Can I plant flowers for a garden so late in the season?

If so, what types are recommended? I live in NYC. So I guess my climate zone is 6-7. I have a small area in front of my house (12 feet by 2 feet) and would love some color.


Also, I'm a novice at gardening. What type of tools would i need and where should I start? ALso, I heard that I need to add new soil to the existing soil...is that true?





Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Can I plant flowers for a garden so late in the season?
There are still plenty of options available to you, but planting from seed probably isn't one of them. If you live in the city, you probably don't have a ready source of free compost, so you could buy a bag or two of compost or composted manure to add to your soil that will help your plants. Spread it out over your garden area and dig it in with a shovel and level with a rake.





Bedding plants that will work well for you are petunias, impatiens and begonias. These will be in flower when you buy them and will transplant well. Keep them watered, give them a shot of time release fertilizer and you will be rewarded with color from now until the fall. Keep the weeds down by spending 5-10 minutes a day keeping them pulled, or mulch them with grass clippings if you have them. Weeding is a relaxing task if you do it regularly and don't let them get to the point that the task is overwhelming.





Check out our website for more gardening ideas at-


http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.c...





Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
Reply:You should be able to go to a nursery and get bedding plants that are already in bloom; all you have to do is pop them into the ground, give them a bit of water, and you have an instant garden. I'd stick with whatever plants the nursery has in abundance; if they're popular, it's usually because they grow well there!





You can add new soil or soil amendments if you want to, but most likely all you really need to add is a bit of fertilizer. Nearby nurseries will know more about your soil and should be able to advise you about any particular conditions for your area.
Reply:Trowel and shovel are good tools to start with. There are lots of gadgets out there (waste of money) to choose from. It isn't too late to plant flowers. Perennials that are nice for your zone: dianthus, sweet william, crysanthemums, hosta, there are lots and lots.





NY soil is very rocky. You can add manure (bags available at most home improvement stores), peat moss, dead leaves, anything to increase the organic matter. Be bold, plant away.





happy gardening
Reply:time is running out, do it now
Reply:Yes, you can plant late bloomers, or those that will bloom in the fall. Not knowing the size of your garden, I can only recommend, a hand trowel, and a watering can. If it is a large plot, you'd obviously need more. As to soil testing, you can do it, but if you initially stay with plants native to your area, you should do well, then you can experiment later on, for next year.
Reply:yes you can it just need a little extra care and some good fertilzer

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