P H O T O S : (R E D B U D ) M A R TY B A L D W IN ; (F E R N ) M A T T H E W B E N S O N

I have a damp, shady corner on the northeast

side of my house. It's useless because ids always

muddy. What are my options here?

First, see what you can do to dry it out. Check downspouts

and make sure they aren’t dumping rainwater there. If

they are, reroute them. And if it’s a low spot, add fill to

raise the grade and force water to drain away.

You can also plant the area with species that thrive in

damp, shady spots. Many ferns are notably well-suited

for such conditions. Many other shade perennials enjoy

damp conditions, but most won’t tolerate long-term

standing water.

A less-attractive, but functional, option is to cover the

ground with landscape fabric and a few inches of pea

gravel. This will allow people and pets to tread on it

without tracking mud everywhere.

B E T T E R HO M ES AND GARDEN S AUGUST

2010

1 0 3

The

cooler side

of chocolate.

Refreshing mint dipped in rich dark chocolate.

And still with 45% less fat* making it that much cooler.

‘ Than the average of the leading chocolate brands.

A L ig h ts

j

/0

Enjoy M int (& Chocolate

™