Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure. In
the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything about
plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were weeds. I
want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't have a clue
which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the shade the tree
produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with thw watering and
chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all suggestions are welcome,

Thanks,

Mike

"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...
Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In
the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about
plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were weeds. I
want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't have a clue
which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the shade the tree
produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with thw watering
and
chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all suggestions are welcome,

I would make a trip to a local full-service nursery to see what is
available. They should know what will grow well in your area. Some general
recommendations would be English ivy, pachysandra, ajuga, vinca,
wintergreen, cinquefoil, groundcover roses, Euonymus fortunei - purple
winter creeper, liriope, and sedum. You might consider planting more than
one type of groundcover in a pattern. The pattern can be geometric and
formal, or informal drifts. Part of the design could be mulch. Don't
overlook the possibility of using closely planted drifts of perennials such
a hellebores or hostas.

English Ivy is considered invasive in the Washington DC area. The park
service recruits volunteers to remove it from parks. So, unless you can
contain it, don't plant it.
"Vox Humana" wrote in message
. ..

"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...
Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In
the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about
plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were weeds. I
want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't have a clue
which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the shade the tree
produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with thw watering
and
chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all suggestions are
welcome,

I would make a trip to a local full-service nursery to see what is
available. They should know what will grow well in your area. Some
general
recommendations would be English ivy, pachysandra, ajuga, vinca,
wintergreen, cinquefoil, groundcover roses, Euonymus fortunei - purple
winter creeper, liriope, and sedum. You might consider planting more than
one type of groundcover in a pattern. The pattern can be geometric and
formal, or informal drifts. Part of the design could be mulch. Don't
overlook the possibility of using closely planted drifts of perennials
such
a hellebores or hostas.

I've been pulling up the ivy.

Mike

"Carolyn LeCrone" wrote in message
...
English Ivy is considered invasive in the Washington DC area. The park
service recruits volunteers to remove it from parks. So, unless you can
contain it, don't plant it.
"Vox Humana" wrote in message
. ..

"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...
Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In
the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago,
the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about
plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were weeds.
I
want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't have a
clue
which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the shade the
tree
produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with thw watering
and
chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all suggestions are
welcome,

I would make a trip to a local full-service nursery to see what is
available. They should know what will grow well in your area. Some
general
recommendations would be English ivy, pachysandra, ajuga, vinca,
wintergreen, cinquefoil, groundcover roses, Euonymus fortunei - purple
winter creeper, liriope, and sedum. You might consider planting more
than
one type of groundcover in a pattern. The pattern can be geometric and
formal, or informal drifts. Part of the design could be mulch. Don't
overlook the possibility of using closely planted drifts of perennials
such
a hellebores or hostas.

When I moved in most of it was pachysandra. I have two good full service
nurseries near by.
Thanks for the useful advice.

Mike

"Vox Humana" wrote in message
. ..

"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...
Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In
the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about
plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were weeds. I
want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't have a clue
which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the shade the tree
produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with thw watering
and
chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all suggestions are
welcome,

I would make a trip to a local full-service nursery to see what is
available. They should know what will grow well in your area. Some
general
recommendations would be English ivy, pachysandra, ajuga, vinca,
wintergreen, cinquefoil, groundcover roses, Euonymus fortunei - purple
winter creeper, liriope, and sedum. You might consider planting more than
one type of groundcover in a pattern. The pattern can be geometric and
formal, or informal drifts. Part of the design could be mulch. Don't
overlook the possibility of using closely planted drifts of perennials
such
a hellebores or hostas.

Like what's-her-name said, I'd get some local advice, but lean toward
pachysandra. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of a handful of plants which
should be nominate for sainthood. Bulletproof, easy to grow. Expensive at
first, but oh well.

What is the care and feeding regimen pachysandra?

Mike

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Like what's-her-name said, I'd get some local advice, but lean toward
pachysandra. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of a handful of plants
which should be nominate for sainthood. Bulletproof, easy to grow.
Expensive at first, but oh well.

When you first plant them, you'll want to keep the ground moist for a couple
of weeks. But, once they're mature, they need pretty much nothing. Next
statement refers ONLY to my direct experience growing them in NY State,
zones 5 and 6: I've seen them perfectly happy in full sun, part sun, and
deep shade, regardless of moisture. At my last house, they thrived in winter
temps ranging from 30 down to zero, especially in a particular corner where
we had ice damming, which resulted in the plants being bombarded regularly
by 20 lb chunks of ice.

Very odd plants, but endlessly rich-green. The only thing I don't know is
how they deal with salt, since I never used any, and I've never had occasion
to notice any plantings near roads.

"Mike" wrote in message
news:6AjBe.17452$Ll6.15180@trnddc06...
What is the care and feeding regimen pachysandra?

Mike

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Like what's-her-name said, I'd get some local advice, but lean toward
pachysandra. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of a handful of plants
which should be nominate for sainthood. Bulletproof, easy to grow.
Expensive at first, but oh well.

Doug Kanter wrote:
When you first plant them, you'll want to keep the ground moist for a couple
of weeks. But, once they're mature, they need pretty much nothing...
I've seen them perfectly happy in full sun, part sun, and
deep shade, regardless of moisture. At my last house, they thrived in winter
temps ranging from 30 down to zero...


I think you just talked me into planting pachysandra, and I wasn't even
looking for a groundcover

--
Jennifer

"Jennifer" wrote in message
ups.com...


Doug Kanter wrote:
When you first plant them, you'll want to keep the ground moist for a
couple
of weeks. But, once they're mature, they need pretty much nothing...
I've seen them perfectly happy in full sun, part sun, and
deep shade, regardless of moisture. At my last house, they thrived in
winter
temps ranging from 30 down to zero...


I think you just talked me into planting pachysandra, and I wasn't even
looking for a groundcover

--
Jennifer


OK, but I lied just a little. They like a little compost now and then. And,
in theory, they're happiest in the same situations where rhododendrons
smile. So, if the soil is total crap, you might want to amend it a bit
before planting. That usually does NOT mean buying bags of so-called
"topsoil". Maybe add some peat moss if your soil is really dry and lifeless,
and add composted cow manure, or your own homemade compost, if you've got a
pile or bin started. None of this is absolutely necessary, but it helps.

"Flats" of pachysandra seem pretty expensive, but the plants spread very
nicely.

If you add peat moss, don't just take it out of the bag and spread it
around. It's often dry, and will actually suck moisture away from plants. If
you have a wheelbarrow, crumble the peat moss into it and sprinkle with
water. The next day, it should have soaked up the water and expanded. Less
dusty that way, too. If no wheelbarrow, lay the bag flat, slice open the
top, take some out to make a "bowl" that'll hold water, and pour in a gallon
or two. Work your way through the bag that way. The stuff's like a dry
sponge. Toss the sponge in water, and it'll float until it soaks up some
water.

The pachysandra seems to be getting overgrown by weeds, which I'm pulling
weeekly.
I haven't been water it.

Mike

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
When you first plant them, you'll want to keep the ground moist for a
couple of weeks. But, once they're mature, they need pretty much nothing.
Next statement refers ONLY to my direct experience growing them in NY
State, zones 5 and 6: I've seen them perfectly happy in full sun, part
sun, and deep shade, regardless of moisture. At my last house, they
thrived in winter temps ranging from 30 down to zero, especially in a
particular corner where we had ice damming, which resulted in the plants
being bombarded regularly by 20 lb chunks of ice.

Very odd plants, but endlessly rich-green. The only thing I don't know is
how they deal with salt, since I never used any, and I've never had
occasion to notice any plantings near roads.

"Mike" wrote in message
news:6AjBe.17452$Ll6.15180@trnddc06...
What is the care and feeding regimen pachysandra?

Mike

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
Like what's-her-name said, I'd get some local advice, but lean toward
pachysandra. As far as I'm concerned, it's one of a handful of plants
which should be nominate for sainthood. Bulletproof, easy to grow.
Expensive at first, but oh well.

A thanks you note to the responders of my post.

I pulled a lot of weeds, spread peat mulch and water daily. Well, the
pachysandra
is thriving. A buddy also advised me the cherry tree is using the bulk of
the mosture.
Any suggestions for another plant to use to breakup the pachysandra?

Mike



"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...
Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were
weeds. I want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't
have a clue which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the
shade the tree produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with
thw watering and chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all
suggestions are welcome,

Thanks,

Mike

I like sweet woodruff. An you can use it to make Mai Wein in the spring.


Mike wrote:
A thanks you note to the responders of my post.

I pulled a lot of weeds, spread peat mulch and water daily. Well, the
pachysandra
is thriving. A buddy also advised me the cherry tree is using the bulk of
the mosture.
Any suggestions for another plant to use to breakup the pachysandra?

Mike



"Mike" wrote in message
news:xdEAe.3214$Gk4.2078@trnddc01...

Hi, I live in the mid atlantic region about thirty miles north of
Washington, DC in a townhouse with a fenced front yard measuring about
sixteen feet across and and eighteen feet deep with southern exposure.
In the center of the yard is a cherry tree (doesn't bear fruit) with trunk
about 18" - 22" in diameter. When I moved in a couple of years ago, the
yard was mostly covered in ground cover plants. Not knowing anything
about plants I pulled some of the different plants thinking they were
weeds. I want to replant the yard with gound cover plants, but I don't
have a clue which ones to buy. I don't what to plant grass due to the
shade the tree produces and I believe grass lawns are wasteful, what with
thw watering and chemicals needed too maintain them. Any and all
suggestions are welcome,

Thanks,

Mike

In article ,
Stubby wrote:

I like sweet woodruff. An you can use it to make Mai Wein in the spring.


AKA May Wine

Large chilled wet glass bowl coated with Sugar
10 % white wine two bottles or more
3 cups of sugared strawberries from day before
1/2 cup Woodruff flowers floating about

Add friends

Bill

PS 1 plug of woodruff 30 years ago yielded 40 by 160 feet woodruff
patch. Makes easy gifts.

--
Garden Shade Zone 5 S Jersey USA in a Japanese Jungle Manner.39.6376 -75.0208
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