We're in the Vancouver BC area and thinking of tearing out the weeds/grass and going lower maintenance... like the houses in Las Vegas or Arizona... or is it just too wet? rotting roots? (palm trees seem to survive!) Is there a particular type of "desert" plant group which would survive outdoors in BC? Is there a forum, book, or source that we can reference to determine which plants would possibly survive? Does anyone know a place in the Vancouver BC area that has it for a visit or a drive-by?
Sedums and mosses are not desert plants but tolerate drought well. Many other plants are also drought tolerant; however, they all have the same problem: they are easily out-competed by weeds in the climate of the Wet Coast. So either fairly frequent weeding will be required for them, or you will have to put some effort into deterring weed growth by application of mulches and/or plastic sheeting. There is a property on North Boundary Road that has a nice grass-free front yard that you could check out. I don't want to broadcast the address; but I can send it to you in a PM message, if you are interested.
Thank you. I was thinking about matting the yard to keep weeds out, with underlying drip systems for watering plants and trees when necessary, anf overlaying it with rock... and of course with desert plants in a decor format... so that I did not have to tend to or deal with much in the way of care or maintenance. The question is what plants will survive the winters... and the excessive water from the rains. A pic is attached of what I would like to achieve
I think you will find the gravel very difficult to maintain in this climate. Even with weed barrier it will fill with weed seedlings and if there are trees in the neighborhood a lot of blown debris can get in the gravel. You might also get moss or even algal growth in the rainy season. Pavers, flagstone, and native ground covers and low shrubs might be easier. Kinnikinnick, mahonia, ferns and low conifers might be used.
Thank you Eric and Sundrop... I appreciate your assistance... my experience in Nevada with the matting of the yard (laying down weed barrier) and covering it with rock still allows for some weed growth and seed germination, since in the desert there is major wind and seed and pollen movements... so I know there will be some ongoing weeding to be done, but there the weeds usually do not root through the weed barrier to become buried into the ground, and so they are easier to pull out. As for the "gravel", it is much easier to maintain than dirt. I was hoping that I could create a desert motif but unless I can find plants that will survive the deluge, I will have to go to locally proven ferns and trees.
So I have been growing a couple yucca species and 1 kind of prickly pear up here on northern Vancouver island. Since they survive the 2000 or so millimetres of rain I get per year, I feel they would do alright in the lower mainland. I have seen them survive weeks below 0, months of rainy, just above freezing weather, all kinds of climate you would not expect a cactus to enjoy. Sedums make a great succulent groundcover to add to a desert looking garden.
