Ground Cover Plants at Focus

Ground cover plants

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Each year, in mid to late Spring, add a dressing of general fertilizer.

If planted in grass, keep a 1m (3ft) square or round area of cultivated soil clear of weeds or grass.

In the first two years keep well watered, particularly in dry weather.Being able to cover areas of soil with a green carpet of foliage that is not only attractive but can suppress weed growth has many advantages in the garden.

Underplanting shrubs and trees with ground cover can improve the overall effect of the garden.

The range of plants available for the purpose is extensive and most groups of plants may be considered, however researching the ultimate height of the chosen plants is important as many may grow higher than a ground-hugging carpet and others can spread over larger areas and become invasive.

Some plants such as roses may resent an underplanting of ground cover plants around their bases that compete for food.

Whichever you choose, to achieve the best results planting of a single type is advised. Taking advice from your Garden Centre or Retail Nursery as to the number that will be required to cover a specific area will save financial outlay and ensure that the area is covered in the fastest time possible.

As with all planting within the garden, good soil preparation is imperative and digging the soil thoroughly to a depth of 23cm (9in) minimum, before planting, is important as is adding good amounts of organic material such as garden compost, well-rotted farmyard manure, mushroom compost or a proprietory planting mixture.

Covering banks

The covering and retaining of banks is one role that ground cover plants does very well, often self-rooting as they grow so consolidating the soil and preventing erosion.

On banks it may be necessary to dig planting holes at regular intervals at spacings suitable for the plant chosen.

Feeding

Applying a general fertilizer to the soil in the Spring will help sustain growth and build up good root clumps which in turn will give more foliage and flower performance and speed up the spread and coverage of the plants.

Watering

In particular when planted on banks, as well as when used as an underplanting, watering is very important particularly in dry weather in the Spring and early Summer.

Plants for cover

The following are good example of true ground cover:

Acaena (a) (New Zealand Burr)
Ajuga (p) (Bugle)
Anaphalis (p) (Snowy-Everlasting)
Cerastium (a) (Snow in Summer)
Cotoneaster low-growing evergreens (s)
Epimedium (p) (Barrenwort or Bishop's Hat)
Euphorbia low-growing varieties (p) (Cushion Spurge)
Fragaria x ananassa 'Variegata' (p) (Variegated Strawberry)
Geraniums (perennial types (p)
Hypericum calcinum (s) (Rose of Sharon)
Lamium galeobdolon (p) (Golden-flowered Dead Nettle)
Lamium maculatum (p) (Spotted Dead Nettle)
Lonicera pileata (s) (Privet Honeysuckle)
Lysimachia (p) (Creeping Jenny)
Nepeta (p) (Catmint or Catnip)
Pulmonaria (p) (Lungwort)

Rose of Sharon

Roses - ground cover varieties (s)

Rubus tricolor (s) (Creeping Thornless Bramble)
Saxifraga umbrosa (a) (London Pride)
Tellima grandiflora (p) (Fringecups)
Thymus (a) (Thyme)
Vinca major varieties (s) (Periwinkle)
Vinca minor varieties (s) (Periwinkle)
Ground-covering spreading Conifers