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Ideas please for hardwearing groundcover

6 replies

MyTrustyBucket · 01/07/2014 13:48

Hi there, first post here.
We have a long, relatively narrow garden, one side partly over a disused sesspit, with little soil and parched grass in summer, and we incorporate this bit to put up an inflatable pool for the summer months and then there's a pretty grotty looking round patch (with some weeds) for remaining 10 months.
There is a plant border with budleia, wisteria, etc in front of fence towards road, and another border with mainly roses, some conifers and gravel running along fence to neighbour.
My first thought was tree bark and some smallish plants, but heard now on here that cats love tree bark toilets...
My second thought was more gravel with some smallish plants. This part of garden is baked during hot summer months (no, we don't live in UK).
But perhaps gravel would be too hard, uncomfortable under pool (there is a soft protective sheet under pool).
Has anyone divided their garden into specific areas like this? We have plenty of other areas for recreation, fruit and veg, etc. just basically looking for a long term solution for pool area.
All suggestions gratefully received.

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EauRouge · 01/07/2014 14:10

Are you looking to plant the area that's covered in the summer by the pool? If it's covered up for long periods of time then whatever is underneath is going to die off. How about putting some containers there, then you can move them when you have the pool up.

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MyTrustyBucket · 01/07/2014 14:58

Thanks for replying. The plants in moveable containers is a good idea, especially for spring. Will def keep that in mind.
I'm more interested though in what the ground cover should be, to put pool and containers on. The bit of earth with weeds is quite unattractive as a year round option...

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mistlethrush · 01/07/2014 15:00

If you're asking 'what plants would survive 2 months under a pool' I'm afraid none of them will. You will need to go for something non-plant and make it look more attractive with the plants in pots option.

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MyTrustyBucket · 01/07/2014 16:16

... So probably gravel then, some moveable containers on pool space, and some low, creeping plants up to pool space.
Has anyone any experience of "soft" rubbery playground type tiles? Do they weather well?

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EauRouge · 01/07/2014 16:48

What about some artificial grass? Some of it looks quite realistic now.

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MyTrustyBucket · 01/07/2014 20:26

...and wouldn't be as uncomfortable under pool as gravel.
Will def have a look at that.
Btw, have a magnolia in a tub, still small but fast growing, could imagine putting that in frost proof pot on pool space after swimming season.
Many thanks

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