I have 150' x 150' area on my backyard (behind the pool) that until recently was wooded. We left trees only on two edges and I wish to utilize the area for garden that will be nice looking but also partially eatable and fun for my 5-year old. We in zone 6. Lot is almost level and trees make it partial sun.
I wish to do it without breaking bank. Water feature would be nice to have.
2007-03-03 13:33:15 · 7 answers · asked by Remodeling Diva 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Oh, I'd love to have such a large space for a veggie garden! We've got a 10x12 area for veggies and a 4x8 for herbs.
I guess the best way to make it nice looking would be to use decorative edging, decorative trellises for your beans and cukes and plant flowers around it's border. Marigolds are a good choice, as they also help to deter some insect pests. My daughter is 8, and enjoys the watermelons and pumpkins best. She also likes to go out and pick a cuke and eat it right there! You're going to want to put veggies in areas with the most possible sunlight- they require a lot of sun, and about an inch of water per week while producing.
Water feature... I spent $70 for the kit I got at Home Depot. It is a 60 gallon kidney shaped liner with a fountain/pump. We put it about halfway in the ground, then piled rocks around it. We've gotten many complements from neighbors. I also ordered a small waterproof light to put down in it- accents the fountain nicely. If you plan on having aquatic plants, DO NOT put fish in it, they eat the greenery!
Good luck!
2007-03-03 16:50:17 · answer #1 · answered by TrueSunn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started gardening at age 3 so your 5 year old has a lot of catching up to do! Seriously, you're about to share something magical with your child and it doesn't require batteries. You do realize a garden this size may require a full time gardener, so 'soul time' has the right idea of filling with ornamental grasses and wild flowers. Then you can make the garden a centerpiece of design, flowing with mixed plantings of flowers and veggies, hardscaping and water features. Or you can go with the more traditional row garden and conceal it with a wall of sunflowers until your landscaping matures. A more fun use of giant sunflowers is to build a simple maze with a secret place in the middle. This can be done with corn and or pole beans and all three seeds are large enough for little fingers to easily handle. Peering out of my leafy "fort" on a warm sunny day is a memory that always makes me smile. RScott
2007-03-05 05:06:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave a section in the front for easy access for your son. Let him plant rows or squares or a design he invents out of different seeds...like lettuce, radish, carrots, onions. Then plant the rest to show case his special garden...maybe a path way of brick around his garden then perennials/shrubs mixed behind.Start low then plant taller ones behind. Try seeding the unplanted areas with wild flowers and native grass seed.
2007-03-03 14:35:22 · answer #3 · answered by someone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say watermelon, strawberries, and mint.
Start them inside from seeds growing before the actual season starts so they will be ready.
Put the seeds in a wet cloth in your childs room and have their duty to make sure it stays damp - watch them sprout.
Then after they are a few inches transplant them to little cups of soil, also to be kept in childs room and again be kept moist but not too much.
Finally, when ready put them in the prepared ground when planting season starts.
Have fun.
(This is not for the mint.)
2007-03-08 21:18:33 · answer #4 · answered by J D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please check this:
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/
Last year was my first year of gardening and this book was perfect and practical for a first timer.
Warning: pole beans grow so fast I couldn't keep up with them...some vines were over 20' by season's end so I had to loop them back and forth across an 8' expanse of rope.
You might want a sandbox element to go along with the water element...something fun to play in.
2007-03-09 18:14:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds great and fun. There are web sites to help and for children too, but I can't remember them, try gardening.com there may be more web sites there, you also need to list your area, I'm in Seattle, WA. Good luck and have fun.
2007-03-10 10:35:23 · answer #6 · answered by Jae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sign yourself up on line to a few seed catalogs... your blank canvas will be filled soon... good luck
2007-03-09 17:03:37 · answer #7 · answered by greenhollow2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋