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multiple outdoor/landscaping questions
1) We've got an area that I anticipate will often be wet in our yard. I'd like to make the best of it and create a rain garden. I'm a little lost on what plants to use though and what goes in the bottom. Rock? I don't want it to look all dead when it's dry either. Does anyone have one? There's one at Ashby park but it looks gross when it's dry.
2) what do you have under your play set? DH wants rubber mulch. I seem to recall hearing about petroleum in rubber mulch. Sand seems like a good thing but then there are several stinky cats around... Mulch gets in shoes and my girls like to be barefoot sometimes. ???
3) Is there a website that has preplanned flower gardens? I have a place for flowers/bushes in the front leading up to our front door that is bare right now. I'd like for it to give a good impression and I'm not much of a gardener so the easier the better.
Re: multiple outdoor/landscaping questions
Here are a couple my mom likes to use, maybe you'll find something you love!
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com/gardening/GP/page1/page1
http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/
We play on using pea gravel. Rubber Mulch has been known to get moldy.... not what I want my kiddo playing in.
As far as flowers... Knockout rose are super easy to take care of and will continue to bloom without deadheading.
Right now we just have grass under our playset, and it might stay that way. I wouldn't do pea gravel or wooden mulch for sure this year b/c Ingrid puts everything in her mouth and she would choke or worse on them. I don't like sand b/c of the stray cat thing like you mentioned. My preference would be rubber mulch, or best yet, one of those rubberized floors that a few select playgrounds have - they are my favorite for sure! I am guessing that they are really expensive though? Everyone around here just has grass under the playset, even on the really big rainbow ones, so I guess that works ok.
I am sure you already have, but did you check BH&G's website? Their magazine always has lots of gardening layouts and advice, so I'd guess the website might too?
I really like bhg.com for ideas...they have a whole section of pre-made gardens and will tell you exactly where to put what plants.
Awesome idea on the rain garden! I have a wet spot in my yard too, but my DH likes to mow there so I'm not sure how it would go over. It is also in a ditch, probably not the best place for a garden!
Most rain gardens I've seen have native Iowa plants in them. I really like coneflowers and rudbeckias. Is it in a large space? You could some ornamental grass, it is really low maintenance. Other than that, I got nothing! Good luck!
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