Your Most Difficult Hoya?
moonwolf_gw
14 years ago
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okie_deb
14 years agobeachplant
14 years agoRelated Discussions
most difficult area
Comments (22)newbiehavinfun, I have a silver maple, and although it gives great shade in summer you're right that it's very difficult to grow anything permanently under such trees. It sounds like your situation is that the roots of the trees have intertwined to such an extent that they strangle other plants. I only have one tree so it isn't quite so bad, but I've had best success with: - dry shade plants, such as hellebore - bigger container plants have a better root system to compete with the trees. Here's a hellebore at the foot of my maple. It's 5 yrs old and has done very well. These are the standard kind with greenish-white flowers. The fancier colored hybrids aren't as vigorous and I don't think they could compete. The other plant next to the hellebore is a jade plant, but I don't believe they're for zones lower than 8 or 9. The spiky foliage is bearded iris; the round-leaved trailers/groundcover are common nasturtium that disappear once the soil heats up in summer. I have three problem areas. They had plants I've tried that didn't work out for one reason or another, had to be yanked out and started over....several times now, LOL. Front yard walkway: We're on a double slope-front to back downwards, and also side to side. Great drainage but it makes the view of the house from the street quite lopsided. Trouble is, the plantings on one side grew quite a bit taller than the opposite side! I don't have a good picture of it from the street, but you can see from this front porch shot, how the right-hand side is just about twice the height of the left-hand side. When you view the house from the street, it makes the uphill side of the front look even taller compared to the lower-growing half. Moving down the hill, one portion of our side yard is exposed to our neighbor. Houses are very close here, averaging 10' apart. Their house has very few windows on our side - but of course, that was the only place my original plants didn't work out! These new tall shrubs/small trees will hopefully fill those spots in a few years: The far part of our backyard is actually quite private for a property smack in the middle of the city. It backs onto a schoolyard and is the lowest point of the lot. That means it is the furthest from my outdoor faucet and thus almost impossible to water. This area is also heavily shaded in summer by a 60' linden and 40' walnut. It's been a real struggle to find plants that will survive cold wet winters and bone-dry summers along with the shade conditions. I've gotten an oleander standard and Tecomaria capensis to survive, with a variegated euonymus and hardenbergia vine trying to get established this winter....See MoreEasiest herbs to grow....and most difficult
Comments (17)Many years ago I tried growing herbs in cute, little clay pots that had the herb names molded right onto the sides of the pots. I had terrible luck, so after a few tries I gave up. I decided that herbs were just too difficult to grow. Fast forward to this spring. I am growing (quite effortlessly) thyme, parsley, sage, dill, chives, tarragon, marjoram, rosemary and the star performer of all, basil. I am still growing them in pots, but I'm using large rectangular plastic containers that are fairly deep (I read somewhere that parsley really needs room to send down roots.) I also have them where they get morning sun and only filtered sun in the afternoon. The basil is blowing me away because as I mentioned I had such trouble growing it before. Nowadays I have more than I know what to do with because I found out quite by accident how easy it is to propogate from cuttings. I like to bring in several stems for handy use in the kitchen and I keep them in a vase so they'll stay fresh. One time I didn't use them for awhile. Imagine my surprise to find they'd grown roots while in the water. I transplanted the rooted cuttings expecting them to die, but they didn't -they flourished. Fascinating! The only herb I haven't done well with is Cilantro but I think I started it too late in spring and it definitely didn't like summer. I just sowed some seeds yesterday to see if I can do better in cooler weather....See MoreInconstant February, a most difficult month
Comments (20)Oh, sorry, the Tomato Race is merely my description for the general tomato tenor around these parts right about now. We like our tomatoes big, amusingly named and EARLY. Early earlybirds planted their seeds indoors in February. Earlybirds start them in March. Nurseries are already fully stocked with tomato plants, even though you can hear customers muttering, "It's too early for tomatoes" as they walk by the displays. It IS too early... if it weren't for Wall O'Waters and greenhouses and sunny kitchen windowsills. ;-) Hey, John, what varieties did you grow around here?!!! I'd be curious to compare your favorites to the current favorites. As for tomato hornworms, I could NEVER cut one in half! Oh, the horror. First of all, it'd probably make me throw up and faint (in that order) and secondly, don't you think they're kind of adorable with their tiny dog-like tails and big round eyes? Besides, there are some neato beneficial insects that parasitize hornworms, putting worm murder on their little consciences, not mine....See MoreThe Most Difficult Room Layout
Comments (3)Is that a rug in front of the sectional? I'd put the coffee table on the rug, and bring the 2 seat sofa into the grouping, and place it so that it's facing the windows behind the sectional. Is each square a foot on your diagram? If not, please post room dimensions. How low are those windows that you don't want to cover? Can you post pictures of the actual room? You might be able to have two comfy chairs in a separate seating arrangement where you have the 2 seat sofa now, with a small table for a lamp between them....See Morepuglvr1
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