New to gardening and was looking for guidance

[onefemalecanuck]

Hi everyone -

I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and we are currently buried beneath perhaps 6 feet of snow (8 feet having already melted!)...

I am very interested in gardening, and it was only two years ago that we moved into a house. Last summer, I wasn't here and so this coming summer is technically my first.

My mum has a great vegetable garden, and I'm hoping to work on a little flower garden around the perimeter of our small deck area. I was hoping to do something along the lines of this: http://www.backyardgardener.com/gd/F...wing%20Sun.htm

But before getting started, I was hoping someone would be kind enough to show me the way in terms of 'getting started'. I am an avid reader so fell free to recommend as many titles as you see fit.

Thanks in advance, and I'm looking forward to getting to know you.

Cheers,
Canuck

[bullthistle]

The best place to get started is to go to perennials.com and click on the desired links then click on your plant zone and whallah you can read to your heats content, but once you make a list of what you'd like then visit your local garden center and see what they carry in gallon containers anything smaller I would suggest planting in a container so the roots can grow and transplant to the garden bed in the fall. Make certain you amend the soil with either compost or manure and put a handful of bonemeal in the hole before planting, it will encourage root growth. Or if it is too much to absorb plant annuals for this year.

[Newt]

Canuck, that sounds like a wonderful idea!* Sorry to hear about all that snow!***:shock:** If I remember you are in zone 5a, so you will have to select plants that are hardy for your winters.

The most important advise I always give is to pay attention to the soil. Healthy soil will lead to healthier plants that will more easily be able to deal with drought and pests. To do this you need to add lots of organic matter to the soil and mix it in. The best organic matter is compost. You can make your own or purchase it in bulk or by the bag. A 3" or 4" layer on top of a new bed and then mixed into the soil is a good place to start. Always mulch the beds after planting and once a year with organic mulch that will retain moisture, help keep soil temps even, keep weeds at bay and help to enrich the soil. Organic mulches like shredded wood mulch, leaf mold (shredded and rotted leaves), pine straw (just pine needles) are good ones. Compost can also be used as a mulch and the worms will bring it down and mix it for you over time.

Bugs are necessary to pollinate and even clean plants (ex: peonies always have ants on them and keep other bad bugs away). Don't get out the pesticides when you see a bug. Usually there is a good bug predator for most bad bugs. Know thine enemy. There are sites where you can look up which bug is which.

The right plant for the right place is also very important. You don't want to put a plant that needs good drainage and wants full sun in a moist or wet shady place. Remember that full sun is 6 hours or more, part shade is 4 to 6 hours and shade is 2 hours or less.

Here's a couple of other search engines you can use to search for plants.
http://bestplants.chicago-botanic.org/query_simple.htm
http://www.epicplants.com/advancedsearch.asp

Of course there are many topics to the left side of your screen.* Here's some sites on starting a garden and designing a bed.
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/Design/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG086
http://www.lewisgardens.com/plantable.htm
http://www.gardenideas.com/
http://www.gardenplans.com/index.html
http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/extras/index.php
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/design/...plan-a-garden/

That should get you started!
Newt

[Allison1888]

Go to the library and look through books on landscaping. Find one that shows you have to draw a garden plan. Measure your space and draw it to scale on graph paper. It's a lot* of fun to draw...and erase...as you go. Even if you just want to plant a small area, draw out the whole yard so it all flows together. Start with large trees and bushes, then work your way to the flower beds. Good luck!