I think Betsy proved that some people CAN plan things out, step by step, ahead of time, and then make the garden match the plan.

My approach to gardening is more haphazard and ADD, even though I'm OCD about other things.

Or O. Seed D.

SpringGreenThumb said:**** ALWAYS DESIGN SOMETHING ON PAPER FIRST SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION YOU ARE HEADED IN.

Never just go buy things to grow... just to have a garden.

Choose slowly and carefully. Learn about each plant before you buy it.

That is very good advice!

Or, you can just be like a lot of us and "just go buy things to grow" that catch your fancy; the good thing about plants is you can move them around, throw them out, or whatever (and you'll no doubt do that to some extent no matter how carefully you plan...)

Hate to say it but I think our OP has gotten lost @dmarie17 ? Are you still out there?

Go with your natural inclination. Some folks are planners, and that is good. Others are not, and that is good. I'm kind of in between - my planning might be "get something red" which I will do, and it may or may not work out where I 'planned' it - but it can always be moved.

Lol.

I like to use GIMP a free photoshop app you can down load online and use to photo shop your ideas in first. It will save you thousands of dollars over the years.

Take a picture of the area and then find images of plants you like and photo shop them into the garden picture.

You will be amazed because by the time you are finished you will want something different than you thought you did to begin with.

The great thing about Photoshop is that you can move your plants around before you buy them.

😊😊😊

The biggest mistake new gardeners make is they run out an impulse buy everything cute at the nursery and most of it really does perish.

With photoshop you can even put a mature landscape in to see what kind of tree you really want.

Photoshop bolders,, pergola, flagstone pathways....

And when you finally have that look that takes your breathe away... You will know exactly what you are going to buy. 😊

You I'll know that perfect colored bolder when you see it... and you will know if the red or yellow tulips will look the best clumped around it before you spend any money.

Good Luck Dear! 🌺🌺🌺

That sounds like a great app, Betsy -- I'm making myself a note to check it out this winter!

Weedwhacker said:That sounds like a great app, Betsy -- I'm making myself a note to check it out this winter!

It really is.

I did some landscape designing for commercial properties I had to give them a proposal of what the landscape looked like that would be installed. Since the property owners or managers really had no clue what a "Dwarf Alberta Spruce" was...

It was easier for me to just photoshop the land scape for them and tell them how much it would cost.

one picture is worth a thousand words.
GIMP is free. Just down load it. It takes a couple of minutes.

An important thing to remember about gardening is the scent of it. Think about what scented plants you like the most.

Beautiful fragrant things near your patio and back door.

Remember that you want your garden to be paradise... not one more hard job. Find low maintenance gorgeous perennials. And just do small annual areas to highlight it... If you like annuals.

"GIMP is free. Just down load it. It takes a couple of minutes."

Even better than I expected... I was thinking there was probably a fee for it!

Nope.no fee.

GIMP IS FREE.

Graphics
Imaging
Microsoft
Photoshop

Re: plan your garden on paper - 1ST ~
www.picmonkey.com is a free editing program ---
Might want to give it a try; if you like the ease of it, there is an upgrade with a yearly fee. $20 - 25 .. don't remember which... I use it so much.. just renew when time.

About your garden, don't forget the 'shoes and socks' ..... low growing plants below the tall ones.
It makes a big difference.
If you are like me, 'Grow - you have been planted' --- but go talk to them!

Peggy
- have fun and let us see your progress in photos -

dyzzypyxxy said:Hate to say it but I think our OP has gotten lost @dmarie17 ? Are you still out there?

Haha! Yes, I am still here!! Reading and trying to take it all in! Everyone here is so knowledgable and helpful! I'm so grateful for all of the advice!! I wish I had photos and amazing progress to report, but I've been traveling for work so haven't had a chance to do much except read and research at this point.
We've run into an issue that we are trying to figure out the best solution to before I start digging and growing tho. I'm not sure it's apparent in the original photo but our yard slopes downward about 20-30 degrees as it nears the fence. The other side of the fence is wet swamp land. We are in the process of deciding the best way to prevent the soil from eroding under it when it rains. My husband thinks growing grass up to the fence is best, but I'm still fighting for flower beds. Anyone have experience with anything like this? I'm attaching another few photos that show the yard from the patio that shows it a bit better.
In the meantime while we figure that out, I have the side yard/border to keep me busy. Once I clear out the material from the old fence, I'm going to get to work on the soil. I bought a soil tester so I know what I'm dealing with. Hopefully I'll get to put something in the ground before it freezes!!

Please keep the advice coming! I am learning so much and am now more excited than scared!

I'd go with nature - if you are bordering swamp land, plant for wet conditions, natives. It could be beautiful.

dmarie17 said:

Haha! Yes, I am still here!! Reading and trying to take it all in! Everyone here is so knowledgable and helpful! I'm so grateful for all of the advice!! I wish I had photos and amazing progress to report, but I've been traveling for work so haven't had a chance to do much except read and research at this point.
We've run into an issue that we are trying to figure out the best solution to before I start digging and growing tho. I'm not sure it's apparent in the original photo but our yard slopes downward about 20-30 degrees as it nears the fence. The other side of the fence is wet swamp land. We are in the process of deciding the best way to prevent the soil from eroding under it when it rains. My husband thinks growing grass up to the fence is best, but I'm still fighting for flower beds. Anyone have experience with anything like this? I'm attaching another few photos that show the yard from the patio that shows it a bit better.
In the meantime while we figure that out, I have the side yard/border to keep me busy. Once I clear out the material from the old fence, I'm going to get to work on the soil. I bought a soil tester so I know what I'm dealing with. Hopefully I'll get to put something in the ground before it freezes!!

Please keep the advice coming! I am learning so much and am now more excited than scared!

If the lower area is damp and sunny you may be happy with Ensata Iris. They love moisture and have stunning 10 inch plus blooms.

If the wet area is mostly shady you can consider Hosta.

This is my terrain... It's a work in progress...
I am extremely experienced at erosion control and slope gardening... 😊🌺🌺
YOU CAN DO IT AND IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL!!












This last picture used to be a solid steep slope that was washing out. I put the rocks in and now I'm beginning to plant.

A few very easy ideas...

Also... Don't spend 1 dime on anything without researching the right price for that item...
To make sure you are not getting ripped of.

And then you can usually buy it cheaper than normal.

1- watch for end of season sales.
2- Garden.org is full of buddies who will share plants with you.
3- Wstch your local classified ads for rock, stone, bricks... And often plants. You can get a lot of it for free.

If you like affordable statuary..,

Design Toscano will have that for you. Wait for their %25 percent off everything sale.

SpringGreenThumb said:Also... Don't spend 1 dime on anything without researching the right price for that item...
To make sure you are not getting ripped of.

And then you can usually buy it cheaper than normal.

1- watch for end of season sales.
2- Garden.org is full of buddies who will share plants with you.
3- Wstch your local classified ads for rock, stone, bricks... And often plants. You can get a lot of it for free.

If you like affordable statuary..,



Design Toscano will have that for you. Wait for their %25 percent off everything sale.

Wow springgreenthumb your yard is gorgeous!!! Being an erosion expert, maybe you can help!! I'd like to create beds, but my husband is concerned that without putting some type of border in front of the fence, the soil within the beds will just sink under it. Is there a simple solution to this? I think having something next to the fence and then another border a few feet out will look weird. I love the look of the rocks you have and would love a rock boarder, I'm just not sure about the fence 'wall'.
Let me know if you have any thoughts. I may not be explaining or even understanding all of this so fee, free to tell my I'm crazy also!!

Without seeing a clear picture of the other side of your fence or knowing if your property is on the other side of your fence. I will tell you a few ways for erosion control.

First is roots. But you have to preserve he soil in order to establish roots.

One way I have done this... Is to pound stakes or branch sticks deep into the ground and fasten a netting over the top. The netting works just like weed barrier only it hold the soil and plants can grow through and around it.

If you could get me a better picture of the area you are talking about I can help you more. Both sides of fence...,
Where the soil is washing out to...
That sort of thing.

Good info here: http://www.plantnative.org/rpl...

SpringGreenThumb said:Without seeing a clear picture of the other side of your fence or knowing if your property is on the other side of your fence. I will tell you a few ways for erosion control.

First is roots. But you have to preserve he soil in order to establish roots.

One way I have done this... Is to pound stakes or branch sticks deep into the ground and fasten a netting over the top. The netting works just like weed barrier only it hold the soil and plants can grow through and around it.

If you could get me a better picture of the area you are talking about I can help you more. Both sides of fence...,
Where the soil is washing out to...
That sort of thing.

Sure! This is probably the best represented pic. It's the side of the yard from outside the fence (our house is on the left) and the pond is technically a rain retention area, but since we get a lot of rain this time of year, it's usually full. The back is the same...I just can't go back there without getting poison ivy! Both the side and back belong to the town and not neighbors.
Does this help?! Thanks again for your help!!