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Jan 7, 2010, 6:04pm

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lilbearsmomma
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New apartment
« Thread Started on May 9, 2009, 8:42pm »
Well we don't move into the new apartment until the end of this month, but I'm looking for inexpensive ideas on ways to improve the outside. I'm groundlevel, so we get a patio. The person who was there before had stepping stones (decorated ones) but they're all cracked and falling apart. I'd like to replace them, they form a path from the sidewalk that leads to the front door, through the grass to the patio. There's about 14 or 16 dinner plate sized stones. I've found some plain ones for about 1.50 each, So I think I'll go with those. The next thing, is currently there's pea gravel around them, but I'd have to add more, should I keep the pea gravel or go mulch? Honey thinks mulch may look better, and I somewhat agree with him, but how expensive is mulch? I haven't priced it out yet. Also the lawn slopes down toward the patio, so I'd like to put some sort of barrier, like stones, or something functional yet decorative at the bottom, and perhaps plant flowers on the slope where it seems only moss grows. I think having roots may help stop water drainage onto the patio somewhat. What are some inexpensive flowers that come back every year besides tulips?

Basically the new apartment, all the tennants treat the apartments as if they were their homes. We are probably going to be there for sometime ourselves, and having been on the 3rd floor of an apartment that we had no space, and no exterior space either, I'm somewhat excited to decorate it. Anyone have any good ideas?
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #1 on May 9, 2009, 9:57pm »

May 9, 2009, 8:42pm, lilbearsmomma wrote:
Well we don't move into the new apartment until the end of this month, but I'm looking for inexpensive ideas on ways to improve the outside. I'm groundlevel, so we get a patio. The person who was there before had stepping stones (decorated ones) but they're all cracked and falling apart. I'd like to replace them, they form a path from the sidewalk that leads to the front door, through the grass to the patio. There's about 14 or 16 dinner plate sized stones. I've found some plain ones for about 1.50 each, So I think I'll go with those. The next thing, is currently there's pea gravel around them, but I'd have to add more, should I keep the pea gravel or go mulch? Honey thinks mulch may look better, and I somewhat agree with him, but how expensive is mulch? I haven't priced it out yet. Also the lawn slopes down toward the patio, so I'd like to put some sort of barrier, like stones, or something functional yet decorative at the bottom, and perhaps plant flowers on the slope where it seems only moss grows. I think having roots may help stop water drainage onto the patio somewhat. What are some inexpensive flowers that come back every year besides tulips?

Basically the new apartment, all the tennants treat the apartments as if they were their homes. We are probably going to be there for sometime ourselves, and having been on the 3rd floor of an apartment that we had no space, and no exterior space either, I'm somewhat excited to decorate it. Anyone have any good ideas?


Iris' are beautiful and come back each year, so do daffodils and easter lilly's and lilacs :)
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lilbearsmomma
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #2 on May 9, 2009, 10:32pm »
Wonderful ideas pixie! I'd forgotten about all of those! And I so love lilacs. :)
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #3 on May 10, 2009, 9:07pm »
Hyacinthe return yearly also. If it's shady try Tiger Lilies. Lilies of the Valley are good for trim. I wouldn't just put a barrier at the bottom of the slope. It might cause a backup. Perhaps a trench or what's called a step waterfall.

Oh, and don't just look at flowering plants, look for some contrasting leafy plants like grass-type or ferns.

Enjoy your outdoors and patio, g/f
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #4 on May 10, 2009, 9:20pm »
Thanks mprs! My mom and daughter just got me geraniums for mother's day. I think I'll put them in larger pots, and just put them on either side of the path, so I can take them in in the winter. Kaylee also got me a begonia from school so I'll probably do the same thing with that. I'm thinking at the moment, Tulips, daffodils, blue bells, Hasta's, and maybe a few others.

I like lilacs, but I'm concerned about how big they may get, and I am currently thinking (not sure at all) that if all goes as internally planned, just in my head, not any other type of plan, that we'll probably be there for about 5 or 6 years. Will a lilac grow enough in that time for me to enjoy it while I'm there? and will the roots ever get long enough to harm the apartment as far as sewers at all?

I'll check out the lily of the valley, and the tiger lilies, and check out what a step waterfall looks like. If I get a chance, I'll try and post pics soon of what I'm working with. We're not moved in yet tho. We have already met 2 different neighbors. :) they're nice.
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #5 on May 11, 2009, 1:59pm »
You know what is said about plans...it usually only works on paper, and (my favorite) the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. The second is Soooooooo true with my family. If any plans the family makes ever came out right...............I'd be in the wrong family!

Ok, about lilacs. Suggestion: Google it! Depending on the size of the bush purchased, I would assume, would tell if you would be able to enjoy the blossoms. As for the root system, I really can't say for sure. My daughter has a large bush about 2' from the sewage tank. Both have been there for over 15 yrs and neither one has bothered the other. There are so many different kinds and colors in lilacs. My daughter googled lilacs and found a lemon yellow lilac. They come in lavender, blue, white, pink, dark purple and more. There are single blossom and double blossom ones, also.
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #6 on May 11, 2009, 7:37pm »
There are dwarf lilacs. I think the hybrids bloom in a year or so. Hastas are really nice and you can get varigated ones. If there is only moss growing there you might have a problem with getting much else to grow. You will need lime to start with. You could try planting hastas and in between put set in pots of flowers like your begonia and geraniums and other nice flowers even if they are only good for this year. Iris will grow where its wet. If you want to cut expenses and are able to, go dig up some wild rose bushes and plant them. They are hardy and only need trimming to keep them under control.
Be careful of buying stepping stones as many of whats on the market these days don't last. Again, to cut expenses and will look nice if you can get them is old used bricks. You can arrange them in different patterns and can get a few different colors in them.
I'd stick with the pea gravel although it might be a bit more expensive. It allows better drainage where as mulch tends to hold water.
Whatever you do, DO NOT plant any willow trees. Their roots can go as far as 50 feet and crush pipes.
Do you want a nice pond? Tune in to tomorrows gardening on a shoe string for cheap pond ideas. lol
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #7 on May 12, 2009, 6:00am »
LOL Birdie!!!

Thanks for the info on the lilacs mprs. ...and I know about the whole plan thing! lol, it's usually the same in our family, but I still try to plan. :)

Thanks for all the great info Birdie. One of the other things I'd been thinking of was possibly just annual flowers that required a lot of moisture, but would be ok in shade. ...For that spot where there's currently only moss growing. I start late today, I'll take a pic on my phone, and email it to myself, and try and figure out how to post it on here. That way you guys can see what I've got to work with, and also the progress once it starts being made! :)
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Re: New apartment
« Reply #8 on Jun 4, 2009, 10:29am »
Hey, momma bear, how's your garden growing?
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