for landscapers which is right next door to Meadors nursery.
I do have alstroemeria which has been in the ground 2 winters and I have it on the South side in the shade with just a bit of dappled sun. It looks a bit ragged right now, but sure put on a bloom earlier this spring. It blooms for me in flushes for most of the summer. This has yellow blooms. I fertilize that area with alfalfa pellets, and they seem to like it.

Oh, the gardenia, I do have quite a few acid loving plants, I use those tree/shrub spikes for evergreen trees in the bed, which I think helps. I also water down the leftover coffee and pour it in the area.

I have heard about Camellia Sansanqua, but haven't gotten to see them in a persons garden, how do they do for you here?

The confederate jasmine "Madison" doesn't get frozen back, I have a regular one which does, I want that jasmine!

Your bed sounds wonderful, and very full. I like having something blooming all the time too, but am still learning the microclimates also bloom times for plants. Love different colored foliage too.

Did I answer all the questions? (hehe)

LeeAnn, I'll have to go back and reread that thread, but I remember how much work it looked like had been done. WOW! It looked so polished and neat, I wish I could complete projects! I went outside to take a few pictures of areas I need to work on, and decided to come back in, it sure is a mess!

Thanks for the heads up David on the Crinum, I think I'll wait on getting it Hope you enjoyed your meals (grin)

If all you guys keep up with the llllloooong posts I might not ever eat a meal again!!!! Of course it would not hirt for me, to miss a few meals!!I have heard good things about C. sansanqua for a long time now....The tri-colord ajuga has one problem and that is winter....it will revert back to the old-fashioned dark leaf variety...At least it has for me countless times...

The trick to keeping the tri-color ajuga from reverting back is to yank out any dark bits before they can get going good. There is a patch in my violet bed that always tries to revert in early spring. I pop it out and put it where I need it to be dark.

Here's an update on the bed pictured above. The French drain is working fine and the annuals really eat up that rich pile of mushroom compost and bark mulch soil.

This isn't my usual style, but hey the plants were gifts and the bed empty! I still intend to plant black ajuga around the retainers to soften it and add more perennials for next year. But in the meantime, we have enjoyed the cheerfulness of all that color near the lawn table and chairs.

Maggie do grow Ajuga 'Caitlins Giant'? It has dark foliage and the flower is enormous.

Now that's a brilliant idea Nicola! I'll keep my eyes out for some. David,,, do you have it?

I did finally manage to locate some lovely Cordyline purpurea - brought them back in my hand lugguage from New England, of all places. Have sunk them in pots in the above bed and will bring them undercover for winter.