Landscaping & Houseplants for dummies?

[bryanthompson]

With such a diverse PPOT population, blah blah blah.

Now that I'm all settled in the house, I want to rip out the old garden that the PO planted, clean up the bushes, and get nice plants/flowers/whatevers put in. Also, my house seems really plain. I haven't painted the walls yet, because I suck at colors. I think if I got some (a lot) of house plants, it would really make my house a little more home-ish.

There's good natural lighting throughout the house, and the front (living room) faces East. On the south side, there is a patio area with some flower bushes of some kind.

The only criteria I have for houseplants is that they can't be posionous to my Cockatiels. Anything prickly is out, so no cactus Just need some greenery.

I'll post some pics of the space if anyone wants to see specific things. I'm basically looking for what the best types of plants to start off with would be, what looks good with what, and all of that good stuff.

[bryanthompson]

heh... well... I actually typed TLC.com in my address bar before realizing that I wasn't nearly gay enough (at all) to check out the trading spaces website.

I really just want to get this all done before my girlfriend moves to town... she has some crazy ideas. We're talkin' a dark red painted bathroom if I don't get something that I like soon!

[bryanthompson]

hmm... now I'm getting somewhere...

http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_plant
http://www.cockatielcottage.net/houseplants.html

[RickM]

Poinsettas (sp) are not poisonous despite what most say....

Try to get a guarantee with any plants, bushes or tress you purchase. Some will die within the year.

[Joeaksa]

Evergreens, yews and so on do well in your neck of the woods. Plant stickery bushes around the windows for security...

Now is not the time to plant, too damm hot. Look at fall or next spring. You could do some bare root plantings in November or so but I would dig the hole now because it will be frozen later on.

Its not difficult work, drive around the neighbourhood and see what you like, then mix and match.

Joe A

[jim72911t]

Sounds easy to me: let your girlfriend do it.

Seriously, I've killed every plant I've ever owned, but with a GF around, it seems like I've got a house and yard full of plants, despite my best efforts to the contrary. As a bonus, I have more garage time now.

I eat better, too.

Jim

[WOODPIE]

Start cheap! Take a tater, cut it in half, and stick it in a shallow dish of water. In a week or two, you'll have either a nice green vine or the most gawd-awfullest smell ever.

[campbellcj]

The shortcut route is to hire a landscaper/gardener -- the good ones will very quickly assess what is "wrong" with the current situation and give you a proposal to improve it.

I am one of those guys who's thumb does not even resemble a shade of green and plants die spontaneously if I get too close. I leave it to the pros (although I do have some family members who fall under that category, and doesn't hurt either.)