Garden Gab
Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I did -- I took advantage of the amazingly good weather and got my little garden patch planted! Well, mostly. I ran into one little glitch when I wore a HU-MON-GOUS blister on the palm of my right hand. Honestly, even with raising two boys, I have never seen a blister this big. What was really weird was that I didn't even feel it until I noticed a bit of a sting, and then I thought, "well, I better take a break before I get a (looked down) BLISTER!!!" This huge hunk of skin was already ripped back.
Gardening had never been dangerous before! The last 2 years I worked this little plot and hardly so much as broke a sweat. Anyway, I was stinging too much and worried about getting the raw skin dirty so I left some of the plants-- I still have the pepper plants to put in before the weather turns sour, and some ground cover to add to the front "landscaping." I use the term loosely -- I usually call it the alleged landscaping because it is so pitiful. I swear, builders! They put in the cheapest junk, don't they? Oh, I suppose some people like ornamental grass, but I hate it and I think it's just cheap and lazy and isn't even that attractive.
So now, every year, I have to go out and rip up something that has died, and spend MORE MONEY on a decent-looking plant that will actually GROW. And every year, I buy more ground cover to smother the weeds that take over the pathetic blank spots that the "landscaper" left. By next year, if I can keep the yard workers my husband hires from pulling it up because they don't know weeds from real plants, I'll have all the bare spots covered in a luxurious blanket of dainty, ground-hugging greenery!
I could use some help, though -- what should I plant in the latest bare spot? I'm thinking of a Japanese Maple, or a dwarf Crepe Myrtle, perhaps a Hydrangea...? It's a corner by the garage that gets some late afternoon sun and plenty of water (seems to drain well, too). What would you choose? Please leave a comment and let me know your advice! Thanks and talk soon -- Janet
Comments
Well, I believe you are in zone 8 which is more tropical than zone 6 where I live, but I've been thinking about possibilities for your bare spot.The Japanese Maple is a good choice. But there are others to consider:Dogwood, pink, white or even the Red Twig, which turn red in the winter.Pussy Willow, (I particularly like the Weeping Pussy Willow), Bamboo, (there are lots of varieties that are not aggressive). There's even a type that as it ages the stalks turn a glossy black. Very cool.Rose of Sharon.Harry Lauders Walking Stick (very unique).Butterfly Bush is fabulous. I planted one at my son's house four years ago, and it has gone crazy, five feet tall but you can trim it and shape it.A Wisteria Tree would look nice too.I'll do some research and see what else comes to mind that will work in zone 8.