What to plant here? (Click on More to read the original)
Original post question: This is the side of my house - I've had tomatoes for 2 years - the cat uses it as a cat box - I what to plant close to house (I want to avoid ants). It is sunny and dry and hot (did I mention hot!!??) during growing season from April to Oct. It is also a shallow soil area. I'm thinking of lavender - any other suggestions? I prefer medicinal herbals - perennials would be best....
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Douglas Hunt on Jan 12, 2015I think you're on the right track with herbs. In addition to lavender you could do various types of thyme, and sage. Rosemary would be nice and with a little digging I'll bet you could find cultivars that would be hardy where you are.Helpful Reply
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Barbara R on Jan 12, 2015Litter box? I sure wouldn't plant anything in there that you can eat. Cat feces and urine kills plants, I'm surprised anything grows in there at all. Dig out old soil as deep as you can and replace with new, use mulch over top and maybe a type of fence to keep the cat out...make another place for him/her what won't ruin anything planted.Helpful Reply
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Gail Salminen on Jan 12, 2015@NancyLee here is site with effective means of deterring cats from the garden - http://landscaping.about.com/od/pestcontrol/a/cat_repellents.htm Since you are revamping perhaps the chicken wire under the earth might be a timely project. I love the sunflowers growing there. If it is flowers you want you may consider lupins and hollyhocks as well. Lupins and hollyhocks are biennials so will reseed themselves and pretty much act like perennials. They both have height to them as well so is very suitable to the side of a house. Good luck and do update us on your decisions - pics if possible.Helpful Reply
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Sylvia on Jan 12, 2015Mints and tansy will tolerate those conditions and also discourage ants and fleas ;-)Helpful Reply
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Suzanne Viscome on Jan 13, 2015rhubarbHelpful Reply
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Adastra62 on Jan 13, 2015I saw on a gardening site that had taken plastic forks, and buried them every few inches with the tines pointed up and said that it discouraged the cat from going on there because the forks would poke it when it went to use the bathroom. Worth a try...Helpful Reply
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Triciann waltonhenson on Jan 13, 2015I agree to go with herbs such as lavender, mint, and since your cat loves this space, catnip. It has a wonderful bloom and the greenery would provide a small sanctuary for the cat, it wouldn't harm the plants, at least my two doesntHelpful Reply
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Rachel Shoemaker on Jan 13, 2015bee balm, monarda.Helpful Reply
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Jan on Jan 13, 2015MY only comment is maybe clematis. In your pictures you have tall plants and clematis would grow up the side of the house--just a thought-of course it's not a herb but a prettyHelpful Reply
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Cheryl Kilpatrick on Jan 13, 2015Catmint would likely grow well in the area described and might discourage a cat from using the area as a litter box. Lemon grass is another alternative that could tolerate the conditions you describe. My cat loves to munch on both lemon grass and catmint and therefore would be dissuaded from considering the area for a bathroom.Helpful Reply
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Cheryl Fontaine on Jan 13, 2015Me, I would fill it up with herbs of all kinds. Ought to do well there w/o too much water and it would smell wonderful and pleasure the bees (if there are any bees left). I have cats too so I plant my vegetables in containers they can't get into...Helpful Reply
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Lindcurt on Jan 13, 2015Walkers low cat mint is not as invasive as some cat mints. It seems to thrive on abuse from heat, sun and lack of water. I like to mix in yarrow and sunflowers. I don't have luck in central Kansas with Clemantis in a hot spot. They do well for me on the east side of the house with a little more water required than the afore mentioned.Helpful Reply
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Artist In The Garden on Jan 13, 2015This scene screams for drought tolerant plants. Except for succulents, drought tolerant plants can usually only be drought tolerant if their roots can grow deeply. Plants in shallow soil must be watered consistently if they are not drought tolerant. Logical solution would be to create a container garden with good drainage. Deep containers would allow many more choices of plants as long as the soil mix is of high quality. If your budget is low try recycled materials. Examples : Used fat PVC pipe, plastic culvert pipes. Holes can be sawed in the pipes so you can make a custom strawberry jar. These can be sanded and painted or you can rake up seashells off the beach and smother the pipes with them. Good luck !Helpful Reply
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Valerie on Jan 13, 2015I live in florida, and have lots of pink muhly grass. It self seeds, I find it trying to grow in between my patio stones in full sun. And no I don't irrigate it either, just turn the hose on it every few days...hope this helps....Helpful Reply
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