Question
I recently moved to San Francisco and into a place with a garden. I have never thought of myself as a gardener, but really want to start. I was wonder what plants you would suggest for a garden newbie like myself. I would prefer flowering plants so I can enjoy the fruits of my labor, as well as plants that are fairly hardy and easy to care for! Thanks!!!
Katie
San Francisco
Answer
Welcome to the neighborhood! First, San Francisco has very sandy soil so anything you plant will benefit from adding amendment to help the soil retain water. We recommend Forest Mulch Plus or Planting Mix. If you enjoy flowers, look to perennials such as Salvia greggii, Penstemon, Abutilon and Euphorbia. Larger plants like Echium, Marguerite Daisy and Rosemary will add stature to your planting. Annuals live only 1 season but pack a powerful punch of color and often reseed. Try Nasturtium, Alyssum, Lobelia and Nicotiana. There is a good article on gardening in the city in our July/August 2006 Notebook that you can view on our website. It might be fun to rototill or dig a small space in the garden and sow a Bay Area wildflower mix. I also encourage you to visit any of the city stores and ask our staff what their favorite picks are!
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