Okay, my good and faithful, trusty, knowledgeable and always-helpful friends (thank you!), and anyone else who doesn't mind taking a stab at it (lol):

I would like something to plant in an 18" wide bed along the sunny south side of my patio. Here are my priorities, in this order:

0. Something easy and adapted to my climate/conditions (zone 7b, Charlotte, NC--humid, hot summers, cool not cold winters, sometimes ice storms, occasionally snow)

1. Something that will be nice to look at while we're munching on grilled veggies and sipping wine with good friends.

2. Something that will not get overgrown into the adjoining grass path, which is too narrow to begin with and easily becomes clogged with overzealous plantings (overlapping by a few inches is okay, as long as I don't have to prune heavily to keep it from completely overgrowing).

3. Something that will outcompete weeds once established.

4. Something that will screen the view of the neighbor's back yard (this would be wonderful, but I realize it's a tall order for something that should fit inside an 18" border, so I can live without it--I may, instead, plant a vine on the fence on the other side of the path to serve this purpose).

5. Something super cheap, since I'm operating on no budget at the moment! LOL If that's not possible, I'll just wait until I can harvest it somewhere free or until dh has a well-paying job and I can afford to buy plants again. Thanks!

6. Something I can plant now.

Remember, priorities are in that order. So if you think of a great plant that meets #0, #1, and #2, but not #3, still mention it. But if it meets #3 and #4 but not #1, it probably won't work for me. And if it doesn't meet #0, I won't even consider it, even if it fits all the other criteria and produces the tastiest fruit ever in abundance all year long, simultaneously with gorgeous flowers, lol. If I have to water often, prune heavily, amend extensively, nurse it through winter, or shade it in summer, it's out of the question.

You guys always give me so much to think about, and I really appreciate it. Thanks!!!

Heather

P.S. I'm already considering putting lavendar there--it does very well in my front yard in a slightly cooler location, and fits all the criteria except providing a screen and being cheap to buy. But I'd love additional suggestions since I already grow more lavendar than I can use (not that that's a bad thing!), and I love a little variety.

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
0. Most are highly adaptable to the widest variety of zones (even erratic and unusual weather).

1. Grasses provide necessary movement in a garden. Even the slightest breeze can create an almost hypnotic effect just watching them sway. They come lime, variegated, golden, striped, bronze and other varieties. Plus they provide 4 season beauty.

2. They stay within their own "clump". They won't flop or fall over. Even if splayed a bit by heavy rain, they prop back up on their own. No pruning necessary.

3. Because of the shade they create around their base, no (or very few) weeds will survive.

4. If you get grasses that grow tall enough, they provide a great screen. Many grasses also grow straighter (within less than 2' diameter) than others and don't cascade outwards. So even if its fronds go beyond that boundary, they're so light and airy, it doesn't matter if you brush against it. They don't impose on 'passing traffic'. No diseases or pests (that I've ever been aware of). Cut them back to the ground in early spring. That's it.

5. All the big box stores especially, have loads of perennials on sale now. I just bought three new grasses (forget the name now) at Home Depot last week. 2 gal pots, 3' plants already sporting wispy seed heads of orangy-tan. $7.50. Plus once they're established, you can divide them as much as you want and have as many additional - free - plants as you want.

6. Now's the best time to plant any perennial.

I think gardenz idea is great. I was going to suggest chives or garlic chives. I will be having plenty of seeds from the garlic chives. They have pretty white flowers that last a long time. They get about 3 feet tall. The clumps I have competes well with the grass, it can hold it's own. THey are in bloom right now.

Thank you thank you thank you! What a terrific idea. Grasses had not even occurred to me--and I forgot to mention another condition, which grasses should deal well with: the bed formerly housed largish pine-type trees that we removed because they were unsightly on the side facing the patio (where they had been badly pruned back so that they were naked and lopsided) and leaned heavily into the path on the other side. As a result, the bed is probably highly acidic (but our bermudagrasses and other lawn grasses eagerly take over the bed when left alone, so I would think ornamental grasses would do fine), and have a couple of largish stumps (sheered at ground level) and root clumps that any new plants will have to navigate. Again, I suspect ornamental grasses are up to the task.

Thanks for the suggestion! I look forward to implementing it, just as soon as I find the right plant and the right sale. Thank you!

Heather

You're most welcome. Onamental grasses are a particular weakness of mine . "Never met one I didn't like" Oh, and while outside this afternoon, I noted the name of the new grasses (still in pots cause I haven't had a chance to plant them yet): Panicum amarum (Panic Grass)"Dewey Blue" I forgot to mention "blue" as one of the many colors of grasses. BTW: On that page there is a link for "Panicum virgatum Heavy Metal" grass. Click on it. It looks like one of the grasses that might just fit your bill. 4-5' high and 18" wide. Good luck w/whatever ones you choose. Even if you have to settle on what's available and on sale, you'll love them!

I'm loving ornamental grass too. You get flower stalks for a long while, your kids can pick them in their play, the grasses are tough - my dog pees on them, tramples through them, etc (though i don't suggest this!. They can be divided easily (and cheaply!!). I like red fountain grass or Karley Rose (never tried these, but they look nice in the catalogs). I did order some switchgrass (don't know exactly what that is - I think it's a straighter, stiffer, taller grass) called "the blues" that looks cool. I'll tell you how that goes..

I have an 18" strip next to my patio that has a row of hostas in it. I think my backyard is shadier though. If you have some shade, that might be nice too! Cheap (you might even be able to chop half of a neighbors plant), ya can't kill it, dogs can urinate on them (I know that story well, don't I?), etc.

You might want to consider one thing on the ornamental grasses. Some of them can spread, by seed, to surrounding property. Corn growers (Not sure if there are any around you in NC) might not take to kindly to having switch grass grown nearby as it can seed by wind and compete with the corn for moisture and nutrients. But greenish is right about it looking nice. We had some here when I was a kid. Unfortunately it got into my dad's corn and we worked for several years to get it out (finally planted that field in timothy and alfalfa for about 5 years straight and smothered it).

Keep in mind the watering requriements for whatever kind of grass you grow as well. Many are very drought tolerant - whereas others are pretty thirsty. Take into account what else you have in the bed nearby and/or if it is under eaves, will there be standing water? The Muhly grasses tend to be more drought tolerant than many others. Down here in Dallas - land of the drought this year - we're seeing it thrive while the usually pretty purple fountain grass is brown and crispy under the watering restrictions many cities implemented this year.

Hey Heather! If purple fountain grass can be divided, I have some for you! Don't go out and buy any, we'll bring you some. It gets huge. Just look at it when entering or leaving our front entrance! It was 3x smaller than that at the beginning of the summer. And if you want, Chris can come and look at the area you're talking about and give suggestions. He can also keep an eye out for major discounts for ya if you know what ever gets resolved!

Hi hopeitgrows,

I asked Chris about the fountain grass at the front entrance, because I think it's gorgeous, but I thought he said it was an annual and wouldn't come back next year... but maybe I misunderstood? Anyway, it does look perfect. Will it tolerate occasionally wet feet? And I would LOVE a division--of course I'll come help dig it up and replant. We're trying really hard to pinch pennies--we got really bad about stuff when we thought we were SOO close to a job offer... and now I'm trying really hard not to spend even a few bucks here and there when I can help it.

Hopefully the *stuff* will be resolved soon, no?

Hope ya'll are having fun at the festival. Talk to you soon,

Heather