Sansevieria growing VERY slowly.
13 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (43)
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
Related Discussions
Landscaping on a Shoestring Budget
Comments (14)We love dogs, too; but will be the first to admit that living with them can be a challenge. When we saw your request for help, we felt obligated to offer our insight from 20 years of trial and error with yards and dogs and shade. When we got our first Jack Russell puppy, Billy, we fenced in the entire back yard for him. We wanted him to have the maximum of space for play. Of course, he was so small that he walked right through the gaps between the pickets. Until he topped 12 pounds we would not let him out of our sight for fear a hawk would get him. Later we came to wish we had fenced in a smaller area for the dogs and left space for a garden outside the fence; but it is as it is. Our main recommendation is that you take time to observe the dogs’ behavior. Where do they run? Where do they “go”? Where do they play? If they are laying down a "beaten path", then you know exactly where to put your pavers and plan your beds. They are not likely to change their behavior, regardless of where you plant your grass. We have planted many things over the years in the back yard and almost none have survived. The few that are thriving are worthy of mention. 1. Silver-leafed Lamium . It is spreading and blooming in spite of the fact that the dogs trample it and use it as their potty area. This is a good thing as it is tall enough that there is no need for us to clean up in there. 2. Lirope. While most modern day landscapers are weary of this old-fashioned grass, it may be the perfect plant. It is an evergreen perennial grass with beautiful lavender blooms in summer that last about 8 weeks. It is a multipurpose shoe-string budget replacement for hard-scapeing. We used it as a rope border between the grass and our front flower bed. The elegant s-shaped line gives unity to our shallow but wide front yard year-round. In the back we made a circular bed around a favorite tree with variegated Lirope and filled the circle with Annabelle white hydrangeas. It is a lovely affect and would be more so if the dogs path did not go straight through it. Lirope is cheap. Each of your neighbors would be happy to share a few shovelfulls with you. One clump can be divided into dozens of sprigs to start a row. In 3 years you will have a lush dark green rope around each bed. It is low maintenance. Cut it down to the ground after a hard freeze. After it gets established, you can cut it back every January (or not) to keep it from getting too thick. It is always a joy to see the lime green leaves re-emerge about a month later. Best of all for you and for us is that it is dog-proof. Once it is established, it keeps dogs in their place, out of your flower bed, and it does not mind the occasional trample. One warning. There are two kinds of Lirope, one that spreads via rhizomes, and one that stays put in a row that gets thicker every year. Both kinds are available in variegated versions and both have their place in landscaping, but the spreading kind should not be allowed anywhere near a flower bed… ever. 3. Oak Leaf Hydrangea. These die back in the winter, but leave enough wood stalks above ground to keep the dogs far-enough away so that they can return in spring. They have beautiful leaves that turn red in the fall and delightful long-lasting white booms. 4. Japonica Kerria. After several years of false hope from plants labeled “partial sun,” we had to face up to the fact that our yard is shady. We had noticed a tall shrub in an even shadier area of a neighbor’s yard that seemed to be in bloom year round. The local nursery could not identify it, so we hired a horticulturist to tell us what it was. We could not find it in nurseries, so we asked the neighbor for a shovel full. He said, take all you want. He said that many years ago a landscaper advised him to put it in a low, wet area of his yard, where it has flourished like a weed ever since. It is similar to the Lady Banks Rose; it puts up long slender fronds that arch up and out and over its brothers in a wild unkempt manner, but it does not need a trellis. While the Lady Banks blooms profusely for only one month, the Kerria blooms less densely for the entire year. The blooms are exactly the color of an egg yolk and about the same size. Concept So, here’s a conceptual plan to consider: Assuming your dogs run along the fence as ours do, let the bed begin 3 or 4 feet in from the fence. You could put pine straw or bark back there if you want, or just leave it as is. Or better yet, start your own long, skinny yard-waste landfill. Allow them to trample away behind the bed. This will take a mental leap; but just allocate that part of real estate to them. Otherwise you will be frustrated and constantly at war with the ones that love you most. Don’t forget to leave space in the beds for the dogs to enter and exit their route. Define the “front” side of the bed (the side you will see from your patio) with a row of dark green Lirope, the stay-put kind. Plant it along a curved line for best aesthetics. It will reach a maximum height of one foot or less. Alternate Kierra and Oak Leaf Hydrangea plants 8-10 feet apart. Plant the Kierra, which will spread, toward the back and the hydrangeas a little forward. Lay down a soaker hose (never mind, I forget you are in Seattle). Infill the bed with sprigs of Lamium or some other hardy evergreen ground cover. Place Hostas in groups of three here and there. Chose Hostas that will be more than one foot in height so they can be seen over the Lirope. Circle the beds with a temporary fence, like a silt fence or chicken wire to keep the dogs out until the plants are established, at least one year, maybe two. All of these plants are easy to propagate on a shoestring if you want to take the time to do it yourself. Our Lamium-filled back yard began as one hanging basket. Otherwise, they are easily available on the Internet, if you can’t find a neighbor to give you sprigs for free. We recommend that you avoid grass all together. Mondo grass will not tolerate dogs. However, the creeping form of Lirope does make a nice infill, and it is grass. There is a white and green variegated Lirope that may work as a soft shaggy lawn. The more sun it gets, the whiter the blades. It is slow to get established, but once it does, it spreads via underground rhizomes. It is low growing so it will not need cutting unless it freezes. It would be pretty between terracotta pavers or under a garden bench. We don’t know how dog-tolerant it is. If your tight budget is matched with a strong back, then you can make your own pavers. There are lots of cool molds as well as dyes and stains available. Squares and rectangles are still in vogue. To cut down on the dirt “all over” your house, use baby gates to confine the canines to certain rooms. Place some kind of stone or paver path on their approach to your back door. There are door mats designed to remove dirt that you could place on the doorstep of the door and doggie door, maybe even inside and out. We keep a big stack of old machine washable cotton rugs that we put down on rainy days, especially when the grand-dogs come to visit. We advise that you avoid small bark chips or crushed granite, as they just leave a worse mess in the house than the mud. Please accept this with the gentle intent with which it was given. We are just passing on what we learned the hard way. Please be sure to post photos of the end result. Ray and Becky Thomson Roswell, Georgia zone 7A...See MoreVery early spring flowering native plant - Prairie Smoke
Comments (4)unwantedadvice, All plants have reproductive strategies. Those with colorful flowers depend on pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects and birds for fertilization and do not put pollen in the air. Plants with uncolorful (i.e., green) flowers such as many trees and grasses put out a large amount of pollen in the air in hopes it reaches the female parts of flowers. These are the species that are contributing to your allergies. So, don't listen to those commercials for allergy products that show people sneezing around colorful flowers. They just don't put pollen in the air. Have your niece follow my Houzz page, or better yet my Facebook page at Facebook.com/CreatingSustainableLandscapes....See MoreI can't be trusted with plants, please help!
Comments (39)I think you solved your problem, don't buy any house plants, because if you neglect them then you are not enjoying them. Plants in-doors and out, need a good parent. I only have one plant, a small one on the coffee table in my living room, we get along fine and I take the time to make sure it gets what it needs, water, light, good soil. If you don't have time, no problem........just buy something else interesting for you home. Its OK not to have in-door plants. A lot of people have mentioned MILT, but I don't like them........If you must have a plant, just buy some flowers at a local market that are in season, then when they fade away, wait a week or two and buy another bunch and enjoy. Just try and stick with Local in Season fresh cut flowers. Its August not much blooming, but a few tree's have lovely Autumn flowers, and of course, gourds and a pumpkin will soon be available.....Mix up your need for a plant with these ideas. Good luck....See MoreDonkey Tail Propagating
Comments (0)I obtained a small donkey tail in June/18. It was growing slowly but very healthy and put off one "side stem" (? don't know what it's called...). I took a risk because I wanted to attempt propagating from cutting. I just realized I cut from the parent plant rather than the new growth. The stem of the cutting was really soft ( put it directly in soil) so I pulled it out, cut the soft part and waited for it to callous over. But the lowest part of the stem kept getting soft. I now have cut it to as short as I think it will possibly be able to still root and be successful. I put it into soil (just today) and am thinking I should not water it...to prevent softening and *maybe* get the roots (that will hopefully grow..) to reach into the soil. I have started a few plants from leaves (started in June/18). They did eventually grow some babies (maybe Oct/Nov/18), very very slowly, but there has been NO change in many months now. SO...I just put them onto dry soil and again, I'm thinking that I won't water them. Thinking the occasional spritzing they were getting is preventing the roots from wanting/needing to grow. How fast/slow do the babies usually sprout from leaves and long to see them actually grow until it looks at least a little like a plant? The leaves without babies are anywhere from a few weeks until today. Here are some photos....See MoreRelated Professionals
Arlington Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Glendora Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Jennings Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Arden-Arcade Landscape Contractors · Bound Brook Landscape Contractors · Bowie Landscape Contractors · Edinburg Landscape Contractors · Fort Myers Landscape Contractors · Little Ferry Landscape Contractors · Los Banos Landscape Contractors · Matteson Landscape Contractors · North Highlands Landscape Contractors · Pine Hills Landscape Contractors · Barstow Interior Designers & Decorators · Vienna Handyman- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 13 years ago
- 7 years ago
Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDESWhat Kind of Roses Should You Grow?
Want to add the beauty of roses to your garden? Find out which ones, from old-fashioned to modern, are right for you
Full Story
BUDGET DECORATING13 Versatile Furniture Pieces That Grow With You
Build a collection of high-quality pieces that will work from that first solo rental to a long-term home
Full Story
FARM YOUR YARDHow to Grow Vegetables in Containers
Get glorious vegetables and fruits on your patio with a pro’s guidance — including his personal recipe for potting mix
Full Story
HERBSHow to Grow Herbs Indoors
Have a sunny window? Enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs year-round by growing them in the house
Full Story
HOUSEPLANTSSimple Pleasures: Grow a Cheery Indoor Garden
Let houseplants work their magic on your rooms and you. These ideas will get you growing
Full Story
HOUSEPLANTS10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors
Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall
Full Story
FLOWERSHerb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Fragrant Lavender
This do-it-all plant is ideal for almost any garden, and its uses are abundant around the home
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESGrow Your Own Privacy: How to Screen With Plants and Trees
Use living walls to lower your home and garden's exposure while boosting natural beauty in your landscape
Full Story
FARM YOUR YARD10 Easy Edibles to Grow in Containers
These herbs, vegetables and fruits are just as happy in a pot as they are in the ground
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESA Beginner’s Guide to Growing Succulents
Their easy-care reputation is well-deserved, but a little TLC will turn succulents into star plants
Full Story
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)