Snow Plow 1 / Gardener 0 - Starting over

14 years ago

Well - IÂve been trying to get ideaÂs from yaÂll for my front bed, which was planted with 3 dwarf Alberta spruces, and some knockout roses that were too tall, and were swallowing the poor spruces.

This past weekend, we had a 12-14 inch snow. Although I had rocks and an 18-inch wrought-iron fence around the bed Âthe snow plow murdalated it! The knockouts are crushed, and 2 of the 3 spruces are laying on their sides Â one busted, one split at the base.

So Â IÂm going to redo the entire bed. Some people have given my some great suggestions on low-growing (2 foot high) roses that sprawl. IÂm looking for red/ no fragrance/disease resistant/re-blooming, and will get hot purchasing the replacements as soon as the weather warms up. I also intend on replacing the spruces, as it was a really great look. Just not sure about what roses IÂll end up with.

IÂll redo the edging - but not sure of what I can use that will stand up to the vicious plow monster!

The bright orange snow sticks did NOT deter the snow plows! (big frown and boo-boo faceÂ) Meadow Lark

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Comments (7)

radagast
14 years ago
Oh, that's a bummer...

Best of luck redoing the bed, but I wish there was some way to keep the plows in the street.
karl_bapst_rosenut
14 years ago
Along the street in the fall, I place iron fence posts, that are four feet above the ground, with a piece of white PVC pipe over them. On the top I tie a piece of white cloth or colored ribbon so the plows can see the edge of my yard. They now stay a foot or so away from my yard and flower beds.
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athenainwi
14 years ago
You might want to move the whole bed back from the street a few feet. Snowplows are notorious for going beyond the road into people's yards. One community actually banned stone mailboxes because they hurt the plows when they ran into them.
meadow_lark
Original Author
14 years ago
We can't move the bed, as it's part of the mailbox area. Our HOA is the decision maker about the mailboxes... Some people just have mailboxes (2 of which were knocked down and crushed.) Most everyone's plantings were damaged - some even destroyed.

The mailbox will have to stay, whether I do a planting or not... It just looks SO NICE all planted and "pretty"...

I'm still trying to figure out what to do... I'm starting to think that a creeping groundcover might be a better choice for the area...

Any-who... thank you for your suggestions... Meadow Lark
jim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
14 years ago
Gee, sorry to hear about your hishap!
lagomorphmom
14 years ago
MeadowLark, I feel your pain about the plows. At our place I keep saying a mantra of "I don't understand what's so hard, it's not rocket science!!!"

Dunno about where you live, but county plows our street and if there is damage, there is a form to fill out and send in. If your HOA contracts, I would think that the contractor would be responsible.

This is the first year I've seen so many folks talking about damage on our local forum. However, the NEVER-ending complaint is about the berms. Soon as you get the driveway cleared, along comes the plow, they'll even put one up right in front of you as you finish the last one. God forbid you go to sleep, cuz they'll be along in the middle of the night to make a doozy. And if you don't do your driveway the first day, they'll think you're a part-timer and make a mountain on it.

And, of course, you're not supposed to shovel the berm back out onto the street as we've all been advised that we will be liable if there is an accident and that once the snow is deposited on our property, it is OUR SNOW!!! We'll that's just swell if you can get after it fresh with the blower, otherwise I guess they expect you to travel back and forth up the street, throwing 10# of snow 3-6' high on top of the existing berm OR snowshoe it somewhere else on your property. Grrrrrr!

Ahhhhh, I fell so much better ;-)
susz52
14 years ago
I think I would plant the area with petunias or geraniums and some tall perr. like coneflower or false goatsbeard. The snow will come again and the snowplough will win. The colours you play with could change at your whim every spring. I would include some mini roses at the back for my enjoyment from the house. Susan R

Snow Plow 1 / Gardener 0 - Starting over

Comments (7)

radagast

karl_bapst_rosenut

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Snow Plow 1 / Gardener 0 - Starting over

Comments (7)

radagast

karl_bapst_rosenut

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athenainwi

meadow_larkOriginal Author

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