Friday, January 27, 2012

Blank space in my garden and suggestions?

I live in New Mexico and planted a flower garden and planted bulbs, but now some grew and some didn't and I have an ugly blank space in the middle of my garden. Does anyone know of and good seed or flowers to plant that grow fast and cover the ground fast?
Blank space in my garden and suggestions?
flowers
Reply:I live in the desert south/west and just planted Yarrow. It comes in several colors and acts like a ground cover in the winter months (set lawn mower to 3 inches and mow over it). It prefers dry soil and needs to be dead headed (love that term) regularly. It is suppose to be difficult to kill and some say it's invasive (takes over). I like the delicate fern like foliage with it's silver/gray leaves. The flowers are great flower arrangements (dry or in vase) and it has a interesting history to go with it.
Reply:Anything that will tolerate the zone You live in.
Reply:try planting some Sampaguita.........
Reply:I am so excited that you asked this question. ZINNIAS! I plants dozens of them every year for a garden FULL of color. You can get about 10 different kinds of seeds and they germinate in 10-12 days. Look for prince and princess, cut and come again, pinwheel, cactus and every other kind you can find. You can grow hundreds of flowers and the roots are superficial so they won't bother your bulbs. At the end of growing season you can collect thousands of seeds and next year you won't have to buy any.
Reply:Most bulbs only bloom in the spring and then they are over for the season.



Go to your nursery or garden center and buy flowers that are already growing. You can even buy what is called 4 or 6 packs. Annuals will add color to your yard. You will need to replant them each summer. Be sure to buy flowers that grow in the sun for the sunny areas of your yard. Buy shade flowers for the shade areas of your yard.



We live in West Texas right next door to your state. I am planting 'Bright Lights' cosmos for quick bright flowers that will bloom all summer long. If you plant these, you can plant seeds in your sunny areas, be sure to keep them damp until they have four leaves on them. They do well in our type of soils. Do not fertilize them. Water when dry. As the flowers die, cut or pinch them off and you will get more flowers the rest of the summer. You can save the seeds in August by letting the flowers dry on the stem. Then cut off the flowers which are the seeds and plant next summer when the night temps get into the 70's.



For the shad areas, plant caladiums when the nights get into the 70's. The hotter the better to make these bulbs grow fast. Do not over water before they start appearing or you will rot the bulbs.
Reply:You did not say if this area is full sun or shade or a mixture. Also, are you wanting a perennial or annual plant? Portulla or desert rose is an annual that can take quite a bit of heat and likes full sun. Vinca minor, aka periwinkle will take full sun to shade (although where you are full sun may be too much) and it is a ground cover viney plant with purple flowers each year

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