Planting on side of raised percolation area, yes or no?
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Clay Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Wexford
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:36 pm Post subject: Planting on side of raised percolation area, yes or no? |
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Have had to installed raised percolation area in the back garden, now personally I think it looks shocking but what can you do. It is a mound of about 25ft long by 4/5 ft high. I would like to plant up the side facing the house, what would you recommend? The soil is wet heavy clay and got water logged at the ground over the winter but is drying out well now. What plants dont mind wet conditions? Any advice would be appricated. |
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walltoall Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 706 Location: Thurrock RM15 via Dungarvan and the Banner County
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: banking is a dirty word unless you're a gardener |
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Yo Clay, love your handle. Don't be such a pessimist. That bank is an opportunity. When it dries out that bank is a gardeners godsend. It will be dry by nature. All banks are. I would plump for strawberries if it is south facing. Strawberries by nature look for south-facing banks. If it is east facing put in bulbs and corms. They like a shot of quick heat on cool mornings. West facing try raspberries. They love the afternoon and evening sun (when it shines). What part of the country are you in assuming you are even in Ireland. Your profile gives nothing away.
walltoall _________________ Retired trouble-maker. twitters @walltoall and dreams of being promoted to Pedunculate Oaker. |
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Clay Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Wexford
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Hi walltoall,
thanks for the reply, it is east facing (had to think about that one), I'll dicky up my profile when I get a chance. In Wexford. The percolation area was installed summer '08 and didn't do anything with it straight away which was a good thing as now at least I learn over the winter how water logged the area became. Put it this way you'd want your wellies! So i suppose anything I plant now will have to be able to survive the wet in the winter, dont want to plant stuff that cant stand the wet of the winter.
Thanks again |
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Liparis Rank attained: Orchard owner

Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 651 Location: Co. Meath
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject: |
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I think the clue is in 'Clay'!
If it's wet, heavy clay, when it dries out it will be dry, heavy rock! Not a lot is going to grow in that. I'd be a bit worried as to why a percolation area was put into such ground. Where's it gonna go? Does it percolate into good free-draining soil?
I assume you want to hide the eyesore, so you need to come back towards the house until you get good topsoil then plant some fast growing shrubs etc. There's loads to choose from, as long as your in good topsoil. So before you decide what to plant, see how far back from it you need to be before you can plant. The further back from the percolation unit the taller your plantings will have to be.
Bill. _________________ Earth is the insane asylum of the Universe.
http://www.species-specific.com/orchid-forum/ |
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James Kilkelly Rank: Site Admin

Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2173 Location: West of Ireland
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Planting on side of raised percolation area, yes or no? |
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Clay wrote: | percolation area
The soil is wet heavy clay and got water logged at the ground over the winter but is drying out well now. |
For a percolation area you will be safer opting for shallow rooted plants to avoid any possible damage to it.
Grass is then the first thing that comes to mind.
To give it a lift go for ornamental grasses 1ft to 3ft tall, but seek out ones suitable for badly drained soil.
Examples....
Variegated slender sweet flag (Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' )
Miniature variegated sedge (Carex conica 'Snowline')
Japanese sedge 'Ice Dance' (Carex morrowi 'Ice Dance')
Aside from the grasses throw in some perennnials for extra colour.
Examples...
Purple loosetrife (Lythrum virgatum)
Lobelia 'Vedrariensis' (Lobelia x gerardii 'Vedrariensis') _________________ Gardening books.
http://www.allotments.ie/ Ireland's allotments.
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Garden Consultation & Design.
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Clay Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Wexford
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Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thank you for your replies, you've been more than helpful. Love the website and the way you share your knowledge. |
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bthorn Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 28
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: Native Ornamental Grasses ? |
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I see here something about Grass of Parnassus (parnassia palustris) being around in old Scotland.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grass_of_Parnassus
Does that make it an Irish native too ?
Are there other native ornamental grasses ? |
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forest flame Rank attained: Yew tree

Joined: 17 Jun 2008 Posts: 384 Location: DUBLIN
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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a couple of gunnera would give a great splash even though they die back in winter |
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bthorn Rank attained: Hazel Tree


Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 28
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