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

Rachel, the grass should have little or no effect on the
Gaura or Oenothera, they will surely out compete it.  In my parking
strip I've
had great success (almost too successful) with ornamental
oreganos 'Hopley's' and 'Herrenhausen' and also the rampant
but beautiful scabiosa ochraleuca (ligh cream yellow flowers)
others you might try are:Zauschneria 'Mattole select' and
Euphorbia dulcis 'Chameleon'-Also Ceanothus 'Louis Edmonds'-
go down to Berkeley Hort.- I'm positive that they will carry
all of these plants.
Paul
Portland
zn 8

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
[o*@ucdavis.edu]On Behalf Of Amy
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 1999 8:32 PM
To: Rachel@haasjr.org; medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
Subject: Re: Re[2]: info on Oenothera "siskyou"


Hi, Rachel. Have you tried sheet mulching? It works on a lot of the grasses,
although it won't on Bermuda. On another list they said you'd have to dig
out about 6 inches down in order to get the Bermuda out. I've sheet mulched
over St. Augustine grass and it worked great.
I mowed and weed-whacked the border-to-be down to the nubs. Put about an
inch layer of composted steer manure over all. Placed a layer of about 8
sheets of newspaper (no colors). wet it well, over all that and then put
down about 2-3 inches of mulch over that. I then cut an X into these layers
and placed my transplants there. Instant borders. I only have an occasional
rogue shoot of grass to pull out. If it gets light, it grows, perhaps where
I've placed a plant and didn't pull enough of the newspaper and mulch around
it.

Amy of Marvelous Gardens

-----Original Message-----
From: rachel <Rachel@haasjr.org>


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
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index