Personally, I would work on one area at a time. Biting off more than one
can chew is certainly the fastest way to a disaster.

Consult your local county extension specialist as to your plant selection
and preparation. It will pay to first prepare the planting areas. Even
if it takes a season to get the beds prepared, it will be worth the delay.
Have soil tests done. A good lab will analyze the soil and give
recommenations based on your needs. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.

Then shop. Get good plants. Good plants are much better than ones which
are on sale or cheap. Cheap plants are usually cheap for a reason.
Stressed plants won't survive.

It's best to have a 5-yr master plan that is manageable and affordable.
Stick to the plan but remain flexible enough to shift gears when something
doesn't work.











On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 10:53:15 -0500, Jeteye wrote:

I am contemplating the purchase of the following from Direct Gardening. I
am aware that these items make be a little on the small side and will
require some TLC. I have purchased 2 dump truck loads of 150 degree
compost ( 8 scoops) . I plan on planting the winterberry collection
creekside immediately, because of the moisture requirements. The pecan,
empress trees, kiwi, and blueberry collection w/AL Sulphate in there
respective local. The rest I am considering placing in a raised bed 4 ft
by 40 ft so that I may be able to tend to them in all in one place, such
as soaker hoses and weeding for a year or two. We have just built a house
2 yrs ago on a 5 acre parcel, we have planted approximately 150 trees thus
far and after getting them established have decided its time to prepare
for some accent and foundation plantings.Just beginning to research our
fruit garden. Most of our tree/shrub selections have been around
attracting wildlife year round. I have been googling for info on my quest
and this newsgroup keeps popping up. Any suggestions in my plan of
action? What is your experience in dealing with the direct gardening folk?
Will a large compost bed be the way to go on jump starting these shrubs?
Thanks in advance.


2 Baby's Breath, Pink & White
18 Barberry, Redleaf
24 Forsythia
1 Walking Stick
4 Firethorn
20 Lilac, Old Fashioned
18 Spirea, Bridal White
3 Lavender, English
6 Purple Leaf Plum Hedge
40 Hawthorn, Washington
4 Pecan, Hardy
3 Royal Empress Tree
1 Blueberry Collection - 3 Year Old Plants 1 Kiwi Collection - (4
Female & 1 Male) 4 Almond, Pink Flowering
60 Privet, Hardy Amur 1-2'
2 Fuchsia, Hardy
6 Weigela, Variegated
1 Christmas Holly Collection, 4 female/1 male 16 Burning Bush, Dwarf
3 Beauty Berry
1 Winterberry, Collection
3 Myrtle, Crape
24 Rose, Rosa Rugosa