Hey Trilby,

Welcome to the Tennessee Forum.

Your picture links don't work. They just says "direct linking denied".

I cannot think of any type of plant that would never need at least some weeding (except maybe kudzu). I guess you could put down pre-emergence each year. If I wanted the least amount of maintenance, I'd just leave the river rock, without plants, and spray the area with Roundup Extended Control two or three times per year.

Sorry for the link problem! I'll try again:

(Hopefully this is a link to the photos of the culverts)

I do understand that some kind of weed treatment will be needed from time to time; but if any of my front-runners are going to need weekly care, pruning, or weed-yanking, it would be helpful if someone would let me know. :-) I'm told by a friend, for instance, that Creeping Phlox needs no particular care, and needs no weed treatment at all because it will choke out everything else, including grass and weeds. But that wasn't my Mom's experience.

So if anyone has had any experience with Phlox, Wooly Thyme, or Ajuga as low-maintenance ground cover in sunny-area red clay, I'd love to hear from you -- likewise if you have any other candidates for me to consider!! :-)


--------------------- Trilby

Oh, and I forgot to say thank you for suggesting we just use the river rock and not worry about the ground cover. I wonder whether that would look kind of stark? But maybe when the rock is delivered I'll have a different perspective!


---------- Trilby