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Unless it only rains once in a blue moon where you live, you’re going to want water-loving plants in your garden bed or pot. A few ideas for plants that aren’t super fast-growing (meaning they’re good in pots or near foundations) and can handle a lot of standing water include: 

• Acorus (Sweet flag)

• Colocasia esculenta (Taro or elephant ear): In many climates, these are annuals, making them less desirable because you need to adjust the chain again after each replant.

• Equisetum scirpoides (Dwarf horsetail rush): non-dwarf varieties of horsetail are fast growers and can take over quickly.

• Juncus effusus (Curly rush)

• Osmunda regalis (Royal fern): Royal fern can grow quickly but can also handle being crowded, making them good container plants.

Monkey grass makes a beautiful, low-maintenance ground cover, particularly in shadier areas where other grasses don’t receive enough sunlight to grow. It’s also excellent for edging walkways, bordering flower beds, and accenting rock gardens. You can grow it as a container plant, as well, which is a perfect solution for those who love its foliage but want to contain the spread.

Yes, weeds can still grow in decomposed granite. If properly compacted, it can act as a good weed suppressant, meaning you’ll only pull weeds occasionally. But no ground cover is completely weed-proof. To further prevent weeds, you can try spraying your decomposed granite with distilled white vinegar.

Yes, you can put topsoil over sand to encourage grass growth. The topsoil will help to improve water retention and promote grass roots’ development, making it a recommended step of the seeding process. Adding a layer of topsoil will provide additional nutrients to the sandy soil, helping the grass grow and remain healthy through many seasons.