Building a Front Garden
I am planning to break through the concrete in front of my south-facing brownstone to create a front garden. I have some hydrangeas (and maybe a holly bush) that want to live there. But before we start breaking things up, are there any helpful suggestions from those who have already done the project? Specifically, what…
I am planning to break through the concrete in front of my south-facing brownstone to create a front garden. I have some hydrangeas (and maybe a holly bush) that want to live there. But before we start breaking things up, are there any helpful suggestions from those who have already done the project?
Specifically, what did you use for a border (we’re thinking pressure treated 2x8s with about 2″ above the concrete), did you put in a french drain or gravel bed (we’re thinking just gravel), and did you use the soil that is already there, or replace with new topsoil?
Thanks all.
DIBS, you must have a heck of a green thumb to grow hydrangeas in sandy soil and sun. Do you know what kind? I have a blue/pink macrophylla and an oak-leaf — one in partial and the other in deep shade — the kind of light you plant hostas in. But I know there are a lot of other varieties.
I found this whole discussion on the Web, might provide some enlightenment…
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/hydra/msg0613194124338.html
If I had to get permission from Landmarks to plant a hydrangea, I’d go postal.
Concrete dust will make the soil alkaline and most things like acidic soil so mix in some hummus and pine bark mulch to add acidity. Certain varieties of Hydrangea do well in south sun so pick the right one for your conditions. Include some low evergreens to provide contrast with your flowering things. Go to the Brooklyn Terminal Market and read labels.
You don’t want to crowd the space with perennials, leaving them no room to grow so buy a few sun loving annuals to fill in some blanks.
Hello Herkimermaid, Sure you can take some topsoil. You can contact me at: daniel11216@yahoo.com
thanks all – will post again after we’ve made some progress
The color of hydrangea flowers depends on the pH of the soil.
We had a contractor who was doing other work on the house at the time do a neat cut for a minimal cost. We didn’t bother with a border as we planted the bed with english ivy which has grown over the edge. It is very easy to trim when necessary. We chose hardy plants so we didn’t need to amend the soil, and kept it very simple, with just the ivy, a crabapple tree, and one euonymous (sp?) shrub. The shrub and the ivy grew like crazy with all of the rain last year, so the little garden looks quite mature. The only upkeep has been a little weeding, trimming the ivy a couple times a year and removing trash that blows in. We have lovely white blossoms on the tree in the spring and really pretty golden fruit in the fall.
I did this myself, broke up the concrete with a sledgehammer and dug it out. Luckily the concrete was poured in squares, so I got a very clean edge to it. I edged it with old bricks. Cleared out about a 6’x 6′ area, and dug down about a foot (which was mostly broken rock and other assorted fill from 100 years ago) until I got down to clay. I dug down about 2.5 feet in the center, and then filled in with topsoil. Kings County Garden Center, on New York Ave and Rutland Rd, will deliver for a reasonable price. I planted a flowering crabapple in the middle, and put some perennials around the edges, burning bush, euonymus, and a lot of crocuses and daffodils. The tree is doing very well going into its third spring, but I’m trying to keep the other plantings a bit toned down as it gets bigger. Street side gardens pick up a lot of weeds, so mulch heavily. Good luck!
The Southern magnolias are really great. I think there are a few on macon or MacDonough. I used a holly. I like the fact that it’s evergreen.