Re: Re[2]: info on Oenothera "siskyou"

Allright, maybe you all can help me. I'd like to grow something tough 
and drought tolerant in the sidewalk strip around my house.  I've 
been considering Oenethera and Gaura, but I'm concerned that when 
they go dormant in the winter their regrowth the following spring 
will be inhibited by the earlier regrowth of the grass that currently 
occupies the sidewalk strip.  Will the Oenethera and Gaura be able to 
push up through the grass that begins to grow in late 
winter/early spring?  How can I handle this?  I hate the idea of 
using Roundup on the sidewalk strip before planting the 
Oenethera/Gaura.  And I know that the grass is extremely tough and 
resilient.  Do any of you have any suggestions?  

By the way, I'm still struggling with this recurring grass problem in 
my yard.  I've been trying to transform my yard, which was a 
neglected lawn when I moved in, to a medit-type perennial bed and 
drought tolerant landscape.  The grass (crabgrass, siskyue, bermuda, 
and native species) just keeps coming back wherever it gets any 
sunlight every winter/spring when most of the perennials are either 
dormant or have been cut back.


Rachel Baker
Berkeley, CA





> I've grown this here in Oakland, California where it typically gets 18-24 inches
> tall 
> and spreads slowly but steadily to unknown dimensions.It is definitely not
> as invasive/vigorous (depending on your point of view) as the type species.
> Here it needs no summer water and in fact gets mildew with any overhead water
> but we have coolish summers (I say coolish because we are in the middle of a
> nasty heat wave but then for me that means anything above 70F...)Goes fully
> dormant in our winters and emerges late spring, blooms 'til cool weather again.
> Don't feed it 
> much Nitrogen if any, as this also will promote soft, mildew susceptible growth.
> The more sun the better, it wants life to be hot and dry.
> 
> Deborah Lindsay
> 
>
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