Garden Help

Thanks for the suggestions! We want to plant a tree in the front patch of yard, which is a little too big (I can't believe I'm saying that) for what I can maintain. Also, in the back yard, which is like a jungle with multiple vines coming over from both neighbors' yards, I would like to start planning out what I want to see next year. Previous owners chose to put down pea gravel, which I want to replace with flagstone/bluestone. I need someone who can help me on the things I can't do myself and guide me through the things that I can. Does this person/company exist?

Posted by: nching at October 3, 2007 11:43 AM in response to Garden Help

Thanks for the recommendations, all!

Posted by: nching at October 3, 2007 2:19 PM in response to Garden Help

Do you know where to find reclaimed lumber for doors?

Posted by: nching at March 31, 2008 3:44 PM in response to Front doors and type of wood i should buy

Try Julie Cummings at Urban Gardener in the South Slope (phone 718-788-2159). She will sit down with you and come up with a workable plan for your space. She will do as much or as little planting and maintenance as you want.

Posted by: zeebee_in_bklyn at October 3, 2007 12:14 PM in response to Garden Help

Thanks for the recommendations, all!

Posted by: nching at October 3, 2007 2:19 PM in response to Garden Help

Michele of Gowanus Nursery is wonderful. She has a very interesting collection of plants and has a good color sense but more important she is a real plant person wanting each plant to be happy. She honestly looked for some vacant lots for my invasive meadow rue. You should at least visit her nursery on Summit St. near Columbia, she is a Brooklyn treasure!

Posted by: bergenbabe at October 3, 2007 3:40 PM in response to Garden Help

Second the recommendation for Gowanus Nursery. They have the best variety of plants anywhere, and they are so personable. I haven't had them do any work in my garden, but I've gotten almost all my plants there. They've given me enormous advice over the past couple years as I've been doing my garden.

Posted by: saturdayrenogirl at October 6, 2007 9:33 AM in response to Garden Help

another option - depending on the money and time you have. dont feel like you have to tackle your entire yard in one season. start with half of your back yard (the half that's closest to the house). experiment - get a feel for what you like - how much time you'll have to garden, the type of plants that do well, etc. You can cover the other half with mulch - which is pretty and keeps the weeds away - until you decide you want to tackle that section - later in the season or the next year.

Posted by: brooklynborn at October 10, 2007 6:51 PM in response to Garden Help

On my lumber rack.

Actually there is a whole profession dedicated to reclaiming lumber. Long leaf yellow pine comes from warehouses, redwood was used for wine tanks, and wormy chestnut from the siding on barns. When these structures are being torn down- trained professionals will dismantle them, de-nail the wood, and mill it into a usable product that is both beautiful and environmentally responsible.

try woodwood.com

Posted by: southslope at March 31, 2008 5:41 PM in response to Front doors and type of wood i should buy

I had two paneled doors made up from Spanish Cedar, and they are gorgeous. We had to put 10 coats of oil-based urethane on to get a good luster.

They will need a cleaning and recoating every two years. Sorry, but that's the price of gorgeous.

Jim Illingworth, (some place up-state) made them, and he delivered them down to Brooklyn. This was 5 years ago, i hope he's still around. We had the old doors, we sent him photos and dimensions. I believe he could have made the frame - but we didn't need the frame. We paid 2K, but that was 5 years ago.

If you need more info, you can contact me at bruce(at)jerseydata.net

Posted by: brucef at April 1, 2008 12:41 AM in response to Front doors and type of wood i should buy

test

Posted by: johnife at May 1, 2008 10:29 PM in response to Front doors and type of wood i should buy