Ms. Cassidy is a registered horticultural therapist, a master gardener certified through Oregon State University, and a former counselor with a master’s degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. She currently oversees therapeutic gardening programs for seniors at Providence ElderPlace, a nonprofit health care agency in Portland. This feature is closed to new questions. Q. I have 2 1/2 acres with a large vegetable bed, large herb bed, the back 1/2-plus acre wild wetland and the rest in grass. What can I do/put in to slowly reduce the amount of grass, but not increase the amount of work? — Susan, Central New Jersey Q. How can I best get rid of all the grass in a small, sunny urban yard and put in a nonhardscape substitute so I don’t need to mow anymore? — NoVa A. Some of you have asked about reducing the amount of grass and replacing it with ground covers to lessen the gardening load. Maintaining a lawn does take a lot of energy. So while having less is a reasonable goal, it takes some careful thinking about what you choose to replace the lawn with. In the end, consider if mowing is easier than pulling weeds. To my knowledge there is no plant ground cover that is maintenance free and blocks out weed growth. That said, there are many ground covers you can find in garden books and online that may fit your needs and climate zones. Herbaceous ground cover plants like periwinkle and creeping phlox, and low-growing herbs like wooly thyme may fit your scheme. Larger woodier ground covers like junipers and heathers spread over wider areas and may also work for you. In place of grass, consider hardscape options. Laying gravel or decorative stones can give your garden a place for a water feature, a large container full of seasonal annuals or a stately Japanese maple. River rocks lined thoughtfully can give the illusion of water flowing. With proper weed barriers laid, these types of spaces require very little maintenance and are relatively fuel free. I refer you to this commercial Web site below not as a product endorsement but because it offers many choices and descriptions of plants that can withstand foot traffic. You can always buy the plants at your favorite and local plant supplier. Finally, removing lawn is not for the faint of heart; you’ll almost certainly need to hire someone. A sod cutter is the most efficient method if you have a large area. With smaller areas and some patience, try covering the grass with large sheets of corrugated cardboard topped with four inches to five inches of mulch. The cardboard allows moisture to pass through but prevents sunlight from reaching the grass and suffocates it. The lawn will be killed in about six weeks using this method. Q. As I get older and my garden space gets smaller, I plan on planting vegetables among the perennials and potted annuals. What are some attractive vegetable and herb plants that will look good and complement a front yard garden? — Jenny, Los Gatos, Calif. A. Mixing vegetables with flowers is a favorite activity of mine, particularly since there are so many great choices. I like the Swiss chard variety called “Rainbow” or “Bright Lights.” The foliage is lush and green and is accented by the brilliantly colored stems and veins of bright reds, oranges and yellows. Think about coordinating the colors or going for rich contrast. Yellow marigolds with yellow pear tomatoes offer a soothing monochromatic theme, or plant orange daylilies behind purple eggplant for a dramatic punch of color. Herbs are extremely versatile and I use them often to fill spaces among the perennials. Consider using tricolor sages or chartreuse oreganos. Lemon thymes are great additions and, planted near the edge of the bed, will give off their wonderful aroma on a hot day. Q. I would like some suggestions on gardening with dementia. I see several clients and would love to introduce them to container gardening. I would also like to know what shrubs have minimal upkeep for those who are aging. Like me. — Gail, Corvallis A. In response to Gail’s question about working with clients who have dementia, container gardening is a satisfying and easy way to get such clients engaged and to keep the garden accessible for them. Some basics to think about before you start: What do you want to grow? What is the sun/shade exposure? Who will care for the container? The size of the container is important. Growing lettuce requires a smaller and less deep container than one that will house a cherry tomato plant. For the latter you will need a container at least 24 inches across and 18 inches deep. Your container garden needs to be placed in the exposure most beneficial to its successful growth. Safety is a big concern, so situate the container where it will not fall or be knocked over and yet be accessible for viewing and caring. It’s disappointing to experience the demise of a container garden because of lack of care and maintenance. Perhaps the clients themselves are able to water and mist the plants. This is the ideal situation — to have the clients be the caretakers.
No comments:
Post a Comment