I'm trying to cover these awful railroad ties.
There is already some moss growing on them so I bought some more to get things going. I bought golden scotch moss, irish moss & to add a little more I got a few creeping myrtle with the little purple flowers.
I have some really nice large lamb's ear (helen von stein) ground cover and I'm wondering if that would help cover this or is all this just too much? lol
*pics are awful, but we are doing a major makeover!
here's what I've gotten so far....
another angle
I'm doing a large hosta bed right behind these ties. I plan on clematis all along the fence behind the railroad ties. A small koi pond is going on the opposite side.
Hardy geraniums just might do the trick and they go well with hosta.
When I have grown moses i think I remember they are kinda picky about there soil. I really love them the green is so pretty.
toof - Hardy geraniums is a ground cover?
steph, I love the colors of the moss too - The yellowish with the green.
On the id card of the mosses, it doesn't mention anything special about the soil so we'll see. I only bought a few to try out.
ivy geraniums can make a good ground cover
hardy geraniums is the geranium roxanne hardy in your zone, I love that one
ooo, I like those. Maybe I'll see if I can find it around here.
So if I do the mosses too, that won't be too much?
I'm not trying to cover the entire thing, just make it look better. lol
I know if you mix moss in the blender with buttermilk, and spread it on rocks it will multiply fast. I wonder if it would do that with timber?
Here's a couple of geraniums that are excellent spreaders. I just planted some last year, and they have spread well. They also have scented leaves and very nice fall color.
Biokovo
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/GEBIS.html
Karmina
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/GEBKS.html
And Bevans Variety
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/GEBVS.html
buttermilk??? Really? I'd think that'd stink after a while. lol
BUT, if it works??? I wonder too if it works on timber? I'll check into that.
I also like those links too. I love all the floral ones.
I think the buttermilk dries pretty fast, so no smell. I've done it on rocks. You need to keep it moist for awhile after spreading.
surely if it sticks to rocks it's stick to timber. I'd think so anyway. Seems logical in a weird kind of way. lol
2- there is talk of a possible hardy geranium co-op in the co-op forum.
One I would love to get is the Geranium Espresso for its leaf color.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/_ccLib/image/plants/THUM-85.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dplants.main%26alphaKey%3DF-G%26whichName%3Dgenus%26showIntro%3D0&usg=__zRoxRCqQSuwXcslKEBv6ogcwZC8=&h=100&w=100&sz=5&hl=en&start=21&tbnid=EAkXgdhtDOjSDM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=82&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGeranium%2BEspresso%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enUS257US257%26sa%3DG
One I have in my garden that reseeds like crazy is Geranium sanguineum
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/199/
I also have Johnsons Blue. I like this one.
http://www.naturehills.com/product/geranium_johnsons_blue.aspx
I have Splish Splash I grew from seed. Very pretty varigated leaves, but reseeds in my garden. Gets leggy if not grown in full sun.
I'm trying to line this particular garden with coral bells, which also look great with hostas. Not sure how the hardy geraniums and Heuchera are going to join together.
I love your idea of the clematis on the fence, then the Hosta with a flowering ground cover over the wood.
I've tried growing Scottish Moss, but it keeps dying out. Hope yours does better.
toofew
This message was edited Feb 13, 2009 10:44 PM
This is going to look so great. I can't wait to see pictures when all of that cool stuff you bought starts growing.
2- You might have a hard time getting anything to grow directly on your RR timbers because they are usually treated so fungi etc. do not grow on them and contribute to decomposition( in their "natural habitat"-railbeds)
However, with age, a lot of the products used to treat them dissipate sufficiently that if you grow trailing type plants above them, they will cover, soften and disguise that excessively boxy look RR ties
can have. I have used creeping phlox, hardy geranium,vinca and other trailers pretty successfully.
The area looks pretty sunny- what type of sun exposure do you have there? That might affect your plant choices too- that exposed dark wood can really soak up and reflect a lot of heat on your plants- I am thinking of the hosta you mentioned and also your mosses tend to like a cooler, shadier type location.
I envy you the "fresh start" It is so much fun trying new plants and seeing a garden design evolve. Just remember the perennial gardener's motto-"First they sleep, then they creep, then they leap!"
It is usually 3-5 years before a new garden really comes together so don't be in a rush to fill all those spaces the first couple of years....unless you use colorful annuals....hhmmm!!!
The picture is what I am dreaming of as Northwest Ohio has yet another gloomy, overcast, snowy day!
mwhit, these timbers are a little over 30 years old, some rotted & hollow and they do already have quite a bit of moss as of maybe 3 years ago. I'll post some pics after I get some of this planted today. It's BEAUTIFUL here today!
I'm also going to bleach the brick on the house so we'll see how that goes. Figured I better do that long before I get plants next to the house.
❤ ❤ ❤Happy V'Day everyone! ❤ ❤ ❤
ok, this is DISGUSTING!!!
I was out cleaning a water barrel and lookie what was in there.
This thing is almost as big as my cat!
ewwwwwwwww!!!!!!
Make sure you amend the soil well. It looks like there's a slight slope too, maybe terrace it a bit, add some medium sized rocks here and there to help with erosion, don't want your new plants washed away with the rains!
This is my favorite geranium, I posted it on another thread already.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54925/
http://www.anniesannuals.com/plants/plant_display.asp?prodid=440&account=none
What is it? Squirrel?
yes. At first I thought it was a rat, then saw the fuzzy tail. Poor thing must have fell in the water and couldn't get out.
2- Since your RRties are so old they have probably leached out much of the antifungal treatment-especially if they already have some mossy growth.
Do you use them as steps from one level to another? If they have hollowed out places can you sift in some ammended soil to give your plants something to grow into? If they aren't used as steps they could add real character to your garden if planted with creeping, hanging type plants.(Realizing that the introduction of moisture and roots seeking that moisture may hasten their breakdown- that's just natures cycle though!)
RE: your water barrel discovery- last year while scooping accummulated leaves out of my small ornamental pond in spring I caught something really heavy in the scoopnet. I thought it was a rock from my edging but it was a drowned, partially hairless but totally revolting rabbit! I couldn't get a suitable gravesite prepared fast enough!! I know "stuff happens" but that kinda thing is just WRONG!!!
That experience does not fall under the Joy of Gardening heading!
I'll keep watching this thread to see your garden space evolve- post pictures as you go. MW
I've got pics! Been working hard.
Too cold to do anything today but maybe I can get some laundry done. Boo-Hoo-Hoo!
Here's the beginning. I moved a couple of autumn ferns and placed them under the tree. They look kinda nice with the ties. I planted all the mosses & the vinca stuff.
The house is right in front of this area.
Remember folks this house has been a DISASTER ☠ from the beginning and we're working on it so don't pass out over the next pic. lol
I diluted bleach and sprayed a ton! That didn't seem to work as fast as I wanted it to so I got a big scrub brush and viola!
I'm very pleased. Wonder how many calories I burned doing that?! lol
In case anyone is wondering how this got this way .... this is how high our leaves get every year. Because of rain and cold, a lot of times they just sit and sadly, this is the result.
It happens, with or without leaves, on the north side of many homes, trees, arbors, etc.
Scrubbing with bleach is the easiest solution we've found. Good job!
I have a small sedum (sorry no name) that is very hardy sun or shade and while it will not 'cling' to the wood it will definitely thicken up and cascade over. It would be a nice addition to whatever you decide to go with ..it is olive green with some purple.
If it is hard getting things to grow/stick.....maybe you can stucco and paint the wood or mosaic in stone or pottery.. or paint the wood and hang a few 'artsy' tiles or other artwork. If you can't cover it..celebrate it!
PS your brick looks great
mwhit - no they aren't used for steps. Most are rotten, hollow and a bit frail, but I agree - possibly good planting area. For some reason I can see these little purple flowers trailing all over. :D
This was dh's parents home and my MIL put these dreadful things in years ago because she didn't have a lot of other options. They are 30 + years old. I'm just making do with what I can for now and they most affordable option is to plant in & on them.
You may find that as they rot they become more interesting with nooks and crannies just waiting to be filled.
Oh, people, please rig up some kind of ladder device for your rain barrels. I have a lot of long skinny pieces of lattice left over from my fences, and I stand a piece of lattice up in each rain barrel so that anything that falls in can climb back out. I have so many cute creatures wandering around in my garden, and it would break my heart if one of them drowned in a barrel.
how about some hen and chicks....they multiply nicely and you can just grab a rosette and plunk it down and it will grow.
Good Idea ZuZu
Zuzu, honestly I never thought about that. I have scraps all over the place. Surely I can rig something up.
sarv48, you had the same idea as I did. I have quite a few seedlings going so I hope to use some hens n chicks.
I personally think the rr ties look totally cool just the way they are. They have that rustic look and texure.
That's what appeals to me as well.
I agree, and I think some hens and chicks would look great.
Dale, it's funny you mention that cause my neighbor really likes them too.
Maybe it's everything surrounding the ties that is just so *UGH* to me you know?
Like the whole area looks awful so it seems the ties are awful too.
I'll try these few things and if it doesn't work out, then no big deal. I can just move the plants and viola! Back to normal it is! lol
I think once the hosta & fern bed behind it get going, it will be much better. It's just right now everything is so *blah*
Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day !
