Newbie Gardener

[CCRabbetts]

Hi there!
I am pretty new to gardening so I need some help.
I live in Ojai, Ca in zone 9b. I feel like Ojai's climate is not very conducive to a happy garden. Our summers are hot (exceeding 89 degrees) and dry and our winters are cold and colder (<45degrees). To top all that off our soil is clay!
I need help with:
-veggie and fruit gardens
-good privacy plants that grow quickly
-grass, is it a possibility for me?!
I generally need help, my yard is a huge plot of rock hard clay dirt right now and I want it beautiful by mid-summer.
Thanks!

 

[canesisters]

Wow, 'a huge plot of rock hard clay' is not going to be easy to make beautiful by summer. There are a lot of Ca. gardeners here who can help you with plant choices and water suggestions. I would say that your best bet for a quick start to veggi gardening, you might want to build some raised beds. Also - start composting! Become that 'weird' neighbor who is always asking everyone if you can have their lawn clippings, leaves. Find a sorce for manure. Do you have rabbits? Just asking because of your name, 'CCRabbetts', that's compost GOLD there. Compost will be key to turning that clay into good soil.
Best of luck! Keep us posted.
Debbie

 

[lesa]

Welcome! Welcome! It looks like you have that wonderful quality that all good gardeners seem to have....lack of patience! I agree with canesisters-composting and adding organic matter to that "soil" will be crucial to your success. Good luck! Happy Gardening!

 

[lesa]

Welcome! Welcome! It looks like you have that wonderful quality that all good gardeners seem to have....lack of patience! I agree with canesisters-composting and adding organic matter to that "soil" will be crucial to your success. Good luck! Happy Gardening!

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hi there, welcome to TEG! Sounds like you have your work cut out for you! I don't know anything about gardening in such a warm zone, but the weather you described sounds challenging. Spring and fall may be better bets for veggies for you, but let someone more local to you guide you on that. If you have an unlimited budget you could probably have topsoil and compost trucked in and be able to garden and grow a nice lawn easily...if not, patience and building up nice compost to amend your soil as everyone has mentioned will be key! Good luck!

 

[thistlebloom]

Welcome to the forum CCRabbetts!

 

[Carol Dee]

Welcome CCRabbetts If grass is hard to keep alive you might want to just use natives and rocks. Then build raised beds for the vegetables. Good Luck and have fun.

 

[baymule]

Welcome to TEG!!! You came to the right place! I am a self admitted bagged leaf scrounger. I make my DH turn the truck around and go back to get those LEAVES!! Compost! I put them in the chicken run and they compost the leaves for me. Do you have chickens?

 

[ninnymary]

Welcome CCRabbetts. You've been given some great advise on how to improve your garden soil. Soil is the key to growing things. Do you really need a lawn? Perhaps you could plant low drought tolerant plants instead?

Start small and plant what you enjoy. You'll be amazed at how much you can grow in a 4x8 bed. I have 3 4x4 beds and I pack a lot of plants there.

Mary

 

[Smart Red]

Welcome to TEG, CCRabbetts! I am happy to meet you and sure you will find this a great place for help, advice, friendship, and just plain fun.

My first garden was in clay. Without a lot of money and help -- or 48 hour days filled with constant gardening activities, I don't think your goal of a beautiful yard and gardens by mid-summer is possible.

It is possible to have a part of your world beautiful by then, so focus on one or two things at a time and start small so you aren't overwhelmed by the effort. Of course that does depend upon how much land you have to work with. When you get time, tell us more about your place.

Here in south-est, central-est Wisconsin, our summers get hotter and our winters are much colder, although our summers are generally well-suited for gardening. My complaint is watching you CA gardeners growing veggies through the winter. Sigh!

For the veggies, it was suggested you start with raised beds, perhaps just for your kitchen garden. I agree. Those you can fill with quality soil so the clay won't be a factor.

I wish you all the best. Keep us informed and (you'd best know now) we love lots of pictures.