New bed in front--no maintenance gardening

There is a long flower bed that runs along the front walkway to our home.

It has full sun in the middle of the bed and shade on each end.  I decided to get the middle planted with sun loving perennials.  Here at Silverhill Ranch, we believe in no maintenance  garden beds.  I spend NO time pulling weeds and very little time watering.  Doing a little extra work when you are putting in your garden beds saves you lots of time and money in the long run.

Weed control fabric and pins, drip system

Drip system put on top of soil first

Buy a good, thick weed control fabric.  This came from Sam's Club and is very thick but water and fertilizer can still get through.  Thick layers of newspapers work well, too and also cardboard boxes cut to lie flat.  You can put it on top of the soil or if your bed is empty and you are going to have to add soil the fabric can go under the soil.  This bed already had soil so I put it on top.

Fabric and drip system held down with fabric pins from Lowe's

The irrigation system we use, we order on line from Berry Hill.  It is not expense and has never failed us.  We buy timers from Lowe's and have everything set to turn on automatically.  If we want to pick up and go out of town-no problem.

The plants I bought to go in were reduced at a local Houston garden center.  (yay)  Yellow,  Dallas red, silver and purple lantanas, Purple and white Mexican Heathers.  There are all sun lovers and will hopefully fill in this bed with time.

Elton helped me decide on placement of the plants

Just cut a hole big enough to dig a hole and pop the plant in-be sure to not cut the drip system.  It can be felt through the fabric.

After planting, I like to add a thick layer of Cypress mulch.  The ends of the drip system will be hooked into the rest of the system, probably after I get this whole bed planted.

I see someone got out of line.  Will have to fix her in the morning.
So there you have it.  No maintenance flower beds!  Makes gardening a pleasure!

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Spring Happenings on the Ranch

We are getting everything cleaned up for spring.  Garden is in and all beds have gotten a fresh layer of mulch.

Tomatoes, peppers and onions in and looking very happy

Potted plants wintered on the back porch with a grow light and look pretty outside the dining room window

New area I am working on right outside the back porch with all the beautiful pots hubs has given me lately.  Feeding station also.

front porch

I took over a quarter of the okra patch as a cutting garden.  I have zinnias, sunflowers and daisies planted.  They are about an inch tall.  Very excited about this!  Have had trouble with a cutting garden because of out lack of sunny spots.  I love to keep cut flowers in the house and to give then to other people.  They are always so pleased and impressed.  But zinnias are so very easy to grow.  When i deadhead them I toss them back in to the garden to re-seed it.

back porch

Texas Wild Flowers

The wild flowers this spring have really put on quite a show.  I love them so much and Texas really has the most beautiful.  I stop on the rode sides and pick a bunch every few days while they are in bloom. When I step out of the car I can smell the Blue Bonnets.  In Texas, they will not mow the rode sides until the Wild Flowers are done blooming.  The colors are very bright and the blooms plentiful this year.  Conditions must be just right. Below are some pictures I took today when I stopped.  They do not do it justice by any means.