Beautifying my backyard, and I need a little help!
September 22, 2013 9:14 PM Subscribe
I live in zone 9b (northern CA) and I'm looking for good ground-cover plants that are hearty, can withstand moist/rocky soil, and need lots of water. The challenge is that this area (about 8 square feet) is right next to the foundation of our house, and the gutter pours water into the area. Details below the fold.
I spent all day today ripping out the weeds and sifting rocks out of the small patch of land next to our house, then planted lettuce seedlings all over.
Good news: It looks great! I used all of the rocks I dug up to line the perimeter, and I am really proud of how much better it looks.
Bad news: My poor little seedlings will soon be flooded by water from the gutter that will pour water right into them. I didn't think about this before I started. So.....
I was thinking of transplanting the seedlings to containers, and planting bamboo in the ground because bamboo requires so much water. Bad idea, given that it's right next to the foundation of our house? Is bamboo too invasive? And will it completely die in the hot 9b summers? I thought it *might* work, because this area gets very little sun, and is a good 10* cooler in than the rest of the property, almost completely shaded. Even through our hot summers, this area is always surprisingly cooler.
TL;DR: I'm a total noob when it comes to gardening, and I'm really winging it here. Are there any ground-cover plants that are hearty, can withstand moist/rocky soil, and can tolerate bouts of flooding from my gutters that are pretty active from November through February?
I spent all day today ripping out the weeds and sifting rocks out of the small patch of land next to our house, then planted lettuce seedlings all over.
Good news: It looks great! I used all of the rocks I dug up to line the perimeter, and I am really proud of how much better it looks.
Bad news: My poor little seedlings will soon be flooded by water from the gutter that will pour water right into them. I didn't think about this before I started. So.....
I was thinking of transplanting the seedlings to containers, and planting bamboo in the ground because bamboo requires so much water. Bad idea, given that it's right next to the foundation of our house? Is bamboo too invasive? And will it completely die in the hot 9b summers? I thought it *might* work, because this area gets very little sun, and is a good 10* cooler in than the rest of the property, almost completely shaded. Even through our hot summers, this area is always surprisingly cooler.
TL;DR: I'm a total noob when it comes to gardening, and I'm really winging it here. Are there any ground-cover plants that are hearty, can withstand moist/rocky soil, and can tolerate bouts of flooding from my gutters that are pretty active from November through February?
Don't plant bamboo -- it will grow huge and spread like crazy and you'll regret it.
posted by mekily at 10:00 PM on September 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by mekily at 10:00 PM on September 22, 2013 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Dichondra is a pretty, moisture loving ground cover. No need to mow.
You can easily redirect water from your downspouts, hell, get some rain barrels! Now you have a water source that's eco friendly and you control how much water your lettuce gets!
For sure, do NOT plant Bamboo.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:05 AM on September 23, 2013
You can easily redirect water from your downspouts, hell, get some rain barrels! Now you have a water source that's eco friendly and you control how much water your lettuce gets!
For sure, do NOT plant Bamboo.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:05 AM on September 23, 2013
For the love of all things holy don't plant bamboo unless you want an entire bamboo yard, it's invasive as all get out. Either redirect the water flow with a drain pipe extender ($5-10 at Home Depot/Lowes) or plant a bush or something.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 6:05 AM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 6:05 AM on September 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
In Ontario, Canada the building code now requires that drainpipes empty out several feet away from the foundation because the old spec that allowed drainage near the foundation led to all kinds of problem from flooding to erosion and subsidence.
You probably want to address this even in CA. I'd suggest not planting anything and putting down a weed barrier and paving stones, a rain barrel and then using pots. They give you more flexibility and control, you can have varied heights and you don't have to worry about them drowning. You can even grow bamboo in pots (just make sure it doesn't spread via runners or cracked pots). The advantage of rainwater for plant care is that isn't chlorinated so you soil doesn't get denuded of all the beneficial critters. Plus it is free other than the initial investment in a barrel (and pump if you want to use a hose)
posted by srboisvert at 6:58 AM on September 23, 2013
You probably want to address this even in CA. I'd suggest not planting anything and putting down a weed barrier and paving stones, a rain barrel and then using pots. They give you more flexibility and control, you can have varied heights and you don't have to worry about them drowning. You can even grow bamboo in pots (just make sure it doesn't spread via runners or cracked pots). The advantage of rainwater for plant care is that isn't chlorinated so you soil doesn't get denuded of all the beneficial critters. Plus it is free other than the initial investment in a barrel (and pump if you want to use a hose)
posted by srboisvert at 6:58 AM on September 23, 2013
Best answer: Please extend your downspouts and get the water away from your foundation. Even in sandy soil, water next to the house can easily lead to moisture in the house (mustiness, mold) as well as structural damage.
Wherever you route the rainwater (and you can actually route it underground) you can make a rain garden, with plants that do well in both moist and dryer conditions. Google rain garden, and probably your zone, for great plant reccomendations.
posted by Anwan at 3:17 PM on September 23, 2013
Wherever you route the rainwater (and you can actually route it underground) you can make a rain garden, with plants that do well in both moist and dryer conditions. Google rain garden, and probably your zone, for great plant reccomendations.
posted by Anwan at 3:17 PM on September 23, 2013
I agree with Anwan; if you're worried about bamboo next to your foundation, you should also be worried that the downspout is dumping water right there. Otherwise, many bamboo are tropical or semi-tropical. They don't care about heat. I wouldn't plant them by a foundation though, because even the clumping bamboo can make a dense root mass that can stress older concrete.
Do you want a groundcover because you want something low? Labrador Violets are pretty tough and won't care about too much water as long as it doesn't puddle there. They reseed though, and can be invasive if they are happy. They best way to figure out what to plant is to go to your local independent nursery. They can advise you on plants based on your needs, the orientation of the site (how much sun does it get?), your local soil, and experience with things that should do well in your area. And if you are trying to decide between low groundcovers and things as tall as bamboo, they can give you lots of information on everything in between as well.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:51 PM on September 23, 2013
Do you want a groundcover because you want something low? Labrador Violets are pretty tough and won't care about too much water as long as it doesn't puddle there. They reseed though, and can be invasive if they are happy. They best way to figure out what to plant is to go to your local independent nursery. They can advise you on plants based on your needs, the orientation of the site (how much sun does it get?), your local soil, and experience with things that should do well in your area. And if you are trying to decide between low groundcovers and things as tall as bamboo, they can give you lots of information on everything in between as well.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:51 PM on September 23, 2013
Check out the Sunset Western Garden Book. They use a different zoning system than the USDA and it is more accurate for the area you live in. Plus the book has sections that detail plants that thrive in challenging conditions.
posted by echolalia67 at 10:53 AM on September 29, 2013
posted by echolalia67 at 10:53 AM on September 29, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by JujuB at 9:55 PM on September 22, 2013