I need some good tips on gardening?

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Start by carefully picking a container. Clay pots dry out quicker then plastic ones. Make sure whatever you pick has drainage holes in the bottom. With plastic containers you can drill a few small holes if it doesn't already have them. I usually put a few small rocks in the bottom of the container to help improve drainage. Then fill the container with a good potting mix to a couple inches below the rim. I usually use a 'moisture control' potting mix. Put your plants in and water. For the plants I have outside, I use mulch on top of the soil so they don't dry out as fast. My outdoor containers need to be watered way more then my houseplants do. As far as plants themselves, each has their own requirements as far as water and sun goes. I don't fertilize as much as some people, but you do have to feed the plants living in containers at least occasionally because they will deplete the nutrients from the soil eventually. I hope this helps you get a start!

I want to start an Eastern garden in my tiny backyard and I dont know what plants or shrubs to get. Can anyone help? I live south of Boston and get Partial sun AND shade. Any suggestions? fyi- im very new at gardening

bamboo. grows just about anywhere, and is about as oriental as it gets.

i would like to start a garden and i dont really know a whole lot about it can anybody give me some beginner tips so that i could be on my way…

thx-

Hi,
Your first step in gardening is getting your soil ready. After you choose the area you want to garden in (full sun location is best) then you will want to till the soil and add amendments like peat, sand (if you have clay in your soil), manure, compost and dried grass clippings and/or fallen leaves in Autumn. Till again after you have added all the amendments. After you have your soil prepared the just pick out plants or veggies suited to that area. If you are planing a bed in the shade or partial shade then you can pick plants that do well in low light which you can find at any garden center. Your soil will be your first and most important step in starting a garden. After that it is all about choosing the plants you want to put in the soil. I know sometimes it can be a little overwhelming, but don't give up because the only way to become a true gardener is through trial and error. So, get those hands dirty and see what you can come up with. There will always be someone here who can help you if you need it.
Good Luck

this past summer my mother bought some Zinnia plants which i planted and grew beautifully. i would love to grow them again & have already bought seeds, but have never planted seeds before & will need some help.

i live in south texas where it is allllways hot. i hope to plant them next month hopefully. it is always summer in this town so i don't think it would be a problem. seriously we had like 7 cold days for 'winter'

My mom always had these in Waco, Texas - not quite "south Texas," but still plenty hot in the summer. Just space the seeds about an inch apart, cover with dirt, and water on a regular basis, and you should have zinnias in no time. Once the plants get about a foot high, pinch then ends off so that they will branch, unless you want just a few big blossoms. They're EASY to grow - enjoy!

I live in Phoenix Az and I have a paved patio where I have planted (potted) Camellia and Mandevilla vines (Alice du Pont). I it normal for this plants to die back in the winter? My Mandevilla lost all its leaves abd just looked like brown twigs. My patio has enough shade in the summer and pretty mild temps in the winter however we had a few nights of lower 30ish degrees this year. Will these plants normally come back in the spring?

I would kiss the mandevilla bye if it got below 32 in Phoenix. It is supposed to be evergreen, so sticky and brown is a sign I am probably right. It is supposed to be an outdoor plant only in (coastal) Southern California, and the bottom half of Florida.
I would not be at all concerned with the Camellia surviving. The cold may have killed or damaged flowers and buds, but the shrub itself will live with no problem.

Full sun in morning, liquid manure to get them moving, water them regularly, keep well cultivated and weed free, pick them as they ripen to allow more to develop and ENJOY!!

What grows best where and when, ect…
Thanks!

Gardening has a very wide explanation. Depends on what you grow; flower, herbs or vegetables. Where you want it to grow, in the garden or pots and containers.

Basically, understanding your garden will help you in deciding which plants will grow best. Factors such as soil type, germination period and shade when assessing the suitability for growing certain plants.

There are flowers easy to grow such as Sunflower, morning glory and petunia. For herbs, basil and mint are the easiest to grow but need plenty of sun and moist soil . These are some plants you can try to grow with need less attention.

You can get more guides in gardening at http://www.squidoo.com/grow-herb-seeds

I try to garden without any chemicals added. What tips do you have? Especially in regards to pest control?

I love the book Secrets of Companion planting. I've never used any chemicals, but thats probably why I spend at least a hour a day in my gardens pulling weeds. Composting is another great thing (and I have horses!)

I'd like to garden some Outdoors.
Indoors, I've killed an orchid, violets, some green plant my mother said was impossible to kill, among others.

I have no clue what I am doing.

Please tell me what to do down to the last detail as if I was mentally impaired.

Daylilies. Start with daylilies. They come in a gazillion colors, bloom for weeks, come back year after year. Buy a one gallon size for impact, dig a hole, plop it in, fill in the hole, push the dirt down and water it. No muss no fuss no bother.

Coreopsis. Great workhorse plant. Pot or in the ground, same scenario. They'll literally bloom til the tops freeze.

Iris. Unless you water them to death they're pretty bulletproof. Buy them potted, this time of year. Do not put dirt past the level they're planted in the pot. Bearded iris are my favorites, but there are other varieties…ask at your nursery.

Peonies. Another bulletproof selection. Again, buy them potted this time of year.

Sedum. Gotta love a good succulent.

All these like full sun. The daylily will grow and bloom in part sun, but not as well as they do in open ground. Also, all of these will grow just about anywhere in the country. Halfway decent soil that's not real wet will give you results.

For shade, try bleeding hearts, columbine, dead nettle, sweet woodruff, hosta, ferns, cordyline, monkshood, and lily-of-the-valley. Same basics, dig a hole and drop it in. If you can grow fairly impressive weeds, your soil should support these.

Get yourself a Western Garden Book if you're really serious. It'll answer most of your questions. Good luck!