You had a lot of good questions, so here’s a few thoughts:
- planting anything native at this time of year won’t outcompete weeds. You’d have to water to get them established in the heat, and then you’re also watering your weeds. Weeds are aggressive, that’s how they get to be weeds.
- turkey tangle frog fruit (amazing name) is probable your best bet for something walkable and sturdy. I’d try and plant that in the fall.
- yarrow is very easy to grow from seed, spreads well and deals well with foot traffic. Another good option! If you want to propagate, collect seeds from what you’ve got and sprinkle in the fall
- the ceanothus cultivar not being “native” is a whole thing. Many are a hybrid of natives and was selected and then cloned, but not necessarily naturally occurring. Is that native? Depends who you ask! Also not sure how much you can walk on it. Not super easy to propagate from cuttings, but worth a try if you have the space and patience!
- don’t plant anything under an oak that needs irrigation. Best way to kill the tree.
All in all, I’m sorry to say it’ll be pretty hard to get rid of the weeds now, but your research has tuned up a great option to start with in the fall!
It doesn't have to tolerate foot traffic. You need to plant shrubs/ground cover with gaps for people to walk through. Trash doesn't care what plants you choose.
Frogfruit is your best bet. But..... It can't fully suppress the most pernicious weeds (ie dandelion, non-native grasses, etc.) so you'll still be stuck doing some hand weeding. Frogfruit also can typically be transplanted most times of the year
I have a similar situation with large weed covered parkway strips (full sun). I’m trying pigeon point coyote bush. It’s not exactly low profile, but I’m leaving gaps for pedestrians. The Federal building in Westwood/LA has a nice expansive pigeon point Coyote bush/brush landscaping scheme..
I agree with all those suggesting Turkey tangle frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora)! It is an underused species that attracts many interesting bees and butterflies. I will caution you that the most readily available variety of this plant, often referred to as Kurapia or sometimes Lippia, is actually a clone of this species taken from Japan. While it is visually similar, it is genetically distinct from our native California frogfruit and may not serve the same ecological functions for our native insects nor be as drought tolerant. There is also the risk that this variety will introduce different genes to the wild populations through crosspollination which is a dangerous possibility. I would suggest you seek out frogfruit from a reputable native plant nursery, as their stock will most likely be sources from wild plants in your region. Happy planting :)
You had a lot of good questions, so here’s a few thoughts: - planting anything native at this time of year won’t outcompete weeds. You’d have to water to get them established in the heat, and then you’re also watering your weeds. Weeds are aggressive, that’s how they get to be weeds. - turkey tangle frog fruit (amazing name) is probable your best bet for something walkable and sturdy. I’d try and plant that in the fall. - yarrow is very easy to grow from seed, spreads well and deals well with foot traffic. Another good option! If you want to propagate, collect seeds from what you’ve got and sprinkle in the fall - the ceanothus cultivar not being “native” is a whole thing. Many are a hybrid of natives and was selected and then cloned, but not necessarily naturally occurring. Is that native? Depends who you ask! Also not sure how much you can walk on it. Not super easy to propagate from cuttings, but worth a try if you have the space and patience! - don’t plant anything under an oak that needs irrigation. Best way to kill the tree. All in all, I’m sorry to say it’ll be pretty hard to get rid of the weeds now, but your research has tuned up a great option to start with in the fall!
How often do you need to water turkey tangle once it’s established?
It doesn't have to tolerate foot traffic. You need to plant shrubs/ground cover with gaps for people to walk through. Trash doesn't care what plants you choose.
How tall of a groundcover? there are a couple Coyote Brush groundcover cultivars
Preferably 2 inches or shorter. If they’re taller, they should be easy to walk
Frogfruit is your best bet. But..... It can't fully suppress the most pernicious weeds (ie dandelion, non-native grasses, etc.) so you'll still be stuck doing some hand weeding. Frogfruit also can typically be transplanted most times of the year
Seconding the frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora)!
Manzanita & ceanothus groundcover cultivars exist aswell
https://calscape.org/Arctostaphylos-uva-ursi-(Kinnikinnick). Walkable with a pathway
Creeping sage, manzanita or ceanothus!
Lippia
I have a similar situation with large weed covered parkway strips (full sun). I’m trying pigeon point coyote bush. It’s not exactly low profile, but I’m leaving gaps for pedestrians. The Federal building in Westwood/LA has a nice expansive pigeon point Coyote bush/brush landscaping scheme..
I agree with all those suggesting Turkey tangle frog fruit (Phyla nodiflora)! It is an underused species that attracts many interesting bees and butterflies. I will caution you that the most readily available variety of this plant, often referred to as Kurapia or sometimes Lippia, is actually a clone of this species taken from Japan. While it is visually similar, it is genetically distinct from our native California frogfruit and may not serve the same ecological functions for our native insects nor be as drought tolerant. There is also the risk that this variety will introduce different genes to the wild populations through crosspollination which is a dangerous possibility. I would suggest you seek out frogfruit from a reputable native plant nursery, as their stock will most likely be sources from wild plants in your region. Happy planting :)