tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post1452170177448740923..comments2024-03-24T12:55:07.300-04:00Comments on grounded design by Thomas Rainer: Can a Small Garden be Grown from Seed?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-35879495036986676202012-10-17T07:44:22.545-04:002012-10-17T07:44:22.545-04:00Just put in my camassia scilloides bulbs over the ...Just put in my camassia scilloides bulbs over the weekend. Did you end up getting some C. Scilloides bulbs?Andynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-38399595263816755602012-08-23T11:47:16.744-04:002012-08-23T11:47:16.744-04:00I'd like to second this - although it can seem...I'd like to second this - although it can seem like you end up with grass everywhere you don't want it, it's very easy to kill off when it's not established.<br /><br />Simon @AmbiusAmbiushttp://www.ambius.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-57755079239908823422012-08-18T02:35:06.277-04:002012-08-18T02:35:06.277-04:00als m deze blog.I 'echt blij dat ik heb gemerk...als m deze blog.I 'echt blij dat ik heb gemerkt dat dit informatie over bericht is echt nuttig voor ons. Ik heb zeker deze website, te houden op it.Excellent bericht lief te hebben, zal ik het controleren regelmatig terug om te zoeken naar updates.<br />http://www.inuwtuin.nl/terrasoverkappingseostilbonleelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489170311357955972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-79683170816438933832012-08-17T21:36:41.001-04:002012-08-17T21:36:41.001-04:00Hey Thomas,
I'd like to offer a tip. Plant t...Hey Thomas, <br /><br />I'd like to offer a tip. Plant the grasses BEFORE you introduce the flowers. One - three seasons before.<br /><br />I have designed and planted meadows for myself and clients, so have do some experience here. Natural meadows are usually composed of roughly 3/4 grass and 1/4 flowers. If you use too many flowers, when they go dormant in winter, you will have holes and lots of dead foliar matter… ugly. (I made this mistake on my first meadow in Wisconsin.) Then in the springtime, the annual weeds will immediately take over the holes left by the dormant flowers. <br /><br />To remedy this, it's important to get the grass part of the meadow thick and dense first. When perennial and annual flowers grow, their leaf matter is usually larger than grass leaf matter. They shade out the grasses and cause failure. Most of my resources say grow the grass for 3 seasons, then carve out holes for planting flower plugs, or cast seeds in spring after you've mowed the meadow short.<br /><br />Best of luck!Beth Goodnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13172714083606989954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-64556399786827215612012-08-17T00:59:27.765-04:002012-08-17T00:59:27.765-04:00There's really only one way to safely deal wit...There's really only one way to safely deal with weeds in a "from seed" landscape. That's hand weeding. You can't lay down pre-emergent. Herbicide spray just makes brown spots. Smothering can help but new seed is dropping all the time. The best thing you can do is conduct a few grow/kill cycles with glyphosate to just even the odds a bit and then seed a lot heavier than you think you should. But in the end you need to learn which tiny little leaves are which. It's not that bad though, you have until the weeds go to seed to yank them.skrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-53476403144129824512012-08-16T23:24:41.862-04:002012-08-16T23:24:41.862-04:00Thanks, NicholasThanks, NicholasAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-47274508332708766982012-08-16T23:23:22.734-04:002012-08-16T23:23:22.734-04:00To be honest, Jean, I'm not sure how it all wi...To be honest, Jean, I'm not sure how it all will work. I'm eager for an experiment. I learn so much from gardening that I use in my design work. Even the miserable failures are great learning opportunities.ThOmashttp://www.groundeddesign.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-37888402377134879542012-08-16T23:20:00.867-04:002012-08-16T23:20:00.867-04:00It is the patience part I'm going to have the ...It is the patience part I'm going to have the hardest time with. Thanks for the suggestions.Thomashttp://www.groundeddesign.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-17449240089409585902012-08-16T22:05:12.410-04:002012-08-16T22:05:12.410-04:00Thanks for the great insight! Well said and thorou...Thanks for the great insight! Well said and thoroughly explained..I would say I haven't tried this yet and would love to do this. It's a great gardening guide. Continue sharing wonderful insights.Nicholas Joneshttp://gardenware.com.aunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-29273985885174669052012-08-16T20:33:58.603-04:002012-08-16T20:33:58.603-04:00Thomas, This is an very interesting experiment. I ...Thomas, This is an very interesting experiment. I am intrigued by the logic of your plan, and I love the color palette you have chosen. Some of the discussion answered some of my questions -- like how long will it take these plants to grow from seed and how will you control opportunistic seeding by plants that are not part of your plan (i.e., weeds)? -JeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-63752646436524499522012-08-16T14:03:19.037-04:002012-08-16T14:03:19.037-04:00Good luck with your experiments! For me, the bigge...Good luck with your experiments! For me, the biggest problem with seeds is that they require more patience than I have before you get the blooming plant you want. This is why I am always exceeding my garden budget. As to your question about can you mix cultivars with straight species natives - my experience has been yes. I've mixed cultivars of nepeta, yarrow, hardy geranium, and others - even oriental lilies - with prairie plants and almost everybody does fine. Those that don't are just as likely to be native species as cultivars.Jasonhttp://gardeninacity.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-63372433809659969112012-08-16T09:20:21.316-04:002012-08-16T09:20:21.316-04:00That's a good point. It can be controlled thr...That's a good point. It can be controlled through managment. Though I'm less worried about controlling the locations than I am about waiting. I really hate waiting and I know how long it takes to establish perennials from seed. I think I'm going to rely on some plugs and pioneer species until the more permanent mix gets established. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-68360791195511730922012-08-16T09:17:37.054-04:002012-08-16T09:17:37.054-04:00Your garden sounds lovely. I wish half of your se...Your garden sounds lovely. I wish half of your self-seeders would be so prolific here, but I'm afraid in the heat and humidity here, our list of self-seeders is smaller. But I too find myself more drawn to self-seeding plants if only for the spontanaeity it adds to the landscape. IT's hard (for me at least) to replicate it otherwise. Thanks for the vision of a mature, dynamic garden. It has me inspired.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-140829567559082662012-08-16T09:12:59.916-04:002012-08-16T09:12:59.916-04:00Hi Foy,
I've been following your progress on ...Hi Foy,<br /><br />I've been following your progress on your blog. Your Victorian is charming--I'm mighty jealous. I am definitely thinking about seeding in drifts so there's a bit more control over the layout, though I think I will do multiple species in each drift to see what does better. <br /><br />And thank you for the suggestions. I have not really finalized the plant list, and I love several of the ones you mentioned. I was actually thinking about the Baptisia bracteata. Love the creaminess of the blooms and the fact that it is a bit more prostrate.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-34367515504377220732012-08-16T08:28:18.646-04:002012-08-16T08:28:18.646-04:00I can't wait to see the results. It seems you ...I can't wait to see the results. It seems you can rather easily control the plant locations and distribution just by removing seedlings, and the idea of framing the randomly broadcast seeded area with perennials and grasses is brilliant. Such a simple idea, but most people wouldn't think of it.James Goldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12718058779971621920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-3570231335831186952012-08-16T05:21:47.169-04:002012-08-16T05:21:47.169-04:00I will be interested to hear how this goes. You...I will be interested to hear how this goes. You're very brave doing your experiments in full view of your neighbours! My own sunny and free-draining front garden in the UK started with a planted mix of a few low growing shrubs (Cistus, Lavender) and perennial sub-shrubs, grasses and perennials, but over the years it has become very dynamic with lots of self-seeding from Bronze Fennel, Knautia macedonica (lovely plant!), Verbena bonariensis, Alchemilla mollis, Stipa tenuissima, Anemanthele lessoniana and Euphorbia characias wulfeniia, as well as attempts at world domination from Geranium 'Biokovo' and a red Helianthemum. Other plants have gradually been out-competed. I do some editing, but it is definitely evolving, with only a semblance of control from the designer! The bees love it and the neighbours make lots of appreciative comments. Good luck with yours!<br />www.chameleongardens.co.uk Rose Lennardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13681832772235250285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-5907921477023497732012-08-15T22:47:13.717-04:002012-08-15T22:47:13.717-04:00Hi Thomas,
Strange parallels, we just bought a h...Hi Thomas, <br /><br />Strange parallels, we just bought a house on a corner lot. Although it is an old turn of the century Victorian. We are struggling with the existing landscape - no privacy, a steep grassy slope and some shady plants burning in the full sun and heat. My husband, Professor PhotoShop is making up a map of the yard and so we can figure out where to put all the things on our wish list; basically a bunch of edibles and screening plants.<br /><br />I've been considering starting things from seed, because you can get more variety and at reasonable prices. I love the idea of just sprinkling it out there and seeing what you get. I would sprinkle the seeds in blocked out areas rather then all mixed randomly together because I'd be afraid one vigorous plant would take over. <br /><br />And since plant people always have suggestions... have you considered white wild baptisia (Baptisia alba), bottle gentian (Gentian adrewsii)or Pale-spiked lobelia (Lobelia spicata)? Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15806422800093554729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-40247319702074715692012-08-15T18:14:50.592-04:002012-08-15T18:14:50.592-04:00Well these information's are amazing and prest...Well these information's are amazing and prestigious to me. Thanks for such a nice and wonderful things.Custom website Designshttp://www.ferozitech.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-60046779078817633282012-08-15T15:07:48.666-04:002012-08-15T15:07:48.666-04:00Great blog post! I really learned a lot by reading...Great blog post! I really learned a lot by reading this page. Thanks!Garden Masterhttp://www.cheapsheds.co.nz/10_gardenmasternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-12691507299158900122012-08-15T14:18:49.508-04:002012-08-15T14:18:49.508-04:00That makes perfect sense, thanks.That makes perfect sense, thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-89435921409349640542012-08-15T13:25:59.207-04:002012-08-15T13:25:59.207-04:00Ha, I was just referencing my spring craze where I...Ha, I was just referencing my spring craze where I get obsessed with some plant and go to extraordinary lengths to get it. Next spring, I'll be sure to share the sources of whatever plant I'm obsessed with at the moment. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-52376819221224003512012-08-15T13:20:43.863-04:002012-08-15T13:20:43.863-04:00I'm in L.A., so it's mainly to maintain mo...I'm in L.A., so it's mainly to maintain moisture in the summer so I have plants of a decent size to plant going into our wet winter season. They can become established then and not need as much care the next summer. We generally go 7-8 months without rain. I also sow seed directly, but I can only do that once a year. So if there is failure, I'm SOL.skrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-72462071130653797642012-08-15T13:16:29.948-04:002012-08-15T13:16:29.948-04:00Exactly. You need something to cover and outcompe...Exactly. You need something to cover and outcompete weed seed. Native annuals, biennials, and tender perennials fit the bill. And I'm talking seed not flashy annual border plants in flats. I use alyssum and parsley quite a bit even though they aren't native. Here in L.A. alyssum is completely naturalized and not going anywhere. Plus those are both good with beneficials.skrnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-17958005631583847692012-08-15T12:36:56.443-04:002012-08-15T12:36:56.443-04:00I would love to know more about these flashy dahli...I would love to know more about these flashy dahlias. :) I eagerly clicked on the Spring Fever link in hopes of finding out more.b0tiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00245196060423365790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8850578816787718159.post-34046035864304247142012-08-15T11:47:25.807-04:002012-08-15T11:47:25.807-04:00Great thoughts, Andy. Thanks for sharing your exp...Great thoughts, Andy. Thanks for sharing your experience. I was wondering about placing plugs or starter plants randomly throughout the seeded zone and then only seeding accent perennials. <br /><br />I have a bunch of Amsonia 'Blue Ice' already that is in my border garden. It's a great plant, but is not showy enough for the border garden, so I'll transplant it over to this new garden in the spring. I really like its height as an edging plant. Very tidy. My thought is that if the frame is tidy, it permits you a bit more looseness in the middle. The Parthenium is definitely weedy, but I saw it on the Highline in the Chelsea grasslands, and it was just fabulous. It gave the mostly grassy landscape this looseness that no other plant could. It may be too weedy for my small plot, but I have an itch to try it.<br /><br />Prairie Nursery has the Camassia in seed, though I was considering planting that as a bulb instead.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13805682623764800983noreply@blogger.com