[PonchoV8]

I saw a steepish slope way up in the country on someone's property that was covered with a very low juniper-looking ground covering used as a landscaping element and I want this approach for my place. This juniper stuff looked like it was preventing grass from growing (so you don't have to mow) and it was only about a foot high.

Right at the street of my property there is a steep bank that is a PITA to keep cut. It's about 100' long and too steep for a push mower, very tough for my 44" walk behind (dangerous due to tipping and traffic), and it sucks to string trim. There are weeds and mimosa that over take the area. It has to be a low cover so the neighbors can see to exit the street and I want to save maintenance every other week.

Anybody have knowledge of such a planting?

[The Boss]

Try Pachysandra - spreads like a weed, and looks good.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachysandra

[David Jones]

Juniper is slow growing and would take a while to cover like what you'd need. Usually you see it with a mulch and that is probably what is keeping the weeds out of the planting you saw. We have it in various locations around our Church and it does allow larger weeds and grasses to grow even when an area is fully covered. I can tell you from experience that if grass invades it, pulling that out turns into quite a project. I've also run across a few wasp nests in it and that's always fun.

[69goatboy]

Phlox: spreads like wildfire, low growing perennial, and is fairly dense to choke out weeds. Some will inevitably get through though.

Haven't seen you in the CH in a while Doug. What gives?

[PonchoV8]

Haven't seen you in the CH in a while Doug. What gives?

"I'm pacing myself Sergeant." Bill Murray--STRIPES.

Wasps--eek. I gotta do something.This bank kills me. Cost me $34 for a new drive belt one day. The phlox I've seen is creeping phlox that flowers purple?

Chris I'll check on the Pachysandra. Sounds like a porno movie.

[69goatboy]

Originally Posted by PonchoV8

The phlox I've seen is creeping phlox that flowers purple?

You can get phlox comes in a couple of colors, purple, white, light blue, pink, and I think red.

[Blackwood Goat]

Originally Posted by 69goatboy

You can get phlox comes in a couple of colors, purple, white, light blue, pink, and I think red.

69Goatboy

I have a similar problem as Doug's. I tried the Juniper and Pachysandra, no luck. Does the Phlox have color all year and is it a plant or seed? Thanks Rich

[69goatboy]

Originally Posted by Blackwood Goat

69Goatboy

I have a similar problem as Doug's. I tried the Juniper and Pachysandra, no luck. Does the Phlox have color all year and is it a plant or seed? Thanks Rich

I would imagine that you can get them in seed, but I've always seen them sold in quart sized containers in spring.

They bloom in spring, when they're done, you see a thick, green carpet. You can split and relocate them fairly easily too.

For more info than you can shake a stick at about phlox:
http://landscaping.about.com/od/grou...ping_phlox.htm

[David Jones]

To steep for some decorative rocks and a random spraying of Round-Up?

[PonchoV8]

Originally Posted by David Jones

To steep for some decorative rocks and a random spraying of Round-Up?

It's a rental property in a transitional area so I haven't considered rocks due to cost. I believe river type rock is about $50 a ton. Maybe there's something less expensive I'm not considering. I'm not really a fan of spraying large amounts of that stuff near a stream. There is a creek bordering two adjacent properties (not including my other property across the street which has about 800 feet of creek bordering it). i haven't had good success with anything with this mimosa.

[fyrffytr1]

I just googled ground cover and came up with a lot of sites. Here's a couple:
http://www.groundcover.com/
http://landscaping.about.com/od/grou...ape_Plants.htm

[racer_x]

Creeping myrtle will suit all your needs. It spreads fast. It has a shallow root structure, so it tends not to go under edging, spreading where you don't want it. It is very thick, preventing most weeds from growing amongst it. It is green all year long and sometimes flowers. Best of all - it is a no-maintenance plant.