Help - Cleared land

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Hi - my first post! I've so enjoyed and relied on the gardening forum.

While a bulldozer was onsite and working on our septic - I went for it and cleared an area of dead sumac trees. I planted a portion of the vicinity successfully with wildflowers last Spring - unfortunately most of the perennials have been dug up / pushed around by the heavy equipment.

What stands now is a large space with deep tire tracks. I've begun smoothing the soil by hand. I have no tractor or box blade and no $ left to do anything much by way of leveling.

My plan is to plant a willow tree (back left open corner), then alternating native bushes (red berries in fall I believe Winterberry) and spicebush in the background. The majority of the area will be wildflowers. In the foreground in the shady area uphill are some rhododendron and I will also transplant some tiny struggling bushes.

Finally to the big question -

Should I plant something like hairy vetch as groundcover in the expanse that has been cleared? My goal is to loosen the soil, detract the deer from the wildflower garden, and to rid the area of a pretty but invasive grass (Japanese Stiltgrass). Then, I can spend time leveling the area at a leisurely pace and expand the wildflower meadow.

Thank you!!

Featured Answer

Deb

10 years ago

For a fast-spreading, beautiful groundcover that blooms all season long, you might consider prairie winecups (Callirhoe involucrata). It reseeds prolifically. But if you need to control it, just slice into its taproot, and it's a goner.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

jennbeez
Original Author
10 years ago

Photo
laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
I strongly advise against alternating shrubs--the polka dot look never looks good. And I trust you know that Ilex (Winterberry) berry only on the females and need a male for pollination. Usually the male is not included in the grouping (would look like a tooth missing in a mouth), but is planted nearby in an inconspicuous spot.

Re the vetch: nothing will distract deer from something they want to eat. And I hope by hairy vetch you don't mean crown vetch, an extremely aggressive ground cover that is nearly impossible to exterminate even with powerful herbicides. It should NEVER be used for anything other than huge steep highway cuts, and should never have been made available to the average gardener.
Related Professionals
Springfield Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Rockford Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Plattsburgh Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Portland Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Abilene Landscape Contractors · Killeen Landscape Contractors · Denver Landscape Contractors · Seattle Landscape Contractors · California Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Columbus Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Stamford Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Duluth Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Jamestown Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Lake Havasu City Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Chatham Stone, Pavers & Concrete
jennbeez
Original Author
10 years ago
Hi - thanks so much for your response. You are so right regarding alternating! I'm glad you wrote that. Also - if it's ok I will send a photo of what I believe is Winterberry. Regarding the hairy vetch - it is not the same as the crown vetch you mentioned which I researched and looks scary. The vetch (also called winter vetch) is an annual cover crop that I hope to use before planting next year. If you have any suggestions for a grass or ground cover for a big area that I am not ready to seed for wildflower and natives - do let me know. I prefer to avoid a world of crabgrass.
User
10 years ago
I disagree with laceyvail regarding crown vetch for the average gardener. I never had trouble controlling the spread of crown vetch (pulls out easily) and it adds nitrogen to the soil. So don't strike this plant off your list.
laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
The roots of crown vetch can go down 20 feet, and is indeed extremely invasive. Hairy vetch is a cover crop.

Callirhoe is a very beautiful perennial--I've grown C. involucrata, C. digitata, and C. bushii--but deer and voles love them and C. involucrata is certainly not weed suppressing. Are you looking for a groundcover for an area you intend to plant next spring? If so, don't plant anything. Just cover the area with leaves and other organic material and plant in spring. If you're looking for a groundcover for a large area, that's a different topic entirely and there are many choices.