Gardening for dummies

[beatlemommy]

O....k, well, after years of apartment dwelling, I have a house. I don't know how on earth to grow anything (except babies :) ). First of there is a long section right in front of the house that gets quite a bit of shade. I don't like what the previous owners had in there. How do I get rid of it exactly, and start fresh? What grows well in a shady area? In hot, humid Kansas? In the back yard there is a sand box that we are not using as such. I would like to put a little food garden there. I heard maybe keep some of the sand in there? What foods go in when, etc? Are these too many questions? Oh well, I can only dream of these things right now, as I am on week 5 of bedrest. The thought of moving around in a garden, or moving around period, makes me want to laugh. :grin

[gamomof2]

Have you read the book, "Gardening for Dummies"? It's awesome!! :grin I never knew there was one until my neighbor loaned it to me; it was a tremendous help.

[greenemama]

here are some shade gardening resources you might find helpful! our yard has a lot of shade and it's kind of frustrating but i'm starting to enjoy the more subtle plants that grow in the shade (as opposed to my former one true bright colored flower love :) ).

Gardening in the Shade (http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/garden.htm)
Backyard Gardener on Shade Gardening (http://www.backyardgardener.com/shade/index.html)
Perennial Shade Gardening (http://www.lewisgardens.com/shade.htm)
General Gardening Loveliness (http://www.yougrowgirl.com/index.php)

[akmyilee]

`Where are you from in KS?? That is where I am from, but I live in GA now.

Anyway, My grandmother is a super gardener, let me think of what all she has.

There is always sunflowers, it is KS. :) Grandma has a big flower bed with iris in it, they bloom in the spring but need to be planted in the fall. She also has mums, they are planted in the fall though. She also has roses but they are hard to grow, especially hard to start.

As far as veggie gardening, she has tomatos (from what I hear you can't screw up tomatos) and strawberries. When my grandfather was alive they had a huge veggie garden. Corn, potatoes, beets, pumkins, watermellon. I don't know what all.

[beatlemommy]

I forgot about my post! Thanks for the info everyone. I live near Wichita, akmyilee. Where does your grandma live? I will be at her house to eat this summer! :grin

[akmyilee]

I forgot about my post! Thanks for the info everyone. I live near Wichita, akmyilee. Where does your grandma live? I will be at her house to eat this summer! :grin


:) She would probably LOVE it, especially if you brought your kids!

She lives in Dexter, just East of Winfield. I grew up and graduated from Winfield in 97.