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Ground coverage

Nina 2Nina 2 Posts: 3
in Plants
We have 2 x 20m long x 1.5m high limestone bunds from the swimming pool spoil and cannot be strimmed or fly mowed as stones will break glass in the Abri. Any ideas for ground coverage which won't break the bank? No top soil to speak of. Situated in Maine et Loire. Thank you.
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Posts

  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    I see loads of people have looked at your posting, so I will be the brave one; what are bunds, and what is an Abri?image

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I know what bunds are, I live surrounded by gravel diggings. They're the long heaps of soil removed from the hole.  Abri not in my vocabulary.

    I'd throw wildflower seed mix suitable for limestone areas and see what germinates. I might try and landscape it  to make it look more natural first



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Nina 2Nina 2 Posts: 3
    Abri is a fixed cover for a pool. Good idea about the wild flowers, cowslips and lizard orchids grow naturally on the road sides here. The bund also provides privacy from the lane (although only about 2 tractors a day go by) and an extra wall to the sheep fields so cannot really landscape, just use on its natural state. Will definitely check out wild flowers though, thanks.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,113

    It sounds as if your limestone bunds are a similar habitat to that at one of my favourite places, the Hills and Holes near Barnack in Northants - have a look at the list of wild flowers that grow there - they'd probably be very happy with you too   http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/designations/nnr/1006010.aspx 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • artjakartjak Posts: 4,167

    Dove, that sounds like a fabulous place to visitimage

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,113

    It is magical Artjak - I love it - there is nothing there but the landscape and the plants. Oh, and apparently nightingales visit in the summer.

    And when you visit you can imagine the stone being hewn from there to build all the little cottages locally - my mother in law's home is built of Barnack stone.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nina 2Nina 2 Posts: 3
    Thanks, will definitely look up the site.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    I live about 15 miles from Barnack and I've never been to Hills and Holes. It's on the list though. Next spring/summer maybe



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,113

    Go when the Pasque flowers are in bloom, late April early May - so special image then go again a bit later on, to see the orchids image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,441

    Good idea Dove. There were Pasque flowers on Royston Heath when I was a kid (probably a housing estate now) my mum took me on the bus  to see them. 

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
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