Well these days I feel like I am starting all over, we just moved to California and it’s really different here. I’m thrilled with very own orange tree (and I learned they have huge thorns), a large cherry plum and an ever growing wisteria. This property is a jungle and I don’t know the names of half of the plants. I’m excited b/c I’ll finally get to plant a bouganvilla. What could be nicer than that? Maybe peonies.

Hey, Vanessa! Isn’t gardening season the best! I feel like my whole outlook changes when I can get out there in that dirt. Feel free to chime in on future posts, I don’t have as much experience as some of you, and advice from a long time gardener like yourself would be helpful. Good tip on the Starbucks grounds, I’ll make note of that in a future post.

So good to hear, Amy! I will!

Hey, Meg! Yes, I am just learning that some cities do offer free mulch, what a great idea. I’ll make sure to note that in a future post so folks know that they can really mulch their beds affordably. Good tip!

Hey, Lexy – Totally Lol’d. I’m sure my neighbors thought – and still think the same thing. I am with you, changing stuff around and learning as I go. It’s the only way! If you see anything in the future posts that I’m missing, feel free to chime in. I by no means no everything, so additional input from longtime gardeners would be mucho helpful!

Yes! So glad to hear this is something you’d be into hearing more about. I was hoping there were a few out there who could use some info on gardening. I hope this helps!

Thanks for your reply! All good to know! :)

I totally agree with your “trial and error” approach. When I started gardening about 15 years ago at our starter home, I did not even have the sense to choose plants based on sun or shade… not to mention zone hardiness, height, spread, or anything else. I just bought what I liked. I invariably ended up moving everything around, usually more than once. I used to feel self-conscious, like my neighbors were thinking, “that poor thing, bless her heart, she is just so clueless.”

This really helps!!! :). Thanks a bunch! You make it make sense to a total newb like myself. I’ve been in Home Depot ready to get my garden on so many times, and when I’m confronted with bags of different soils and mixes my mind goes blank and I leave empty handed. I’m excited to tackle this…and I just googled free mulch in my area and found a place, just hope they have some! If I ever get around to blogging about this journey, I’ll send you a link. Getting started for me is the hardest part ;)

Thanks Lori! I am so glad you are into these posts. Great question, I will address it quickly right here, but I’ll try and work it into a future blog post as well. I’ve started all of my flower beds from scratch. My method is to map out the garden bed, this can be as simple as outlining the garden with a hose or spray paint to use as a guide. Then you need to begin digging up and removing all of the weeds, roots and grass from the area that will be your garden bed. In order to do this skim off the top layer of grass with a shovel (usually about 4″), shake out the dirt and toss away all the grass, weeds, roots, and rocks. Once you have the area of your future garden skimmed off, amend the soil with fresh top soil and compost – which you can find at most hardware stores and any garden nursery. Once you have that all done your garden will be good for planting. If you wish to, you can lay down a weed barrier or install edging at this time too. I hope this helps for now, and like I said, I’ll try and work it into a more detailed post down the road.

Hi Anne! I do rake the old stuff out, but only because I’m trying to get at the leaves. We have a few trees hanging over our small city lot and there is lots of raking to be done in the fall and in the spring. I try and leave as much mulch behind as I can, but a lot comes out with it. Eventually the old mulch will decompose it is fine if you leave it on there. I always add new mulch every year, yes you can just throw it on top of whatever remains. Good tip on the city mulch!

Hey, Nicole! That is so great that you are into the posts. So exciting that you are moving to a “real” house, congrats. I hope you find the posts helpful.

Jeanette! That’s awesome to hear that you are into the gardening posts! I didn’t know if I was being self indulgent or what.

Everything I’m going to tell you is what I find works best for me, I’m not sure if it’s the end all be all. I just use a rake to get the leaves out of my garden, of course a lot of mulch comes out with the leaves. I rake in the fall and again in the spring. I’d be interested in trying a leaf blower someday, but for now all I have is man power. I do mulch every spring, even if there is mulch left over it usually is littered with small leaf remnants from the winter, and a good mulching helps to freshen it up. Both this year and last year I spent about $100 on my black mulch, however you if you were to use a less expensive mulch you could cut that amount in half. I had to remove a lot of the mulch from last year due to the fence project and am hoping I won’t have to replace as much of it next year.

This is also why I get mulch for a mother’s day present. I love it, but it’s expensive and a little hard to justify. We just roll it into the MD gift and it works out okay.