Gardening Life

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Gardening Life magazine ceased publishing at the end of 2008.

What to grow in a dry area

What should I plant in a rather dry area?

**FULL QUESTION** Dear *Gardening Life*, We have a very dry strip of usually half-dead grass that runs 55 feet along the sunny south side of our new bungalow. Most neighbours who share our problem have resorted to river rock but I’d like to plant something beautiful (and not too expensive). Any suggestions? *—Wendy Vallesi, Guelph ON*

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**FULL ANSWER** Dear Wendy, Have a look at ornamental grasses. Check out our Plant This feature by botanical editor Karen York on page 35 in the Fall issue of *Gardening Life* or visit Bluestem Nursery’s web site (bluestem.ca). A few I’d favour for your situation are: the native little bluestem (*Schizachyrium scoparium*), big bluestem (*Andropogon gerardii*) and sideoats grama (*Bouteloua curtipendula*); the fabulous maiden grasses *Miscanthus sinensis* ‘Yaku Jima’ and *M. s.* ‘Goliath’; as well as tall moor grass (*Molinia arundinacea*) and purple moor grass (*M. caerulea*). With these plants, you’ll have blue, gold and green and four seasons of pleasure. *—Marjorie Harris, Editor at Large* Other questions recently answered by the GL team: Controlling weeds without chemicals Getting rid of pesky iris borers Finding crabgrass seeds Planting under maple trees Discouraging cats from your garden Hints for growing sweet bell peppers Buying exotic plants in Toronto Preventing brown leaf spot Information on peony-flowered poppies Tips for growing tulips and lilies When to move irises Maintaining blue spruces The best way to grow gunneras Getting rid of sawfly larvae on roses Eliminating earwigs from clematis flowers Beetle damage to spruce trees Removing whiteflies from hibiscus leaves Building a cactus garden Maintaining redbud trees Maintaining Boston ivy growth Using black walnut leaves for mulch Stopping powdery mildew on maples Planting trees near a swale Growing on a septic field How to battle weeds between flagstone and alternative options Mysterious orange powder on the lawn What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine How to control Japanese knotweed

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