Re: Clematis problem

Cathy - 
a BIG rock would be cool underneath. I've even noticed it remains cool
under my edging rocks all summer.
I agree with you about the small landscape rocks.  The original owners of
my house used them over clear plastic in the foundation plantings at the
front of the house and around the 2 street trees.  Of course the plastic
degraded  and it didn't help when the second owner yanked thefoundation
plants - and didn't bother to replace them.  We couldn't do anything with
that area but sift.  Chris built a big screen to fit over a trash can and
he'd shovel and I'd shake.  What a bear!  Of course the street trees
(Silver Maples) have grown through their original confines, but the stones
are still there and you can occasionally see a bit of plastic - which won't
come out.
If you're not inclined toward rocks of any kind over your clem's roots,
other plants are always nice.  I have a nice big peony covering the roots
of my Clematis 'Huldine'.

Kitty



> [Original Message]
> From: cathy carpenter <cathyc@rnet.com>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 6/22/2003 7:37:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] Clematis problem
>
> Not saying that rocks do not have a place, but my problems with them: 
> they tend to heat up the area around the roots when the area where they 
> are used is in sun, and if they are placed on bare soil, they have a 
> tendency to work their way down into the soil, which makes working the 
> beds for compost/fertilizer/new plantings a real pain. (And I don't 
> even want to start discussions of rocks + landscaping cloth!
> Cathy
> On Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 12:55 AM, Marge Talt wrote:
>
> > Actually, Cathy, I think plants love rock mulch...most of them seem
> > to love rocks in any form.  Assorted organic detritus sifts down and
> > becomes humus and the rocks keep the soil moist and cool, as you
> > found.
> >
> > Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> > mtalt@hort.net
> > Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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> > ----------
> >> From: cathy carpenter <cathyc@rnet.com>
> >>
> >> A mulch should take care of the "shade" part. I don't like rock
> > mulch,
> >> but the soil underneath the rock was damp and cool...at least for
> > now.
> >> Cathy
> >> On Wednesday, June 18, 2003, at 07:17 AM, Pamela J. Evans wrote:
> >
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