Cobbles query

 
Hi,


I'm a newcomer to this discussion board and a beginner gardener. I'd
appreciate some advice on a particular problem :)

We have inherited a very bare garden, and neighbourhood cats are using
it as a loo. We have planted ferns, lavender, rosemary, various other
plants but cannot hope to fill up the beds with plants in a short
period, so thinking of a mulch. I assume bark/wood chips would not deter
cats in their digging? Thinking of using large cobbles. Any advice
welcome! Also welcome advice on fast-growing evergreen plants which will
provide ground cover,


Thanks,

lavenderlover




--
lavenderlover

 

Cobbles work very well at deterring cats but are not great to walk on so I
would suggest a few strategically placed stepping stones.

Beware fast evergreen ground covers as they don't come with off switches!
two plants that will do a good job are Hedera helix (common Ivy) and vinca
minor (periwinkle)

Remember that a lot of web based plant pages are intended to inform but also
sell a plant so read the information as you would estate agents blurb and
better still have a note book with you when you visit other gardens and
parks and note down the names of stuff you like, if you cant see a name take
some pictures and post a link to them here, lots of us like a puzzle :~)


--
Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall
Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella
and Lapageria rosea cvs
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk  

 On 2011-07-18 12:35:55 +0100, "Charlie Pridham"


Some bits of prickly stuff like trimmings from roses and the like might
help to deter the cats.  As to fast growing ground cover, I do agree
with Charlie on this. Fast growing doesn't mean fast stopping.  But
Lonicera piliata is a pretty shrub growing to about 1m and often used
as ground cover. Sarcococca confusa is low growing, evergreen and has
the bonus of highly scented flowers in winter. There are low-growing
Rhododendrons and Euonymus Emerald 'n Gold is a cheerful ground cover
plant. I like Ajuga repens and there's also a low rose called The Fairy
which looks pretty grown in a mass.  The hardy Geranium Rozanne
flowers on and on for ages during summer and well into autumn. It
spreads well and quite rapidly.  The other lovely little plant that
might suit you is Viola labradorica, it's a creeping semi-evergreen
with pretty little scented purply flowers in spring.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 

Well you could if you sowed seed either stuff like sweet William,
forget-me-not, stock which will grow into small plants now and be ready
to flower next spring.
You could put in bulbs, or some of the end of season cheap bedding to
fill gaps
You could even try sowing some vegetables in the gaps just to cover the
ground

In a recently visited garden the very keen and expert gardener had
covered his island beds with gravel (the small pea shingle stuff) and
planted through, he assured us it had dissuaded his neighbours 3 cats.
--
Janet Tweedy
Amersham Gardening Association
http://www.amersham-gardening.net