Flowers for a beginner???

I live in South Carolina and I have a very plain yard. I would like ideas of some easy care flowers that I can put in a flower bed that lines my front porch and the corners of my porch. (I have a typical house that is symmetrical in the front view and alot of shade in these areas I am asking ideas for) I also have a long (20'-25') cemment walkway in the center of the yard that I would like to plant along. I like that two tone grass that alot of people have its like I think mondo grass.....I dont know....any way I just want a pretty yard .....not expensive either incase I have a blue thumb instead of green......HELP!!

Flowers for a beginner???
Marigolds and dianthus are hardy flowering plants that will grow almost anywhere with little care. They both come back from seed. However, maigold will bloom the first year. Dianthus only blooms the second year, so you want to purchase bedding plants the first year. Periwinkles are another good choice, but they do not begin blooming as early as marigolds and dianthus, which have long blooming seasons.





If you have abundant shade with VERY LITTLE direct sun, you might try impatiens. I like the double impatiens because the bloom looks like a tiny rose. Impatiens wilt in sun or drought, though. They are beautiful, but they do like a drink often.





Coleus is another shade loving plant, but it can stand more sun than impatiens. Coleus is grown primarily for its vibrant foliage. I have always been told to pinch it back to keep it from blooming. One year I ignored the "pinch" rule and let mine go to flower. I had hundreds of tiny blue butterflies that year.





Sweet Williams like sun, but they can stand shade. They grow very tall (sometimes 3-4 feet) and have wonderful smelling flowers.





You want to experiment with looks that "fit" you. That might take a couple of seasons. Play with colors and choose your own favorites that allow your house to express your own personality!
Reply:I hope you enjoy your flowers as much as I enjoy mine! Thanks for choosing me! Report It

Reply:This is my first year for a garden too and I am sooooooooo winging it. I've chosen flowers that I think are pretty and learn if they like sun or shade and plant them in the right place. I've used a lot of annuals and a few perennials so that next year, I can add more perennials according to what I've learned so far. Gardening has become a wonderful relaxtion process for me and I hope you enjoy it as much! Good luck!!!
Reply:Walk around your neighborhood and see what others have planted that seem to be growning well. Go to a garden center or Wal-Mart or something like that and see what they sell for your area.
Reply:Hosta for the shade areas, and don't buy the striped leave ones,, buy the big green flat plaintain lilly ones. They make beautiful flowers twice a year.


Then keep watch at Wal Mart for roses that come in pink pots,, they only get them once a year and they are very low maintenance, a bush rose,, not a climber but I can't remember the name of them. I have two but do remember they always come in hot pink pots and cost about 8 bucks a piece.


This should get you off to a good start. Oh ,, garden phlox,, not creeping ones but true garden phlox,, they are a tuber and they are just beautiful and truly easy to raise, they like sun though.
Reply:One of the more important things to consider when planning a garden is whether the yard has more sun or more shade. That will dictate what plant you can have. Another is water--how much a plant needs--how much water can you afford because watering gets expensive!





One of the answers was HOSTA. They are the best for shady areas--only a few varieties are good in full sun. There are over 3,000 kinds of hosta out there! Friends and neighbors might be talked into dividing their hosta plants come this fall.





Rainbow gave great flower suggestions--write down those names and check them out at the local nursery. Watch your local stores for plant sales--they want to get rid of their stock by the 4th of July so things will be on sale.





You're lucky to be in a warmer climate--most everything will grow!





Get the book GARDENING FOR DUMMIES at the library. Or go to eBay and get gardening books--they can be cheap.





Gardening is a life long hobby and you learn something new all the time!





Hope the thumb is green! That's my 2 cents---the link below will help you plan a garden!

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