Drainage ditch
Ontario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years ago
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Yardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
What should I do with this drainage ditch? (pics)
Comments (23)If I lived there I'd want to extend the screening that the fence provides and see less of the roof of the house next door. Given that money is no object here in hypothetical-land my first proposal would be to install contained running bamboo in the narrow strip. It would require installation of a plastic root barrier. Limbed up to the top of the fence, the bamboo could appear fairly "open". Limbed up higher, it would seem more open and at least filter the view of the neighbor's roof. The canes would arch over the concrete and put it in shade. A litter-eating groundcover below would be nice. If a similar effect was desired but with less involvement than installation of a root barrier, canes of crape myrtle as a solid run (or in several large groupings for a different effect) might be something to consider... or Vitex... or? A seating area of a meaningful size would make more sense closer to the house and trying to put something like it over the drainage ditch seems like it would cause legal or maintenance problems. But a modest play structure of some sort--like a swinging bridge-- might work and not cause trouble. When the day comes that the fence needs re-painting, I'd consider taupes or greys instead. I don't think the dark brown has broad appeal. Limbing up some of the regular trees would help combat some of the heavy shade conditions. Uploaded with ImageShack.us...See Moredrainage ditch vs burying pots for the winter - results
Comments (2)Only the ones that don't make it into the ground - very little effort goes into those. Of course, I no longer waste money and time on more than a few hybrid teas.......See MoreWill blaze rose vines impede flow in drainage ditch?
Comments (1)The only concern would be to the roses, should the ditch fill with water for any length of time. btw, roses are not vines. Climbing roses have adapted to growing upwards by producing long arching canes, the thorns of which help to grab and hold on to whatever surfaces they encounter. But no winding of stems or tendrils or no production of holdfasts that are characteristic of a true vine....See MorePlant for drainage ditch
Comments (11)ditto to babs and laceyvail. Astilbes love it moist - don't think they would like the standing water, but perhaps along the edge of the ditch... I updated an existing garden that is under water for parts of the year; it is at the base of a hill on one side, with a creek that runs along it on the other side. Often it has standing water for weeks on end, of at least 6 inches (I lost a shoe in there once, lol - foot came right out of it when I went to move!). I ended up planting a lot of shrubs, as this is a large area and we were looking for big things. I also wasn't planting right in the water flow, as it sounds like you may be doing, so that will affect what you plant compared to what I planted, but still, maybe this will be of some help. I'll list below (from hopefully-good memory) what we planted. - willow hakuro nishiki - probably way too big for you - I planted two of them, just to give you an idea of the large area I was dealing with. These are spectacular, though, IMO, if you wanted to consider one of them as a specimen... - astilbes - japanese and louisiana iris - clethra - itea - cephalanthus (lovely and underused, IMO, and some new dwarf (4-ft) varieties out there now, I see - redtwig dogwood - viburnum (probably too big for you) - deciduous hollies (again probably too big for you) - marsh marigold - bog rosemary - lobelia siphilitica and cardinalis - the siphilitica is truly beautiful, but I would not plant this again - very vigorous spreader and I just don't have time to maintain/control. The cardinalis is spectacular (and I don't even care for red blooms!) and I highly recommend this one. - ligularia - filipendula (can't remember which kind off the top of my head) - cimicifuga - swamp azalea - marsh hibiscus Already in this garden and doing surprisingly well were bleeding hearts, hosta, hydrangea, peonies, columbines and some kind of small bulb which I'm drawing a total blank on at the moment - like a scilla or something... ugh, sorry, can't think of it. And of course there are ferns, which were probably there before any garden was even thought of! There is also an elderberry which pre-existed the garden - this is along a wooded area so some things were growing there already, such as the elderberry, ferns, a clethra, etc. (plus virginia creeper, jewelweed, pokeberry, sigh....) I think that is most of it. Good luck to you!...See MoreYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoemmarene9
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoemmarene9
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoemmarene9
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agofeijoas
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoYardvaark
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoOntario_Canada5a_USDA4b
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agowoodyoak zone 5 southern Ont., Canada
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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