Sacha wrote:
I don't know if these would be happy but if rhododendrons would be, why not
evergreen azaleas of different types? The scented ones are really gorgeous.

Yes, azaleas are not nearly as thick-trunked, are they, so the roots may
not be as much of a problem, if, in fact, rhododendron roots are. I'll
research azaleas too.

Eddy.

On 13 Jan, 13:04, Eddy
wrote:
Yes, azaleas are not nearly as thick-trunked, are they, so the roots may
not be as much of a problem, if, in fact, rhododendron roots are. *I'll
research azaleas too.

As I mentioned previously to you in the 'soakaway' thread, dwarf
variety of azaleas could be nice, like the purple splendour or the
gaisha (spelling) orange - but remember, your soil needs to be fairly
ericaeous, acid. Also choose your colours well, or it might end up
looking a bit 'bright' if they all flower at the same time! But that's
a matter of taste )

On 13/1/08 13:04, in article ,
"Eddy" wrote:

Sacha wrote:
I don't know if these would be happy but if rhododendrons would be, why not
evergreen azaleas of different types? The scented ones are really gorgeous.

Yes, azaleas are not nearly as thick-trunked, are they, so the roots may
not be as much of a problem, if, in fact, rhododendron roots are. I'll
research azaleas too.

Eddy.

The variety R. luteum is lovely for scent, though it's deciduous but mixed
in with others, I think it would be very rewarding. These people seem to
have a large range of all sorts of Rhododendrons and azaleas.
http://www.rhododendrons.co.uk/index.htm

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove weeds from address)
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

Eddy wrote:
Nick Maclaren wrote:
But it's pointless, anyway - grass is very sensitive to glyphosate,
and is killed by a single application. MUCH easier.

Thanks. I can see that being true. And Glyphosate doesn't lower the
quality of the soil for the plants that I'll then put in, presumably
after a certain waiting time? How long after?

There is no waiting time required, as glyphosate is inactivated when it hits
the soil. It may hang around under extreme circumstances for a few weeks,
but that doesn't matter as it is only effective when absorbed through the
leaves. It won't harm the soil, anyway.

More to the point is that it takes at least 2 - 3 weeks to kill off plants,
and there is no point at all in applying it now. It needs actively growing
plants to work. Wait until at least late April to make sure you aren't
wasting your money.

The only other comment I would make is that on deep-rooted grasses, in my
experience it sometimes takes another application to finish the job.

--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)

Jeff Layman wrote:

There is no waiting time required,

More to the point is that it takes at least 2 - 3 weeks to kill off plants

Wait until at least late April

Thanks, for all of the above, Jeff!

Eddy.

Thanks, Helene & Sacha.

Will bear these suggestions in mind.

Have been making great progress.

Seems the deepest extent of R. roots is 12" - after 20 years or so.

And best, in my case with soakaway concerns, to lay a large piece of
slate at the bottom of the hole to encourage upward growth of the
root-saucer.

See pic:
http://www.eskimo.com/~enumclaw/Tips...n%20Roots.html

Eddy.

In article ,
Eddy writes:
|
| And thanks for this too. I'm constantly amazed at how the human mind
| cannot conceive of all factors at the one time. (We really do need
| computers!) You're absolutely right. The splendid rhododendrons we
| had in West Wales were only about 9 feet high but they had trunks it
| would take you two hands to get around, say, 5 inches diameter. So,
| yes, it's difficult to believe a trunk that thick would not have roots
| that would resist descending further than a foot below the surface!
|
| Maybe I could try the bonsai option? Embed four or five 1 foot strong
| ceramic tubs in the soakaway, just so that the rims aren't showing, and
| plants rhodies in them. That way the area might just become
| successfully bushed while the roots would be contained?

A waste of time. I said "watch out" not "don't do it".

The term "azalea" refers to deciduous rhododendrons, most of which
are quite small, but I believe that there are also many low-growing
evergreen ones. Burncoose used to have a bed of 3' high azaleas next
to its conservatory, and that effectively suppressed grasses and
other weeds. That was in the 1960s, incidentally, so don't look for
it there now.

You need to get advice from an expert on the species that will not
grow beyond a few feet, and will not develop extensive root systems.
They exist, but I can't tell you what they are.

You DON'T want R. ponticum, R. maximum, R. arboreum etc. or their
hybrids. The first is the one that has naturalised itself.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.