What to plant here? (Click on More to read the original)

NancyLee
by NancyLee
UPDATE: Spring 2015 - so many rocks in my yard: the answer to covering up areas where the cat can poop. I scooped out the old dirt in her area and added all new - then just planted each plant (3 Czech lavender plants and 3 Hummingbird sage plants) about 3 feet apart. Circled each plant with medium rocks - filled in the spaces between the plants with larger rocks and smaller rocks in the leftover spaces. It looks so nice to me now compared to the stick garden that was there after the tomatoes came down. Thanks for all your suggestions. When the plants grow up more, I'll post some more photos.
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....
Problem resolved - 6 herbs in 18 linear foot space. Lavender alternating with hummingbird sage.
Both photos go together - this is right side as you face the house - sunflowers are seen on the left side.
Planting area is like permanent raised bed area - only goes a few inches down. Original plantings were pansies.
Just a wee little hummingbird sage.
Another perspective.
  14 answers
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jan 12, 2015
    I 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.
  • Barbara R Barbara R on Jan 12, 2015
    Litter 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.
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 12, 2015
      @Barbara R We've mostly discouraged her from going there during the growing season but the rain this winter has reverted her habits. I've grown tomatoes very well there the past two years - put sticks around them to discourage unwanted visitors. The sunflowers are "volunteers". Good idea to dig out the old soil and replace with new. Thanks for your help.
  • Gail Salminen 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.
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    • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Jan 12, 2015
      @NancyLee I suggested merely for the beauty of the plant and the ease of care. You could perhaps have a combination of plants that have height and then perhaps a few that are shorter. Columbine is a lovely plant as well, but not sure of any healing properties.
  • Sylvia Sylvia on Jan 12, 2015
    Mints and tansy will tolerate those conditions and also discourage ants and fleas ;-)
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 12, 2015
      @Sylvia Thanks Sylvia - never even thought of tansy - it's so pretty and bright.
  • Suzanne Viscome Suzanne Viscome on Jan 13, 2015
    rhubarb
  • Adastra62 Adastra62 on Jan 13, 2015
    I 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...
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Adastra62 Hehehehe.....actually I have a "stick" garden there now but some of the sticks have been moved out of the way......a daughter feeling sorry for a cat trying to poop in the cold.... to avoid embarrassing her I left out that part of the story...she will be digging in the spring to replace the soil...but really it has been an ongoing problem and this spring it will be rectified.
  • Triciann waltonhenson Triciann waltonhenson on Jan 13, 2015
    I 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 doesnt
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Triciann waltonhenson Do your cats use the catnip area as a bathroom? Maybe she wouldn't "poop" where she plays. And I wouldn't mind having a little place like that for her.....
  • Rachel Shoemaker Rachel Shoemaker on Jan 13, 2015
    bee balm, monarda.
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Rachel Shoemaker Thanks Rachel - Bee Balm is gorgeous - I have some in the "way back." But it could fit in well here and I could always use more.
  • Jan Jan on Jan 13, 2015
    MY 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 pretty
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Jan Thanks Jan. Clematis is beautiful - so many suggestions, so little space......
  • Cheryl Kilpatrick Cheryl Kilpatrick on Jan 13, 2015
    Catmint 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.
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    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 16, 2015
      @DORLIS Thanks Dorlis -I bet my cat would like it too - she loves grasses.
  • Cheryl Fontaine Cheryl Fontaine on Jan 13, 2015
    Me, 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...
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Cheryl Fontaine Yeah, I love herbs and most of them do well with some neglect. I had quite a few bees last summer in my "way back" herb garden.
  • Lindcurt Lindcurt on Jan 13, 2015
    Walkers 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.
  • Artist In The Garden Artist In The Garden on Jan 13, 2015
    This 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 !
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 13, 2015
      @Artist In The Garden I didn't consider the shallow root situation - thanks for the info.
  • Valerie Valerie on Jan 13, 2015
    I 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....
    • NancyLee NancyLee on Jan 14, 2015
      @Valerie Valerie - I used to live in Florida - now in South western Oregon - very different climate - but still lots of weeds. Here in my yard cut-leaf geranium and mallow plants grow all around. I used to pull them, now just using them for medicine.