I may have made an overeager mistake yesterday. In an act of “That’s it, Im doing something”, I began some impulse landscaping on a part of my yard that has started to experience some significant erosion.
Its not that my intentions are misplaced, I just should have given more thought to what I was doing and how I wanted to solve my problem. Especially given that my problem is a short, steep hill in the front of my home. Landscaping on a slope is one of the most challenging landscaping nightmares of all time, so if I mess it up, I will wind up with a mudslide during every rain, and a large, cavernous hole in my front yard by fall.
It started with some “innocent” snow sliding during the winter. Tiny bottoms eventually wore off the snow and found contact with the ground beneath. It started to wear away. Eventually all of the children in the house began to kick at the naked mound of dirt. I have no idea why, or who started it, but by spring a small crater had developed. This crater was slowly getting larger with every rain, leaving a moderate sized muddy patch on my driveway. I needed a child deterrent.
That afternoon I divided a whole slew of Iris. It was the only other thing, besides a ton of creeping jenny and daylillies, that I could easily multiply without making the rest of my yard suffer, or purchasing ready to go plants (I can’t afford to bust my budget on this). I also decided to lift a few daffodils, as well (they needed to be moved) since this “quick fix” would likely last a few years, and I wanted some color for spring interest.
The result is a little pathetic I am sure my neighbors think Ive lost it again, but it does seem to have stopped my sons in their tracks. They already know mommy doesn’t like them to step on her plants, so they are mostly avoiding the new iris location, with occasional relapses.
Im not so sure the creeping jenny will make it on that small hill, because moneywort (another name for creeping jenny) is not fond of dry areas. But that is my quick solution. I plan on gently watering the area for a few weeks until the moneywort establishes, and then reevaluating my options. I need to make a landscape design. Something involving pavers and creeping phlox.
But, for now, my plan is in place. And so is a little regret. That spot was ugly before. Now its just ridiculous, and the wind is more brutal there than I realized you can see how the Iris have broken under the force. But . . . it is doing its job-keeping the adorable little erosion promoters in their place. And that is really the point. I just wish I could make it pretty this year. Terracing this area is something I don’t have planned for at least another 2-3 years. Blech! It is so ugly!
