Any suggestions? Any at all? I'm between coastal and deep east Texas, just inside the piney woods, so I get the drought/deluge cycle and PLENTY of heat for a long, long time. I don't like St. Augustine, though of course that's what I 'have' to have for my front lawn, but I'd like something prettier and more interesting for the back. I've put in a huge circular garden and three raised beds, and set aside the perimeter (from the privacy fence in about 5-6 feet) for shrubbery and veggies -- trying to eliminate as much mowing as possible. Essentially full sun, and a layer clay not too far under the surface. (And I do mean clay -- I could make tea sets if I had a kiln.)
Any thoughts at all? I'm afraid thyme and certainly chamomile would perish by mid-June from the heat. I'd as soon not have to mow but I honestly don't mind it. But the thought of SA makes me want to pave the whole thing!
planning groundcover for spring
Ice plant and creeping phlox have done well for me in full sun. Ice plant tolerates poor clay soil. How much foot traffic do you expect? Any bare foot traffic?
There are a few plants referred to as "ice plant". This is the one I'm referring
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1928/index.html
There was a similar discussion about a year ago, will try to find it.
I found the discussion I was thinking of:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/584213/
The thread also contains talk on shade tolerant ground covers.
Polygonum 'Pink Buttons' - 2-3" spreading groundcover, forms a mat of small rounded green-burgandy foliage with pink 'button' flowers spring to fall, part shade or full sun, dormant in winter, also reseeds.
:~)
Thanks! I'll look at all of this. I DO appreciate the input.
edited to say I'm ALWAYS out there barefoot!
This message was edited Oct 27, 2006 11:59 AM
Dichondra
Evergreen
grows no higher than 3 inches(you can mow, if you feel like making it more even, ...or not).
http://www.poliflor.it/ENGLISH/dicondra.html
Mesembrianthemum cooperi
http://www.poliflor.it/ENGLISH/mesemqualcosa.html
Hedera helix
http://www.poliflor.it/ENGLISH/helix.html
Waldesteinia ternata
http://www.poliflor.it/ENGLISH/waldesteinia.html
Vinca minor
http://www.poliflor.it/ENGLISH/vinca.html
Clover is another one, but can't find a good link for it.
I'll look at all those -- thanks! Clover grows wild all over here, but only in the cooler months. :(
I found that site while researching dichondra. I think it is a great site for alternatives, but never have researched them individually, to see if they would do well here.
I KNOW the dichondra will do well here. And, many lawns in Florida, and California have been done in dichondra for over four decades.
We purchased dichondra seed this past Spring and tried it between pavers. We loved it so much, that we are planning on replacing our entire front St. Augustine lawn with it, this coming Spring.
Requires less water, tolerates sun and shade, no mowing, evergreen!
No more watering the heck out of our lawn, and weekly two-hour mowing the lawn, & over-seeding the lawn with rye each winter(so we can keep mowing, lol...).
Dichondra needs no mowing, hardly any water, is much greener than a "regular" lawn, and is even green during the winter. Wish we'd done it years ago...
I first got the idea from Salvia_lover. She posted gorgeous pictures of hers, and she encouraged me to try it. I'm glad I did! Now I want to replace ALL my grass with it...
Here is where I first saw it:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/466119/
Hasn't the dicondra gotten into your flower beds and if so, do you like it there? I pull all up when I see it.
Ann
No, we have metal edging between the dichondra and the beds. One swift swoop of the weed-whacker, and they are kept in check...(just like grass).
Ü
-T