Knowledgebase

New Home Owner, First Time with a Yard! #749463

Asked May 12, 2021, 11:39 AM EDT

Hello! I'm wondering if you provide any consultations or would recommend a local organization that does (re: landscaping and plant identification)? We're hoping to get some advice about how to plan a terraced veggie garden and care for everything that's already established. We just bought a house in Albany (Oregon) with a good sized front and back yard, with some established bushes and flowers -- some of them we don't know what they are, and others we don't know how to care for! As for the landscaping - while there's lots of potential, we don't know where to begin. The back yard is sloped and we are hoping to build some vegetable beds possibly in tiers, but we don't want to rip out anything that could be really cool! Oh, and it's our first home and first time with a yard (although we've done community vegetable gardening before and really enjoy playing in the dirt!), so really any advice would be very much appreciated ;-) Thanks for your assistance! -Katy

Linn County Oregon

Expert Response

Dear Katy,

I can help you ID your plants and tell you how to care for them.  We do not recommend businesses of any kind i.e. to help you plan a garden or terrace the backyard, but I can help you figure out what you would plant.  Also if you have a flat area in your back or front yard  I can show you how to get started immediately without tilling.

Send the pictures of the plants you cannot identify or if you need information on caring for them.

Sheryl Casteen Replied May 12, 2021, 4:50 PM EDT

Thanks Sheryl!

 

I actually waited until my mom came down so she could help ID flowers! It was worth the wait, we had fun :-)

 

I’m wondering about some of the bushes/trees I haven’t had experience with growing before – specifically care, pruning, and/or trimming…:

 

  • Roses (we have 3 rose bushes, 1 is very tall, one is wide, and one is just a little thing) – when the blooms are spent I read that I can cut them down to the first new set of 5 leaves. Is there a way to shape/trim the tall one so it’s not so… Tall?
  • We have a weigela in the front yard that’s looking a bit … unkempt (we haven’t trimmed it since moving in in early May). There are still blooms on it. Is there a specific part of the branch I should be aware of if I wanted to cut off some of the tall branches to maintain its general shape?...Is there a general shape for these guys?
  • Japanese maple – it seems happy enough but is there something I need to do for regular care?
  • Apple & pear trees (not sure what kind, I suppose we will know when we see fruit this autumn!) – should I be lopping the branches off in late fall?
  • Hydrangeas – They are blooming! The previous owners had left the dead blooms on the bush, I read this is for aesthetics. One of them started fully blooming last week so I went and cut back all of the old blooms from last year (now it’s so pretty and blue!). When should I plan to cut off this year’s blooms? Right when they die or when they get super crunchy late next spring?

 

There’s lots of empty space in our garden still, now that we put in some raised beds (and pulled all the weeds!) it’s easier to see the ‘negative space’ (and potential!) we still have. It’s probably too late this year to plant anything but I’d like to start thinking about what to do for next year! I love the idea of putting in some ground cover plants that are hardy enough to walk on between the raised beds, as well as colorful ornamental flowers throughout the front and back yard (we’ve only ever had a community garden before that got tilled every year so we were limited to annual veggies) – do you have some favorites?

  • About the spaces:
    • Our front yard is north-facing and our back yard is south-facing.
    • There is a designated lawn in the back and then a slope going up away from the house that was mulched by the previous owners and then overgrown with weeds (so we put our beds there but are finding there’s more room!).
    • The front gets about 6 hours of morning sun while the back gets much more throughout the afternoon (although we have a large gum tree in the back that provides some good shade in the afternoon for part of the yard).
    • We also have a recessed entry-way (like a horse-shoe shape) in the front, so I’m thinking about getting some nice pots and finding something that likes the shade (doesn’t really get direct sun ever) – any suggestions?
  • Flowers and covers:
    • I think we have some blue star creepers coming up in the front that are very pretty and lush; and the back has random patches of stunning deep blue lithodora. Do you have a favorite ground cover? I’d like to find something I won’t regret planting two years down the road because it’s taken over everything!
    • The front has some big peonies that I’m in love with (they’re mostly gone now), and I put in some dahlias in around mid-may – between those and the hydrangeas, I look forward to lots of color in the front! Any ideas for colorful flowers to get a year-round pop of color?

 

I’d love to hear any suggestions or ideas you have!

 

-Katy

 

 

From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2021 1:50 PM
To: Ahlvin, Katy Lee <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: New Home Owner, First Time with a Yard! (#0019394)

 

[This email originated from outside of OSU. Use caution with links and attachments.]

The Question Asker Replied June 23, 2021, 11:08 AM EDT

Dear Katy,

Roses in the Willamette Valley grow readily and can be trimmed or severely pruned in the summer without too much worry about the health of the plant.  I prune after the first blooms are spent.  I deadhead but usually take out the entire stem from the lowest point.  There are always stems that have no blossoms or very small buds that will bloom in a few weeks that I leave.  I prune severely in the middle of the bush to open it up to a good flow of air.  Mold - various types grow on the roses and opening up the bush helps keep it down.  After the first bloom, fertilize with a phosphorus fertilizer for blooms.

For the tall rose, cut it down to just below the size you want it to be.  Look for a small bud growing on the outside of the stem and cut about 1 inch above that.  It needs to grow toward the outside not the inside of the bush.  Cut away all old, dead wood.  Be careful about the thorns.  When pruning anything, cut on a slant.  That will allow the rain or any water to run off, not stay on the open stem and possibly cause rot.

Here is a link with some quick notes for growing roses:  https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/1/2014rosecare.pdf 

Weigela are tough customers.  They withstand being crowded in a pot sometimes for years, or not being watered all summer and still come back the next year.  Prune all the stragglers out and prune a bit in the center again for airflow if the plants looks like it is crowded.  Fertilize in the late fall or early winter with a regular organic N-P-K fertilizer for more blooms next spring.  Leave the limbs with the blooms on them for the hummingbirds and butterflies and you.

The Japanese Maple needs regular watering especially in this heat wave.  Actually all your plants need weekly watering to about 2-3 inches deep.  Soaker hoses are a great way to water the soil and not the plants and takes less of your time once they are installed unless you want to put in a full blown irrigation system.

For the maple with its exquisite leaves without the water now, the leaves will shrivel and turn brown this fall.  No 'show'.  Depending on how old the tree is, it could use some fertilizer.  Or, composted manure that can be used as mulch to hold moisture in.  But I need more information on the tree before I would know whether to fertilize or not.

I am adding a link showing many different varieties of maples for you to look at so you can ID the tree: https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/acer-palmatum

Apple and pear trees also grow well here sometimes too well.  Pruning depends again on opening up the center for airflow, if you have a tremendous amount of fruit, definitely remove most of it.  Apples and pears should be one fruit every 6 inches.  More fruit on a limb than it can hold and it will break the limb.  Sometimes break the tree in half.  You lose the tree.  I am attaching a great article on pruning trees:  https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw400/html

Hydrangea blooms can be cut either right after they are finished blooming or late spring.  Depending on what type of bush you have next years blooms may come on new growth or old growth.  Another link for you and it has info on how to dry hydrangeas for floral arrangements too. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/general-care-hydrangeas

As far as flowers go, you cannot beat bulbs or tubers.  Most bulbs are left alone by rodents with the exception of tulips.  But you can plant tulips in pots for spots of color and plant daffodils (so many colors and varieties are available now), along with lilies, dahlias, peonies, anemones and a great many native or naturalizing bulbs.  Some are planted in the fall (daffodils, tulips, lilies to name a few) and some in the summer again lilies, dahlias, alliums).  Most of these flowers die back and then come back the next year.  To keep flowers going year round you need annuals, poppies, petunias, alyssums, zinnias, larkspur, delphiniums - there are many.  Asters for fall color.  Every plant I mentioned will take full sun.

For shady areas, hostas, dicentra or bleeding hearts, and astible as well as some native bulbs work well.  Hydrangeas can be shade loving too, Annabelle is one.  Gorgeous tiny white flowers make up a large ball.  They are easy to dry and work well at Christmas time in arrangements that will last for years if your cat doesn't get into them (can you guess how I know that?).  I am attaching a month to month link on gardening tips from Oregon State for you to review: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/collection/monthly-garden-calendars

This doesn't tell you what to grow but what to do for your gardens and the plants that you may have.

You might want to surf the web and look at a variety of plants before you purchase. There are also a number of sites that show you how and what to plant and what it will look like when you are done.  Better Homes and Gardens and DIY come to mind but there are many others out there.  Google landscape designs, that should give you a multitude of sites.

For ground cover there are plants referred to as Stepables. You can walk on them.  They have sun loving as well as shade loving.  I found this link and they have a lot for you to look at but I am not promoting this company just the fact they have a lot of pictures and info.  https://www.stepables.com/  My favorite ground cover is thyme.  Pretty pink flowers that the pollinators love but you can walk on it as well.  Smells great, no pests (they don't like herbs), never even had slug damage.  It does spread but slowly and every year I go through and pull leafless stems, but that really easy.

For your front porch or atria area hostas and fuchsias are my first thoughts.  There are some exquisite blue green hostas and they flower and the flowers smell something like gardenias.  The fuchsias come in every color imaginable and do need light but not direct sunlight.  Make sure if you purchase one that you know whether it needs full sun or shade though.  Some azaleas take pretty much full shade too.  they can be covered or put in the garage if it gets too cold in the winter.

Always easy to grow and come in so many colors are petunias for the hydrangea/peony area.  And, you can still plant them, they will flourish in the heat as long as the roots are watered.  In fact there are many plants that will do just fine planted now.

I think I have answered your questions but in case you have more, please contact us again.  

If you live in Linn or Benton County I would suggest you look into becoming a master gardener.  The course isn't expensive and it will give you a lot of information.  If you do not have the time for that there are hundreds of articles on all topics horticultural at http://<personal data hidden>.   We also give free classes.  Now that places are opening up look for lectures at the local libraries, senior centers and community gardens.  That's also a time you can ask questions of the speakers directly.

Good luck with your new home landscaping.  I think you will have a gorgeous yard(s).  

Sheryl Casteen Replied June 24, 2021, 10:51 PM EDT

Sheryl you are amazing!! I really enjoy the detail and expert advice (and the links!) that you’ve shared with me!

And, I’ve always been interested in becoming a Master Gardener; I will be looking into this program!

I’ll start looking at stuff I can plant now (well perhaps after the heat wave this weekend!) – I’m so excited to (literally) dig in!!

 

Thank you so much! I’m sure I’ll be reaching out with additional questions, and maybe I can share a picture or two of the progress in a few months :-)

 

-Katy

 

Katy L. Ahlvin, M.Ed. | Training Specialist | <personal data hidden> | <personal data hidden>

Learning & Organizational Development | University Human Resources | Oregon State University

 

From: Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>>
Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2021 7:52 PM
To: Ahlvin, Katy Lee <<personal data hidden>>
Subject: Re: New Home Owner, First Time with a Yard! (#0019394)

 

[This email originated from outside of OSU. Use caution with links and attachments.]

The Question Asker Replied June 25, 2021, 10:28 AM EDT

You are welcome Katy.  Enjoy your gardening journey.  There are many plant sales coming up as the spring season winds down.  Some plants that are drastically reduced in price will NOT thrive and may be root bound (so many roots in the pot it is like a block of cement).  Find ones that look amazingly healthy if you decide to buy.  

One more thing with the heat wave and or winter cold, glazed ceramic pots for your front porch or anywhere really are the best at insulating your plant roots. 

Sheryl Casteen Replied June 25, 2021, 12:54 PM EDT

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