Need something under eaves - prevent soil erosion

Not sure if we're going to put up gutters or not along one side of the house so need to find another interim solution.

We have an area right under the eaves that gets a lot of rain water. I originally tried wild violets (great to hold the soil - not so great for spreading throughout the entire flower bed).

Can anyone recommend something that isn't invasive, can withstand getting the brunt of the rainwater from the roof, will prevent soil erosion and looks decent?

Also, preferably perennial in zone 5.

Sunny, shady, or part sun? If part sun, morning or afternoon?

Could you not, if you like the look, do landscape fabric with maybe fist sized rocks and plant what you want through them? Then to figure out what you want. LOL

Good idea Michele. We have this problem too off our front porch and we have gutters and even clean them out LOL. I have the plant areas mulched thinking that would do it. NOT...When it rains, the mulch makes a mess all over the porch. It's really yucky. I like the fabric & rocks idea though...

I know what a problem you have. My house has eaves all the way around. I could grow nothing in this section, so containers and broken rock were the only answer.

Dea - shady early in the day, afternoon sun.

Badseed - the rocks is an idea. We did have the landscape fabric down on part of it with flat slate pieces along the edge - which worked ok, just didn't look great. The violets looked good, but they started to take over the bed in the spring.

So, has to be something that doesn't mind getting poured on sometimes if there is a heavy rain.

sbarr, I'm still searching for that elusive plant, myself.

Part shade, can take pouring water (even standing water, sometimes), is not invasive, and looks good.

I have the same problem, and the only thing that has worked for me so far is a gardenia bush in an area that gets enough morning sun. That doesn't help you, I realize, in your zone. I have Aloe Vera planted in that situation on the south side, but it doesn't look good. In fact, I'm about to take them out.

Landscape fabric and rocks work to reduce erosion. I'm also reduced to containers but not happy with it. Even the containers don't do that well, since it's hard to place them where they won't get poured on in different situations.

Cheri'

I have a similar place in my yard -- we have aluminum awnings that hang out more than a foot beyond the eaves that funnel the rain onto parts of the garden. I put stepping-stones under those, and made the area part of the path through the border. That way I don't lose the valuable water, but it doesn't push away the soil either.

I have the normal perennials and shrubs planted all around the stones to keep the soil and mulch in place. Works like a charm :)

If you don't want to use splash guards or install gutters, a perennial idea may be Johnny-jump-up, Viola tricolor. They do re-seed, but are far from what I would consider invasive. They tolerate drought, but also withstand periodic flooding. Daylilies are also an idea. I have yet to find a garden situation that doesn't suit them.

What about Siberian Iris for the spring bloom and multi colored Lobelia for the rest of the season?

Hollyhocks - the good old fashioned perennial type. We had them under un-troughed areas for a long time and they thrived and ketp everything where it should be. Now, we've put up troughs and a couple of the biggest have died from lack of sufficient moisture, if you can believe that this year (lotsa rain!). they take a good amount of space, and sometimes grow to 15 feet, but they are very sturdy, hardy and the butterflies, bumblebees and hummingbirds love them.

forgot to say, I just happen to have a few seeds. lol!

This message was edited Monday, Sep 1st 6:25 PM

Kathleen - Now that's an idea - it would be against a white house and windows. Are there any hollyhock types that flower first year?

hollyhocks can take standing water???
You see why I love this place? =)

Thanx!
Cheri'

Cheri, they can take it for short periods of time, but they do like a LOT of water. They have huge roots and mine get to 15feet tall when they are happy.

If you put them against the house, do what I didn't get done this year, put up some kind of fence - just a couple of posts and a good string or a wire, across them at about 3 feet to keep them from leaning into the yard. that way, whoever mows the lawn won't be saying nasty things about them. There is a variety that blooms first year, but they aren't reliably perennial and I can't remeber the name.

I believe if you start some right away they may overwinter and bloom next summer. Maybe someone in a bit warmer of a climate could start you some and send them in the spring. Seedlings really take up very little space. :) I think for my zone they need to be planted out by October?

I must put in a word of caution about holly hocks here. They are very prone to holly hock rust if not mulched properly, straw is one of the better mulches to use. Also, once they have bloomed, their foilage can be unsightly. Staking is almost a must for the tall varieties, if not protected from the wind.
Regardless of the above nuisances, I grow them ever year. The 'Chaters Double' varieties are gorgeous and I have had success with sowing seeds of this variety in October and having beautiful blooms the following summer.
http://plantsdatabase.com/go/40851/

TC...

I'm a patient gardener. =)
I've always admired Hollyhocks, but didn't think I could grow them here. We get LOTS of rain, lots of humidity, even in normal years.

Does humidity contribute to the rust problem? If so, It might be a lost cause after all. I generally mulch with oak leaves, which I have in abundance. I wonder if that would work?

Cheri'

Badseed - good idea. I'll start mine this fall indoors. I have a huge basement and can start a jungle down there. I'll also make sure to stake them.

tc - could a northern lass mooch some seeds off you? :)

sbarr; you have mail!

the hollyhocks are gorgeous!. i have grown the peach and scarlet charter double's. both are also gorgeous.
can another northern lass "mooch" some seeds off you? :) debi z

Boy, the lasses come out of the garden at the mention of hollyhocks! LOL I'll have single pink and single black if anyone wants some. Let me know or else I don't collect them.

debi_z; you have mail!

TC...

Methinks this gentleman knows how to treat us northern lasses. ;-)

I'm going to start mine indoors this Fall.

Do anyone of you walk around your yard, thinking of the wonderful people who have traded this, that, etc. Hopefully, over time, as we continue to trade, our gardens will become so intermingled with friend-swaps that they outnumber what we've bought.

Badseed, I'd like to try some. I love the singles. =)

sbarr, I haven't done much trading, but the few things I do have from other DG members always make me smile. =) Even Co-op stuff rates up there, because I know someone went to a lot of trouble so that I could have those babies.

Cheri'

sbarr; what a warm and happy thought about intermingled plants from friends outnumbering our own!

I'm happy to be able to send y'all some seeds! I collected a pan full today! ;~)

TC...