If your rain garden is situated near large trees, you're probably wondering what to do about all those leaves in the rain garden. I am often asked if it's okay to leave them there. My answer is
no.
Although you may wish to add a layer of composted leaves as a top dressing to help nourish your rain garden plants, it's not a good idea to let a heavy build-up of leaves accumulate. Many low growing sedums and other ground cover plants will be blocked from receiving winter sunlight if leaves have piled up over them.
So what is the best way to rid the rain garden of the leaves? Since many of the sedums and creeping jenny that make such wonderful ground covers would be damaged by raking, I recommend the use of a leaf blower. This removes the leaves to be collected and taken to the compost pile. Many find leaf blower noises to be annoying and that would include me but they safely remove unwanted items without damaging your other plants. They also give your back, arms and shoulders a break from the constant raking motion.
There are both gas powered and electric varieties to choose from and some allow you to dial the force of the air up and down. A light weight electric type with the variable air force mechanism would be my best choice. Good sources are Home Depot, Lowes and other large home improvement stores for the best selection. Don't rule out checking your locally owned garden center as they may provide excellent advice as well as the product you need.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Decorative Grasses in the Rain Garden
Fall is upon us and soon we'll be settling into the winter weather season. If your rain garden functions both as a storm water retention site and a decorative feature of your yard, you'll be looking at the grasses and wondering what to do.
By now, most grasses in USDA zones 5, 6 and even 7A have turned brown or beige. Frosts have stopped the production of chlorophyll in the grass blades and they have died to ground level turning brown in the process. Here in the Piedmont, our grasses are just beginning the color change that will last through winter. The brown to beige grasses are quite interesting as they sway with each bit of winter wind. I consider them one of the more attractive features of my winter rain garden.
So now is not the time to cut them back while tidying up the garden. At the base of each grass blade is a tiny tube from which the grass blades sprout in spring. Think of this tube as a straw. Think of winter snows and rain running down into this straw and soaking into the roots.
I'm sure many of you have seen clumps of grasses with the center of the clump gone. This is because the roots in that area have rotted out. New growth forms around edges causing the 'ring' of grass you sometimes see.
Grasses should be trimmed back in early spring. Since each variety comes out of dormancy at a slightly different time, you will need to check the clumps during your winter garden inspections and look for the tiny new green shoots emerging. I usually cut back all of our grasses during February in North Carolina when the new shoots are about two inches in height. If you wait too late in the spring, you risk chopping the tops out of this summers grass display.
Be sure to use sharp pruners and wear long sleeves and gloves when cutting back the clumps. The dry brittle blades can irritate skin.
Enough technical info for today.
Look for my next post that describes my hike through the Glenstone Preserve and information about the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Associations good work in promoting clean water and healthy creeks, streams and lakes.
Cheryl
By now, most grasses in USDA zones 5, 6 and even 7A have turned brown or beige. Frosts have stopped the production of chlorophyll in the grass blades and they have died to ground level turning brown in the process. Here in the Piedmont, our grasses are just beginning the color change that will last through winter. The brown to beige grasses are quite interesting as they sway with each bit of winter wind. I consider them one of the more attractive features of my winter rain garden.
So now is not the time to cut them back while tidying up the garden. At the base of each grass blade is a tiny tube from which the grass blades sprout in spring. Think of this tube as a straw. Think of winter snows and rain running down into this straw and soaking into the roots.
I'm sure many of you have seen clumps of grasses with the center of the clump gone. This is because the roots in that area have rotted out. New growth forms around edges causing the 'ring' of grass you sometimes see.
Grasses should be trimmed back in early spring. Since each variety comes out of dormancy at a slightly different time, you will need to check the clumps during your winter garden inspections and look for the tiny new green shoots emerging. I usually cut back all of our grasses during February in North Carolina when the new shoots are about two inches in height. If you wait too late in the spring, you risk chopping the tops out of this summers grass display.
Be sure to use sharp pruners and wear long sleeves and gloves when cutting back the clumps. The dry brittle blades can irritate skin.
Enough technical info for today.
Look for my next post that describes my hike through the Glenstone Preserve and information about the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Associations good work in promoting clean water and healthy creeks, streams and lakes.
Cheryl
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