Looking for ideas to put in this spot that is:
– full to part sun
– zone 6a Kansas
– along the foundation with a slope facing west
– this is a side of the house we just don’t look at much but I want something there that will help the drainage near a foundation of a century-old home.
by vlacoche
3 Comments
Up by the house and around the AC, I’d stick with low growing plants like sedges.
Sedges are an extremely speciose genus with something like 3000 species world wide and 600 native to North America, so deciding which ones you’ll put here is the only tricky thing.
I’m in Iowa so I think most of the sedges native to me will be native in your area.
For the shady spots, common wood sedge, Carex blanda is a great option. It’s hardy and tolerates some foot traffic, grows about 1ft tall, and spreads slowly by seeds. I have this one growing in my lawn in random spots, and I usually transplant them out to my landscaped beds when I spot them.
Others to consider:
– bicknell’s sedge
– Carex brevior
– Davis sedge
google “sedge lawn {location}” for more ideas on species and to see photos. Imho sedge gardens look best unmowed.
You can also fill in with short wildflowers in areas where you don’t walk as much. Phlox, wild strawberry, penstemon spp., and red columbine are a few good options.
I’m in Kansas City so similar plants. If it’s shady and damp, maybe cardinal flowers or columbine?
To help the drainage … French drains or resloping the area to make sure water runs away from the foundation.