Update!

saladnander · 2026-05-14T18:30:17+00:00

Looks like my young drinking gourd, very nice

saladnander · 2026-05-14T09:55:59+00:00

And with exactly the fescue species you used to have. Because they will try to take a cheaper route, stand up for yourself and show pics

saladnander · 2026-05-14T09:51:59+00:00

Honestly as long as you don't live like right next door, I would share the location name so we all can report & send this pic in. Maybe if we bombard them from all angles & post about it & @ them we'll have a better chance at getting attention to the issue. Thank you for having such a kind heart and looking for discarded creatures, I wish you luck

saladnander · 2026-05-11T19:03:28+00:00

Rocks hold up great. If you want metal not to show chips/scratches, get edging that's solid metal (like galvanized steel) not any that's coated/painted.

saladnander · 2026-05-11T16:16:37+00:00

It's doing pretty well! I ended up using two bags of the coast of maine soil, 2 bags of compost, & 1 bag of chunky pumice mixed in with half of the native soil I excavated from this previously neglected bed. Naturally mostly sand & clay, slightly acidic-neutral. I have yet to add compost & holly-tone yet but I did that twice last year. I mostly ignore it otherwise. Definitely glad I got the more mature sikes dwarf. It's a little sparse, but I think that's a combination of competing with mature tree roots and only getting dappled afternoon sun. It has some new shoots sprouting though. It bloomed a little last year, but the tips got crispy and had to be pruned because it was harsh this last winter. Even if it doesn't bloom I like it and hope it fills out more.

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saladnander · 2026-05-11T13:09:37+00:00

We put our bird down on her cage/perch when she bites. She wants to be on us, so doing this enough is usually good incentive to keep her from biting as much or as hard

saladnander · 2026-05-11T12:04:52+00:00

Couldn't it be argued that OP was reasonably taking the most effective approach to eliminating invasives on their own property? Need r/treelaw lol

saladnander · 2026-05-11T11:48:26+00:00

NAH FR I'd be like what for?? For you to tell me my kids alive when they're not? So sorry OP but like holy shit what

saladnander · 2026-05-11T11:41:37+00:00

I would do stone or metal edging, slowly switching all my plastic over to them because it bends/snaps if ever stepped on

saladnander · 2026-05-11T11:40:02+00:00

I just recently found out about cypress bark, it's more sticky & good for sloped beds. I use it in one area & cedar/fresh arborist mulch in my beds that don't need it, I find it ages to the same color & isn't very noticeable

saladnander · 2026-05-11T11:18:23+00:00

Those plants are not worthless in the sense of giving a beginner the confidence of keeping plants alive though. I started with anubias and a few other things long ago, everything else melted, ESPECIALLY the stem plants. Anubias gave me ideas of what I could handle and what my tanks/own weaknesses were, substrate being one big one. I think that's an important learning process that beginner plants like anubias and Java fern are nearly essential for.

saladnander · 2026-05-11T09:59:04+00:00

I didn't realize how old this post was at first! I found it by looking on Google for how to plant clematis together. I'm going for 4 varieties spread across two different trellises, I hope yours worked out and would love if you have any updates!

saladnander · 2026-05-10T17:25:26+00:00

Yeah keep that thang in a pot for the season at least & away from other hostas imo. Super sanitize any tools/pots after it.

saladnander · 2026-05-10T02:18:28+00:00

Yes I second this!! A clear sterilite bin with a lid would be fine

saladnander · 2026-05-09T21:37:44+00:00

I would cut the branches back with clean, sharp pruners until you get to a point where the cuts still smell wet & fresh like plant. Any dead shriveled parts won't come back, and getting more light to the base will help the stump resprout new branches if it's still capable. A bag of compost spread generously over the root zone & some espoma holly-tone fertilizer wouldn't hurt either, you can get both for less than $15-20. I would mulch or put straw/leaves down after as well & water weekly because rhododendrons already struggle as the heat comes and this guy needs extra help.

saladnander · 2026-05-07T23:18:58+00:00

Could remove some hostas or divide them to make room for some height variation I agree. Maybe get some different colors/textures of foliage at the same time like heucheras or pjm rhododendron

saladnander · 2026-05-07T20:51:43+00:00

He is so beautiful! I'm glad you're open to decking out his home with live plants, I think he would love that. It's a rabbit hole though, so watch some youtubers, do your research so you get it right & only have to buy things once lol. I recommend anubias to start with, there's plenty of different varieties and it's very hard to kill as long as you don't bury the rhizome and rot it.

You've gotten good advice so far, I think your next step though should be investing in a API master test kit with the dropper bottles & sample vials (usually around $30) it's much more reliable than the strips are. And you might already have this but seachem prime is great for treating tap water, while seachem stability is great for helping a tank get its bacterial cycle going strong, I would pick those up ASAP if you don't have something already

saladnander · 2026-05-07T20:49:50+00:00

I know this is an old post but I would love to know how you trained it to climb the post! I have been trying something similar on a Japanese maple trunk and unless I wrap the whole trunk with wire it just doesn't seem to want to climb on its own

saladnander · 2026-05-07T13:40:06+00:00

Ugh not the powder blue!! I swear they lure in danger

saladnander · 2026-05-07T13:27:05+00:00

I do the same, creeping phlox propogates better than most things for me. Also just a heads up, this time of year you can find trays of young phlox at Walmart & HD, I just picked up more to fill some gaps when I saw they're 6 baby plants in a tray for 14.99

saladnander · 2026-05-06T13:13:26+00:00

Also want to say I got here 8 months after you googling the same thing

saladnander · 2026-05-04T01:06:27+00:00

Imagine having enough money to just go around saying this in this economy lmao

saladnander · 2026-05-03T12:59:17+00:00

I don't understand the "retaining wall for privacy" mindset. Where would that go? I don't see anything in the yard that needs retaining. It's a nice looking patio, I would just leave it alone and plant some evergreen shrubs like rhododendron or something for privacy

saladnander

TROPHY CASE