First time home landscaping

[geo_wny]

I am really new to being a homeowner and never really had any experience of landscaping, even my parents never had any lanscaping. I have been doing a ton of work on the inside of my home and now I want to do a little bit of landscaping on the outside. Any hints or tricks of the trade to help me begin. I have plenty of land to do what I want but for now i want to decorate the front yard. I really love colorfull flowers that would hopefully hold up in our zone... Please don't assume I know anything...

[WNYresident]

Start a new thread....

THere are lots of people that have great yards that post on speakup.

[Dougles]

I am really new to being a homeowner and never really had any experience of landscaping, even my parents never had any lanscaping. I have been doing a ton of work on the inside of my home and now I want to do a little bit of landscaping on the outside. Any hints or tricks of the trade to help me begin. I have plenty of land to do what I want but for now i want to decorate the front yard. I really love colorfull flowers that would hopefully hold up in our zone... Please don't assume I know anything...

the only thing i can recomend for your first year is, EXPERIMENT and don't be too upset from the results. I tried a WHOLE bunch of different vegggies and some turned out great and some rotted! but this year i will learn from my mistakes and so on for the following year!

[WNYresident]

the only thing i can recomend for your first year is, EXPERIMENT and don't be too upset from the results. I tried a WHOLE bunch of different vegggies and some turned out great and some rotted! but this year i will learn from my mistakes and so on for the following year!

I think he want's to do more landscaping than veggies. Is that correct?

[Dougles]

I think he want's to do more landscaping than veggies. Is that correct?

I'm just saying in general, if you plant flowers and they look bad, dont' worry about it! Every spring you have a fresh start to it!

[geo_wny]

I think he want's to do more landscaping than veggies. Is that correct?

Yes!
I will try to experiment, I have done very little, I tried last summer but all that grew were weeds.. This year i want to do a lot more than grow weeds and hopefully have a nicer yard.

[geo_wny]

I'm just saying in general, if you plant flowers and they look bad, dont' worry about it! Every spring you have a fresh start to it!

Good point, are there more harty type of flowers that work well with a newb? Things to stay away from? I have some places that are mostly shade and some that are sunny all day long

[WNYresident]

Well do you want low maintance? do you like to putter and weed to pass time? Do you like green or mostly flowers? Gotta decid what you want.

How much area are you talking about sprucing up?

[MERL J]

Your first year should be primarily Annuals - yes - they will die in the Fall and not come back up the next year - but you get to choose the colors you want - just watch the tags to see the sun/shade and watering needs for each one.

Every year - add more Perrenials - less additional cash each year to spend if these plants come back each year.

Join in with neighbors and friends to trade off plants, seeds and cuttings.

Go to the GardenWalk and get some great ideas.

Go to the Garden Walk website and tour the gardens from past years in their Gallery - same ideas - just in pictures.

Great plant place is on Clinton just before the Clinton-Bailey Market going away from the downtown area.

Just a few notes that I used. Now, my home is in the Garden Walk book, DVD, and a few other places. And, before, I would just look at a plant and it would die.

[WNYresident]

The garden walk! I forgot about that.

http://flickr.com/photos/tonyolm/sets/72157606410749419/

[geo_wny]

Well do you want low maintance? do you like to putter and weed to pass time? Do you like green or mostly flowers? Gotta decid what you want.

How much area are you talking about sprucing up?

I would prefer low maintenance, But i don't mind weeding on weekends, I really like flowers, bright vibrant colors..

I want to spruce up more and more every year, I want to start the front this year and finish the front next year, and then move on to the back yard which will probably take a few more years...
I have time and nothing is going on a credit card

I have a very wide front yard with a wooden fence with not to much there there except grass..

My front yard is roughly 140' long with very little landscaping a couple of bushes and a small tree..

[geo_wny]

Your first year should be primarily Annuals - yes - they will die in the Fall and not come back up the next year - but you get to choose the colors you want - just watch the tags to see the sun/shade and watering needs for each one.

Every year - add more Perrenials - less additional cash each year to spend if these plants come back each year.

Join in with neighbors and friends to trade off plants, seeds and cuttings.

Go to the GardenWalk and get some great ideas.

Go to the Garden Walk website and tour the gardens from past years in their Gallery - same ideas - just in pictures.

Great plant place is on Clinton just before the Clinton-Bailey Market going away from the downtown area.

Just a few notes that I used. Now, my home is in the Garden Walk book, DVD, and a few other places. And, before, I would just look at a plant and it would die.

At first I was thinking Perennials but you make a valid point I can change it next year and slowly add..

unfortunatly my neighbors do not have lanscaping and I don't think they will, most are getting up there in age and don't have the mobility or money to do anything. I don't have many neighbors either..