Ground cover inspiration please!

[Sampson]

Hi all,

I'm new to the forum, but joined as I've read the postings under the Gardening section off and on for a few years and was hoping for some good advice on a problem I have.

My place is adjacent to an area that was supposed to be a golf course, but that will probably never happen. But instead the area has a large amount of bricks and builders rubble and lots of plastic from a series of polytunnels that was simply bulldozed into the soil during the building phase of the development.

I had hoped that nature would do her stuff to improve the view, but after 10 years I'm wondering if some help is needed. There are problems in doing so - firstly the land does not belong to me and so I am obliged to be a bit circumspect - I cannot for example hire a JCB. It is a large area of many acres so planting out masses of oleander cuttings etc is not viable. But the area is a bit of an eyesore and something is needed.

The land has a small amount soil but largely compacted sand and as I say discarded building materials, plastic, some timber and metal strewn around, but all single items - ie not to any height. There are no trees or bushes of any size - it's more like a desert than anything else. But is used by local goat herds that wander around the area who seem to find something to chew. I should add that providing any form of irrigation is effectively impossible.

I've pondered and thought I may try some messum cuttings, but it is a large area, so these will be limited. And I really wanted something that would grow a bit taller, say a foot or so to cover the debris. In the surrounding area, where the contractors have not used heavy equipment some plants (weeds) grow naturally - there are a few different types, they are "heather size and shape", but I cannot identify them, but they are so much nicer than the scrap yard! I was wondering if anyone knew them or there is a similar plant that might flourish in this environment that can be bought in seed form.

Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated.

[Wicksey]

If nothing has self-seeded and grown there much in 10 years you may be hard pushed to find something that will. It may unfortunately just be too dry/sandy/full of rubbish for anything to take.

Areas around us that were cut and left some years ago are covered in what we call wildfowers but are daisy-like weeds in the spring, and are currently covered in a carpet of a weed with a leaf a bit like a clover and yellow flowers to come. We also have a large bushy tree-like plant that grows a lot around here (not sure what it is called but has long leaves like a broom and yellow flowers in spring), but as they are weeds I doubt that you can find a seed for them. Bamboo certainly grows well and spreads if you can find some to transplant there. Argave grows like a weed, we cannot stop it spreading, and also the dreaded spiny chumbos (pricly pears) will usually grow if you throw leaves off it into the area.

[Sampson]

Thanks for your thoughts Wicksey. I've seen the yellow bush/tree you mention - if I remember it has seed pods like a laburnum in the Spring so I'll see if I can grab some of these and plant them around a bit. If it works they may create some shade and encourage other plants - anything is better than at present!

Thanks again.