Can't believe I am talking about this

[bbird]

Especially since I am such a winter person, but I have been thinking of gardening lately. More specifically, landscaping. We are turning our barn into a house, and right now around the barn er..house is just trees, ferns, huckleberry bushes. I want to keep it looking like woodlands but kind of want to implant pathways, and containers that have plants in them. My problem is, I would like plants that bloom but I would like them to be perinneals. Is that even possible when they are in containers/pots since we do get cold weather? I'm thinking a lot of perinneals wouldn't make it in the winter if they are not protected more.

Also if anyone has ideas on perinneals that thrive in deep shade...

One last question, the barn's roof gets covered in moss (I have a picture of this, but photobucket isn't working for me right now). We want to keep that look, because it really does help with the insulation and protects the roofing, PLUS its green! Do you think its okay to throw some daisy seeds on the moss? I've tried to find websites where they promote going green and growing moss on your roof, but have not seen where this was discussed.

[momo]

I can't help you with most of your questions.

Around here we plant hostas in shady areas. Most hostas prefer shade. Check the variety since some do like sun too.

Don't feel bad..DH has drug me all over trying to find grape plants and veggie seeds. He has the fever bad!

[Deleted]

Yikes!! In containers...... not sure

[bbird]

Yep, me either. I was just thinking that if I had plants in pots and the pots could be colorful they might be more noticeable then planting inbetween the ferns and bushes. I'm not one that would bring the pots in during the winter, so it probably wouldn't be such a great idea.

[Deleted]

Why not just choose flowers that easily re-seed themselves instead? The plants may die each winter, but believe me! The seeds will still sprout in the spring! You can always save some seeds each fall to toss in the containers in the spring....

Kaza

[dirty]

never heard of anything good coming from growing moss on the roof. i would think trying to grow anything up on the roof would be bad. you want the roof to shed water as quickly as possible. i would think roots and moisture would be asking for seeping and moisture damage under the shingles.


i can't argue that it wouldn't look neat through.

[bbird]

Dirty- You would think that is the case...we did, but we just took off moss from a roof that is at least 30 years old and the singles/plywood were in great condtion for the age. The plywood had no signs of ever being wet. Then we started researching, because we noticed the "green" folks were paying big money to have moss be able to grow on their roofs.

Now I don't know if all moss is the same, but here if you ever take moss of a tree or rock you notice its dry, it can be pouring outside and still the moss is light and airy. When we removed the moss from the roof, we rolled it like a carpet and then layed it out on the ground...it was pretty wild to see that, lol.

Now algae, we hate...its slime basically.

Kaza- that is an idea too. I've never been a seed collector because I am not the smartest gardener there is but that makes sense. I usually just still with perineals because I feel its worth the money but if I could replant seeds that would help with the annuals. I guess I have a lot of learning to do!

[Kathy]

Deb, I don't know if this helps but here's a list of blooming perennials for shady areas.

www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1994/6-17-1994/shady.html

[nan]

Hmmm...shady area huh?....well...some things grow great in shade and will reseed themselves without too much help from anyone! I grow impatiens every year and they reseed themselves, though I wouldn't grow them on the roof! LOL! I WOULD however toss some small flowering seeds up there if that is what you want...of the smaller flowering variety. (think rose moss)BUT...don't know if that would be a good idea or not because they will nearly all grow roots and might mess up the flora of your roof.

Most things will do ok in partial shade, but struggle in complete shade. Impatiens, hostas, begonias, ivy, and early early bulb flowers like some daffodils, tulips, and other early bulbs...will do ok in shade or partial shade. OH..hydrangeas do GREAT in shade and lotsa water! I am trying to think of what all I have planted over the years that did well in shade....Hydrangeas need to be planted in the ground but will do ok in pots of you bring them in. Impatiens will reseed themselves or you can give them help by collecting the seeds in summer and fall, begonias need to be brought in or replanted and I keep mine going by cuttings, ivy will stay green all year long, daffodils, tulips etc..will come back, but I wouldn't plant them in pots unless the pot is buried in the ground! That is all I can think of at the moment...but I bet I will come up with something else later gator! Nan(the flower lover that just noticed this thread!)

[bbird]

Nan- I got all excited when I read bulbs would work in shade, but then you said not in pots BUT that would still be very easy to do and I wouldn't have to worry about them over the winter. Hydrangeas are another great idea, and I reallly like them too. For the life of me I can not keep a impatien alive...isn't that crazy? Thanks for giving me some ideas!

Kathy-That site was great, and it helped a lot because I have a lot of what they said would be good in shade. Bugleweed I have, and is so easy to transplant and would wonderful along paths. Astilbe I have, and will add some color. The thing is, I planted those in a sun/shade spot because I thought they needed sun so I am very glad to hear they like shade. Maybe that is why they do so well.

Hmmm, now I want to check out groundcovers that would do well in shade, lol.

Thanks you all!