Zone 10b: Dog Friendly Ground Covering
Sheri
9 years ago
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Wintering plants in zone 10b, Los Angeles
Comments (7)Robin, David does cite an exception to your list - the Deut will be happy almost anywhere in your yard and would enjoy the winter rains. Just as some additional information, one thing I've noticed is that there are several, if not hundreds, of exceptions, but in general most pachycauls go dormant. Under the above-mentioned structure, of all my Adeniums the Adenium arabicum never lost its leaves (so I watered it in winter) and, oddly enough, the from-the-winter-rainfall-area Pachypodium namaquanum lost its leaves for the briefest amount of time of all my Pachys (I had around 11), so if it was in leaf I kept watering it, although in San Diego they were protected from the rains most of the time in the winter. Up here, my Fockea edulis, Raphionacme flanaganii and Jacaratia corumbensis do not go out of leaf in winter, so they get some water, though not as much as in summer, when they're outside and in full (shaded) sun. The rest of the usual suspects (Cyphostemmas and Burseras, with the odd Commiphora) go dormant wherever I've had them. But I'd agree with you - learn what you have and where it's from, and that will help a lot....See MoreDog Friendly Ground Cover or plants for small garden
Comments (2)My first knee jerk suggestion is Sunshine Mimosa, which I happen to love. Sunshine Mimosa - or Mimosa strigillosa, Touch-Me-Not or Sensitive Plant - absolutely loves the soil conditions you mentioned. It grows to about 2-3 inches tall and spreads and covers quite nicely. My only concern is the 'west side of the house' bit. Sunshine Mimosa, as it's name suggests, loves, loves, LOVES sunshine. It will survive in shady conditions, but it will be thin and want to run toward the sunlight. So depending on how soon that area gets direct sun, this might or might not be a good plant. The little powderpuff flowers do attract bees, but they are mostly solitary bees or bumblebees and will not bother anyone unless deliberately provoked. I have worked among my mimosa and amongst the bees without ever being more than incidentally buzzed when one leaves or arrives. These pollen getters are not going to risk their lives just to claim rights to a flower, they will move on to another. Below are two areas in which I have Sunshine Mimosa growing. The first is my front 'herb' garden. It is a little light on the herbs right now, but slowly filling in. The mat of green is the sunshine mimosa started from three 6" transplants last fall. This second picture is of the original Mimosa plants that I put in two years ago. It has spread quite a bit, but what you can't see is that as the Tropical bed filled in this past summer, that section became less covered by the mimosa fronds. The plant is still there and growing (and indeed now that things are thinning out the mimosa is filling back in), but it put all it's energy into spreading the mat out toward the sunnier sections....See MoreZone 10b: Dog Friendly Ground Cover
Comments (0)I am considering replacing our front lawn (in a gated, brick wall courtyard) with gravel and ground cover (likely a creeping perennial) and need some advice. The area is north facing, full shade, and the lawn is 440 sq. ft. with 2 trees (one lime, one unknown). Our 2 Golden Retrievers play out there on occasion and the puppy is quite active. :-o I love love love dymondia margaretae (silver carpet) and really want to plant it but it's apparently not good in full shade. :-( What can I plant instead that is low, tight, drought resistant, dog-friendly and a low-water user (going to take advantage of the LADWP lawn replacement rebate and can possibly get up to $1,600!). Thanks in advance for any advice!...See Morekid friendly ground cover or mulch?
Comments (4)Sand would make it into a little private beach however if there are any unconfined house cats around they would surely come and turn it into a littler box. Larger sized stone products would not be such an attraction to them but also no fun to sit or walk on, prone to being picked up and thrown by a small child. Otherwise outlets in my area sell what are called cedar play chips for such purposes. These are clean, aromatic and durable (in my climate). And not dusty - finely ground tree bark products I would expect to be full of slivers, stick to clothing and even be prone to being inhaled by a young kid playing in it. As in sitting on it, picking it up in their hands and so on. Also cats will get into bark mulches as well, if they are at all fine in texture and have become dry enough to suit them....See MoreNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
9 years agoSheri thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)Sheri
9 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
9 years agoSheri thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
9 years agoSheri thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay Area
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSheri thanked BarbJP 15-16/9B CA Bay AreaNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
9 years agoSheri thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)Sheri
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSheri
9 years agoSheri
9 years agoNil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
9 years agoSheri thanked Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)
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Nil13 usda:10a sunset:21 LA,CA (Mount Wash.)