Impossible Gardening: Hot, Dry, Clay Soil, Part Shade-Introduct
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- domesticgoddess
- Diana_Pederson
- domesticgoddess
- mablackbear
- jbuckly
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» domesticgoddess - hot, dry sandy, soil - no shade
my zone 8-9 front yard faces west and gets the worst of the summer sun, with very little shade. The yard is also on a slope. There is a huge oak tree in the middle of the yard, and I have recently planted a hedge of oleander around the side and front...the other sides are bordered by the house and the driveway. I completed a curving brick path from the road to the front door...the problem is coming up with a design for the rest of the yard that will unify the space but not require much work. I am unable to perform repetitive tasks like raking, mowing, digging, etc. and limit my lifting, bending, etc. my ideal would be to go outside, cut a few flowers for an indoor bouquet, and not deal with the yard at all till the next time I wanted flowers...Can you help me with a design that is do-able for a person with my physical limitations? I can hire a teenager for the heavy work, but otherwise must stick to both a limited budget and limited body....
-- posted by domesticgoddess
» Diana_Pederson - Tell me more about your climate.
Hi:Glad to help you out. May I suggest you have a small "cutting" garden near your front or back door. This is where you plant zinnias, marigolds, liatris, and other flowers you like for bouquests.
I would research the succulents that can take your heat levels (perhaps check our editor on desert gardening for additional ideas). Living in zone 5, I'm not completely familiar with these tough plants. However, there are many agaves and yuccas which would keep your yard green and need little care. You use a rock mulch around succulents. If you covered your beds with weedblock fabric before planting, you could then put the rocks over the weedblock fabric. Many sedums would be idea for you.
Also check with your local county extension office which will probably have a list of plants that are low-maintenance for your zone.
Hope this helps.
And congratulations on being the first entry in my book give away contest!
-- posted by Diana_Pederson
» domesticgoddess - Diana (crab mama!
Diana (crab mama!) - thanks for replying! I am in Charleston, SC and the climate is hot and muggy in the summer, with my shadeless front yard, and cool but rarely cold in the winter. I like the idea of a cutting garden in the back yard and will start one soon - the soil here is mostly dry and sandy, so i will need ideas for plants to put in for flower arrangements... the back yard gets morning sun and is shaded from the worst of the afternoon sun and heat. I have a couple of roses in the front yard that wilt in the summer but do well in the fall and spring, and could try them in back to see what happens.... my neighborhood is mostly green lawns that require tons of water and maintenance - i am not excited about that look and prefer a cottagey feel, but do have to maintain a degree of formality or the covenant people will get me! I have some lantana edging a bed in front and love the way it spills over the borders and blooms all summer, but it dies out in the winter and looks yucky now. i have heard lots about sedums and salvias lately - are these good low maintenance plants?-- posted by domesticgoddess
» mablackbear - shadey, dry clay on a slope-- help!
I have a 'garden' underneath a deck in the desert of southern california. The soil is dry clay that cracks at a slope of about 60 degrees. The only way to make a plant grow is to dig a hole and fill it with good soil, fortify it with a packed clay mound, and then the plants only just survive. So far the best strategy has been to plant a variety of species, and then move them if their relatives seem to be doing better at another location (some spots get more indirect morning vs. afternoon light). The large-leaved tropicals do o.k. in total shade, and the succulents grow well near the morning light, but nothing is really thriving. I would love a good groundcover for all the clay, but most require considerable moisture. The best thing I can think to do is add more soil and terrace, because with watering, the clay errodes and I'm not sure if my plants are getting enough moisture. It really is a challenging place to garden. Any suggestions??-- posted by mablackbear
» jbuckly - Re: shadey, dry clay on a slope-- help!
In response to message posted by mablackbear:I too live in the desert of Southern California and have a VERY hard clay yard. I have been researching this for a while. You can rototill, add in a 1" layer of compost, and then rototill in the compost. If you get a lot of leaves in the fall, add these to the top of the soil to improve it.
There are some plants that do well in clay. There is a nursery in California that specilizes in California native plants (laspilitas.com)--the plant profiles let you know if the plants can tolerate clay soil. Some sages are pretty hardy and don't need much water or care.
-- posted by jbuckly
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