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i have a question for you experiences gardeners . what kind of creeping ground cover can i plant to hide my masonry scrap over the hillside operation ? its legal fill but in the winter when the trees are barren it looks like a trash dump from the distance of the road . thanks in advance ..
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Is this stuff just landfill, do you ever have plans to re use some of it??
Spreading junipers are tough as nails and evergreen, there are some that hug the ground and others that are taller. Usually pretty cheap too.
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Do you want something to cover it or to shield it? There would be different choices.
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Thanks to Garden Artist and the people on this thread, I know what a wattle fence is now! If I ever need one.
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i want the stuff covered , no plans to salvage any of it . ill check out the spreading juniper . i like the sound of " cheap " .
thanks
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Cap, ivy works too. Good luck with this!!
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Sharyn, good suggestion! I especially like the creeping fig, small, clinging to each surface, it hides less undergrowth to hide large rats.
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i probably shouldnt have asked because dirt cheap was going to win out anyway . i bought 15 ea 10 - 15 " tall plants from ebay for 8 bucks shipping included . VINCA MINOR, PERIWINKLE EVERGREEN GROUND COVER .
supposed to be green year round and tolerant of shady conditions .
gotta admit , thats pretty dirt cheap ..
i might even try some on a hillside that i have no intention of ever mowing ..
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If you want immediate coverage for summer and fall:

Plant morning glories. They'll bloom in 5 weeks from planting time, and reach 10 - 15 feet by fall.

Grape vines are also good spreads for summer, but they will grow wildly and prolifically. Polygonum aubertii is a beautiful fast growing vine but invasive in some states. It will also cover the pile by the end of summer.

You can get away with cheap, quick summer coverage by planting vining squash or watermelon.

For late fall and winter coverage:

You can plant evergreen bushes around the pile, picking up unsold evergreens at big box stores or garden centers. You can build a fence (including a cheap one from branches or scrap material) and interplant evergreens that are fairly quick growers.

But evergreens generally aren't fast growers, so you may still need something inbetween shrubs for the spring, summer and fall periods. That's when the fast growers like morning glories come in, and they'll lend beautiful color to the pile as well.

There are other vines such as clematis, corkscrew vine, Dutchman's pipe vine if you want to get fancy, or, and this might appeal to you more: hops. You can harvest the hops to make your own beer. And the hops vines are lovely and attractive.
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I think Cap should get out there in his spare time and turn that pile of rubble into a garden feature, something along the line of a scree garden. lol
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Given his stated enjoyment of alcoholic beverages, I think he should plant hops and make his own beer. Don't even need a copper kettle for that...at least I don't think so.

Actually, if he's got masonry and it's in any form like rocks or chunks, it would make great garden decorations.
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this whole hilltop is built with block scrap . you could barely fit a car beside the house when i bought the place , now you could turn a triaxle around up here . ive built two homes without any guff from the county planners . id like to keep it that way .
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Is there any way that you can turn some of the scrap into hardscape? There are some really creative ways to integrate masonry and what some people might consider junk. Even bowling balls are used in yard art decorations.
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this place is meant to be low maintenance . it wont have flower areas , just the two raised gardens which will eventually be adjusted into just one large one . i only have to mow once a year . raise weeds , drop em in place with a walk behind bush hog . the downed weeds hold moisture in the orchard . orchards like that ..
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Our temps here in my part of Cali are rather warm for this time of year, 85. I refer to my part of Cali as Norcal simply because the majority of people only know California as being North and South. I actually live in the Central part of Cali. LOL!!! Yes there is a central and it is not just Big Sur, Carmel and Monterey and other coastal areas. Believe it or not, Sacramento is Central not Northern.

I bring this up because I have been very concerned about news reports on California and the drought. Yes, the dams above the Sacramento area such as Shasta are very full from the snow melt and rain, however, in Central Cali, the dams are not even half full, not to be a debbie downer, the drought is far from over. New Melones Dam, at last report was only at 17% capacity, this dam is in Central Cali where much agriculture is produced.

My city has underground wells to provide water. We are also supplied with water from New Melones. City growth, farming and supplying water to habitats in the delta are all vital needs.

My point is California is still in a drought situation. Conservation of our water is a major concern for everyone in the state. Conserve water wisely.
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Sharyn, has your community made any efforts to encourage xeriscaping, or lawn removal and replacement with ground cover or xeriscape plants?

In Michigan, we can see the effects of the drought in the higher prices of CA produce.

It's to everyone's benefit to conserve water, and that includes the municipalities and golf courses that still water lawns (especially here in Michigan), and people who perform the weekly car washing ritual.

It's also unfortunate that the laws governing use of greywater aren't more accommodating.
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GA, not that I am aware of regarding xeriscaping. What I do see is a lot of water waste with businesses/shopping centers watering the landscaping and spraying their front end entrances to the stores. When my mom was in the hospital a couple weeks ago, they also sprayed off the main entrance to the hospital after using a leaf blower.
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We use rainwater catchment barrels for watering the garden ... 6 on the garage and one by the deck by the house ... though I think that's illegal in some parts of the US which is crazy. Food grade 55gal drums $10 apiece from a local cookie factory.
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Ashley, thanks for that information, especially on using food grade barrels as rain barrels. That's the primary reason I haven't set up a catchment system - because so much today is from China, and I certainly don't want water going on my garden if it's been sitting in a barrel made in China

I've seen the smaller white tubs at local food stores; they're generally used to store frosting. I might get some of those.

But there's still no guarantee that the barrels don't have BPA as many plastics do. That's another concern.


Sharyn, there's a lot of wasted water here too. Many Americans just don't understand (or perhaps won't try to understand) the fact that some natural resources are truly finite.

Leaf blowers are another use of finite resources; I do understand the use on commercial facilities, but leaf raking for homeowners is a good way to just be outside and get some fresh air. It might be monotonous but it can actually be calming and soothing.


This is a good topic - what do others use to conserve water and/or fuel? Has anyone created a rain garden to catch rainwater in a specific trough type area? I've seen some very attractive rain gardens.

And on that subject, one of the medical facilities attached to the local hospital has 2 sets of Japanese rain chimes flanking the entrance. I love going there in the rain! (If you want to see some beautiful rain chains, Google "Japanese rain chains" and check out the third hit).

I had inquired on a DIY forum some years ago about adding rain chains to my house but was set back in my plans when someone raised the issue that they're generally copper and copper is a target for thieves. Given that the thieves in Detroit and some suburbs strip copper plumbing from houses, I decided I'd have to find another alternative for the chains.
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I am going to check on the rain barrel idea for garden watering. Don't know if I need city approval.

GA, yes, it just seemed to using the leaf blower was all that was needed without watching everything down too.
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If I get a rain barrel, I think I'll put it by the back house downspouts, or the garage, and/or disguise it with elephant ears so the code enforcement Nazis don't see it and issue a citation.

I'd be interested in learning whether you have to have city approval or a permit. In my area, it wouldn't surprise me - it's another method of squeezing funds from the residents.
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Frustrated that my lawn by my garden she is always a soggy mess this time of year I got out my shovel and dug a trench to funnel away the excess. (OK I admit it, it is fun playing in the mud lol). Now I am eyeing the trench and thinking of expanding it creating a dry stream effect. I will have to go scavenger hunting for rock piles on my days away though, I'm like Captain, I'm not gonna pay for something I can find for free.
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Cwillie, we had to put in 2 french draines in our backyard, because closest to the house would get pretty soggy, in the winter and spring. It was a lot of work for my husband, but they work really well, and he did bring in a load of pea gravel, then a load of red decorative rock to add to the tops. No more soggy lawn! One buts up against our large patio, and red rock also surrounds one end, tying things up along side of the house. He also replaced a wooden (rotting) retaining wall with masonry blocks 2 feet high, about 60 feet long, and it all ties in with our red stained fences surrounding the yard. We've got loads of things budding and blooming, the lilac wall against the back fence is now dying back, but it still smells gorgeous!
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Hubby has nearly all of the gardens, and that is the entire edges of our fence line, and all up against the house, all weeded, next is planting annuals and all my pots, then bark everywhere. We've got huge clumps of Shasta Daisies all coming up, which we've devided and planted several times now, I just love those! Lots a junipers too. I love this time of year, when it all comes together neat! Must power wash the patios too! I know, I know save water and all, but we're in Seattle, so not much of a shortage here! Lol! Blue skies and Hot today, 80! Spring has sprung!
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A 60' block wall, just thinking about it gives me backache! It sounds lovely :)
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Yes, nearly broke his back on that one! He does have a bad back jow, and has to really pace himself! He Loves his yard though! A bit at a time! The house looks beautiful from the street, and he always gets compliments from Neighbors and passerby's, when he's out washing the cars! Keeps him out of trouble! And out of the bars Lol!
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When I think of the backaches, time, more backaches, bed rest and everything else that goes along with installing a French drain, I wonder if it might be easier just to put in some bog plants. I've always liked cattails.

Stacey, your husband sounds like a real winner! Bester keep him!
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Oh, grrr....Should have been "Better keep him!", not "Bester", although it's an interesting contraction of better and best.

Anyway, I'd hang onto him!

I'll bet your yard is really lovely.
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GA, our bakery has tubs the frosting comes in, I think they are around 3 gallon size maybe bigger. I brought home 2 containers that held 10 lb of salad from the deli. I am going to cover them with fabric and use to store craft items.
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Good morning, Sharyn! How are you going to eat that much potato salad?
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