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Monday - May 11, 2009
From: Huntington Beach,, CA
Region: California
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Plants for wall behind pool in Huntingdon Beach California
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a backyard pool and I just removed a messy ivy hedge that grew along the back block wall. The plant was shedding too much leaves. I would like the new plant to hide the fence and grow close enough to the wall that it won't stick out more that a foot. The wall is about 3 ft from the pool, so whatever plant grows there needs to have a root system that won't affect my pool wall. I don't want plants in pots by the pool, tried that didn't work. Also a plant that is fast growing is desired. ThanksANSWER:
We were stumped for a while; we could not find a vine that appeared to be satisfactory for very southern California, and no shrub would tolerate being kept cut back so it only stuck out a foot. Then, we thought of grasses. We're not talking lawn grass that has to be mowed, these are grasses native to North America and to California that require little care beyond trimming them down to about 6 inches late in the winter. We chose grasses that are ornamental, hold their place year round and of various heights so you could arrange them as you chose. You didn't say how high your wall is, nor whether it was in sun or shade, but as you follow the links below, you should be able to find several that will suit your purpose. Grasses have fibrous roots, but not the woody invasive kind of root that would interfere with your pool wall.
Grasses for poolside in Southern California
Achnatherum hymenoides (Indian ricegrass) - 1 to 2 ft. tall, low water use, sun
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - 1 to 3 ft., medium water use, sun or part shade
Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana (silver beardgrass) - 3 to 6 ft., low water use, sun
Calamagrostis canadensis (bluejoint) - 3 to 5 ft., medium water use, sun, part shade or shade
Deschampsia cespitosa - 1 to 3 ft, low water use, part shade
Festuca californica (California fescue) - 3 to 6 ft., medium water use, part shade
Hordeum jubatum (foxtail barley) - 1 to 3 ft.
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) - 18 to 24 inches tall, low water use, sun or part shade
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