BigNutbrownHare

It's not that I have a brown thumb or lack of motivation, I just have no clue where to start. I know that several of you really enjoy gardening, so any tidbits that you can provide would be great.

I have two small spaces for gardening outside our townhouse. Along the front I have a 2'x20' strip. Along the side next to the garage I have a 4"x6" space that already contains a couple of small healthy boxwoods and a small tree. Both spaces get direct light most of the day. Both areas are currently in pretty bad shape - the soil is dry and rocky.

How do I prepare the soil for planting? What plants do I choose? What I am looking for in both spaces is something pretty, flowering or nonflowering, that I can buy and plant this weekend and will last well into the fall or longer, plus anything else I need to plant now for future seasons. Other than that, I am wide open for suggestions.

It doesn't have to be fancy, just something easy to plant and care for that is more attractive than the dry brown rocky dirt that I am currently inflicting on our neighbors.

bls05

For fall color, you could plant perennial mums-so they will be pretty now and will return next year. If you want spring bulbs, you could plant those shortly as well. You don't want to plant them too soon because if it's still pretty warm, they might start to come up now. Don't forget to mulch-that will help it to look more finished. If you go to the garden center, they will have plants and shrubs good for your area and this time of year. Pick their brain-they can be a great source of info. as far as ammending the soil, etc. I really like fire bushes. Pretty in the spring and summer, and beautiful red in the fall. I'm sure it will turn out nice.