Ground cover

KC – posted 06 June 2002 14:50

Hello,Does anyone know what kind of ground cover will grow with out additional watering etc. Also I would like to have it choke out poison oak if possible. Thanks for the info. KC

wereworm – posted 06 June 2002 16:19

A couple questions: What kind of climate do you have? And how much foot traffic is this ground cover going to get?

weare5injc – posted 10 June 2002 10:37

Hello, It is little to no traffic (other than the wildlife) and I am in Medford, OR so the climate is a 4 season. Our highs can get to 103, down to the 20’s. We are pretty seasonal here. The area in question has scrub oak trees with other type bushes. It gets the afternoon sun, so it will need something hardy to the heat and something that will not require watering other than that from the heavens. Hope I have answered your question right.

wereworm – posted 10 June 2002 12:18

Here’s a few drought-tolerant ground covers that should do fine in your area.

Baccharis pilularis (Dwarf coyote brush)Cerastium tomentosum (Snow-in-summer)Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ (Hall’s Japanese honeysuckle)Mahonia repens (Creeping mahonia)Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary)Verbena hortensis (Garden verbena)

KC – posted 11 June 2002 12:08

Thanks I will give it a try.

Artemis – posted 11 August 2002 09:09

Before you plant, Kill the poison oak. You’ll need a strong brush killing herbicide to do it. Poison oak and poison ivy are not likely to get “choked out” by anything.

Also, add to that list of plants Kinikinik also known as bearberry (Arctostaphylus majus). It tolerates drought, abuse, heat, and is cold hardy to -30 degrees.