TIME-SAVING GROUND COVER
Plants that cover bare ground with a carpet of colour are invaluable in the low-maintenance garden, not least for their ability to suppress weeds. They are ideal for softening the hard edges of a path or the front of borders and for filling in gaps.
Ground-cover plants usually grow no more than 45cm (18in) in height, but many shrubs and sub-shrubs are compact enough to be used as ground cover as well. Heathers and conifers make pleasing ground cover, although the latter may be slow growing. Prostrate cotoneasters make excellent ground-hugging cover in front of other shrubs. Many prostrate thymes are also good ground covers.
Some herbaceous plants make a carpet of lush foliage in summer, as well as flowers in many cases. Hostas, for instance, have a wide range of leaf colour and delicate spears of pale lilac or white flowers, while cranesbills bloom for a long period.
Some ground-covering shrubs, such as Hypericum calycinum, are normally too aggressive for a small garden and will quickly take over. But this hypericum is ideal for a sloping bank that is difficult to cultivate. (If you plant it elsewhere you will need to contain it with paving.)
Filling Shady Locations Fast-growing ivy is excellent for all types of shade, and Pachysandra terminalis ‘Variegata’ makes a green-and-white carpet in dry shade. Lily-of-the-valley, Liriope muscari and periwinkle also grow well below trees.
Maintenance of Ground Cover
Many ground-cover plants are quite tough, and once planted require little attention other than an annual feed. Heathers need an annual trim with shears after flowering to keep them looking neat. And plants like Hypericum calycinum can be clipped annually with shears or a nylon line trimmer to reduce their height and encourage bushiness.
Planting Ground-cover Plants
Ground cover will eventually suppress weeds, but initially needs protection from them. Before you start planting, clear the ground thoroughly of existing weeds.
Unless you are planting a ground cover that spreads by underground stems or rooting prostrate stems on the surface, it is best to plant through a mulching sheet to control weeds while the plants are becoming established. If you are planting large ground-cover plants, you may need to dig holes with a spade before laying the mulching sheet.
Ground-cover plants usually grow no more than 45cm (18in) in height, but many shrubs and sub-shrubs are compact enough to be used as ground cover as well. Heathers and conifers make pleasing ground cover, although the latter may be slow growing. Prostrate cotoneasters make excellent ground-hugging cover in front of other shrubs. Many prostrate thymes are also good ground covers.
Some herbaceous plants make a carpet of lush foliage in summer, as well as flowers in many cases. Hostas, for instance, have a wide range of leaf colour and delicate spears of pale lilac or white flowers, while cranesbills bloom for a long period.
Some ground-covering shrubs, such as Hypericum calycinum, are normally too aggressive for a small garden and will quickly take over. But this hypericum is ideal for a sloping bank that is difficult to cultivate. (If you plant it elsewhere you will need to contain it with paving.)
Filling Shady Locations Fast-growing ivy is excellent for all types of shade, and Pachysandra terminalis ‘Variegata’ makes a green-and-white carpet in dry shade. Lily-of-the-valley, Liriope muscari and periwinkle also grow well below trees.
Maintenance of Ground Cover
Many ground-cover plants are quite tough, and once planted require little attention other than an annual feed. Heathers need an annual trim with shears after flowering to keep them looking neat. And plants like Hypericum calycinum can be clipped annually with shears or a nylon line trimmer to reduce their height and encourage bushiness.
Planting Ground-cover Plants
Ground cover will eventually suppress weeds, but initially needs protection from them. Before you start planting, clear the ground thoroughly of existing weeds.
Unless you are planting a ground cover that spreads by underground stems or rooting prostrate stems on the surface, it is best to plant through a mulching sheet to control weeds while the plants are becoming established. If you are planting large ground-cover plants, you may need to dig holes with a spade before laying the mulching sheet.
