Gardening and Horticulture - thorny mat?

hello, i just wanted to ask if anyone has any suggestions as to a low growing groundcover that is prickly or thorny for a full sun bank . something dogs wouldnt want to dig around that will keep them from moving the bank to the sidewalk and prevent erosion. i have been looking into evergreens and things today, and i thought i would ask. thank you.

Hi Fellow "Zone Sevenite".

Blue Rug Juniper came to mind and I found this "Gamilink"

http://www.themastergardenershow.com/shrubdict/blue_rug_juniper.htm

It's certainly low-growing and prickly!! I don't how quickly it fills out, but that's a start for you.

If something else should come to mind, I will let you know. Meanwhile, there are true experts here on this forum who will no doubt have even better ideas!

North Garden Gal

That's a great suggestion, northgardengal! Just what I was thinking! I have several beds of the Blue Rug juniper and it IS prickly! It grows relatively slow, and likes to be well-drained. It makes a great, thick ground cover though, and I love the fact that it's "evergreen"!

I agree with both Florajo and Northgardengal ... it's a great choice, but my experience (I have three of these little pricklies) they are quite slow growers. How big is your area?? Could you plant several of these?? :) Are they your dogs?? Inquiring minds want to know ... :D

Great suggestion Northgardengal!

I wonder though if dogs wouldn't be deterred from their little bulldozing operations by most thick groundcovers? (after they are established, naturally... :) )

Cotoneaster and a lot of the creeping perennials such as Aubrieta, snow in the summer, perennial alussum, etc come to mind immediately.

One other thing to keep in mind - especially if you are going to use shrubs like cotoneaster or the junipers - be sure to kill all the weeds in the bed before you plant - they can be almost impossible to control after they start growing thru the groundcover :mad:

Just a bit more to consider... :confused:

Howie

i did pick up a blue star juniper. i think the bank goes about 20-25 ft. at its highest it is 5 ft high. all of the weeds are gone i know, i had to shovel alot of the bank back. i 'stirred' it all up pretty good and covered it with mulch. i put up barriers like you see on the highways with plastic,etc. the dogs are mine. one is a retriever/chow puppy and one is an adult male great pyrenees. i was thinking of something i saw called a 'crimson pygmy barberry' , also. the dogs cannot comfortably go over the barrier i've put up , so i think slow growers will be ok, but on the ends of the bank it is not so high- or so eroded. i wish there was such a thing as a creeping holly! i will keep looking and checking in. i appreciate all the responses and i will keep checking in. thank you!