Question
My landscape plan was designed using kinnikinnick as ground cover in a large area.  I do NOT fertilize it, I put chicken manure around the plants to amend the soil, I put barkdust in the area to keep weeds down, I do NOT water there, yet I keep losing plants every year.  The foliage turns dark brown.  Right now I can see a bunch of plants that don't show new growth as the healthy ones do. Should I give it up and plant a different groundcover?  I live in the Portland area (southwest).

Answer
hi Diane
what species is it, there are 50 different types of this.
but most need full to part sun and moist but well drained
soil. i would try to thin it out by removing the dead parts
and then amending the bare areas with compost then use a slow release organic type fertilizer like osmocote. chicken manure is good organic matter but incomplete nutritionaly to much phosphorous. water normally once a week and see what happens.  Good Luck  Larry  ;-)