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Ground cover required

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by r2oo, Feb 2, 2011.

  1. r2oo

    r2oo Gardener

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    Hi All, hopefully someone can help me here. I have a 15ft ish patch of grass next to the pavement alonside our garage that people seem to like letting their dogs sh*t all over:mad::mad::mad: & its driving me mad.

    The area has some conifers on it but I would like to cover the grassed area with some kind of fast spreading bush or shrub that will grow about 1-2ft high so the manky dogs (don't like them much) can't get on there.

    Something low maintenance & it would be nice if it produced flowers would be good. I would also like it to overlap the pathway a little bit. The patch of grass is isolated & surrounded by concrete or wall so there's no worry of it spreading further.

    Any Ideas??
     
  2. rossco

    rossco Gardener

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    Berberis any small purple leafed variety really would be good as it has small thorns, and ideal as a hedge to stop unwanted animals encroaching
     
  3. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    There is a very nice purple leaved Berberis "low hedge" at Kiftsgate Court. I remember thinking it a clever contrast to the lawn, and stopping people accidentally walking off the lawn and falling down the cliff they have there! Its less then knee-high.

    But its a bit of lawn between the car park and the gardens and I rushed through to the gardens before I started the camera rolling - so I don't have any pictures I'm afraid, and a quick Google didn't find any either, so other people were probably not camera-ready by that point in the gardens either!
     
  4. rossco

    rossco Gardener

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    will get back later with a selection of varieties for you :thumb:
     
  5. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :WINK1: :thumbsup: Periwinkle is pretty tough against dogs too, variegated & non variegated you could incorporate some of that too with Rosco's Berberis suggestion & it spreads by runners...

    :dbgrtmb: Good to see you again Rosco.. :dbgrtmb:
     
  6. sandedge

    sandedge Apprentice Gardener

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    Is it fifteen feet long? How wide? You could use several rose varieties that would deter dogs and give flowers, Dunwich Rose for example, thorny enough to deter dogs and people. Also Rosa altaica which tolerates poorer soil. Good luck with your deterrent.
     
  7. r2oo

    r2oo Gardener

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    Hi guys, thanks for the advice. the area is about 15ft long & about 4-5ft deep, there are a couple of conifers in that area though.

    I'm looking for something that will spread rapidly & be low maintenance, but on a budget..:thumbsup:
     
  8. sandedge

    sandedge Apprentice Gardener

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  9. rossco

    rossco Gardener

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    Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana' ...this is a slow growing variety of berberis and needs little attention it reaches 1mtr in 10 years, and has a spread of 1 mtr and would be ideal as a low obstruction for wandering animals, and humans too....
    hope this helps
     
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