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Ground Covers to Beautify and Reduce Maintenance in Your Landscape

Published Thursday, August 21, 2008 by bloggerblognet26206 | E-mail this post

Grass is a wonderful solution to many landscaping problems, however in many cases a ground cover other than grass is desirable. Foundation plantings, banks and shady places often require something other than grass. Good covers are hardy and dependable, easy to care for, inexpensive and compete well against weeds. Usually the choice of ground cover will depend heavily on the characteristics of the area that needs covering.

Ground Covers for Different Types of Areas

For banks, open sunny areas, or areas where a large, high cover is desirable, wild trailing rose with its white blossom is very popular. Wild rose makes a thick mat of foliage 2 feet off the ground. Also in sunny places, various forms of juniper work well (e.g., creeping juniper, which is long, low and spreading; Waukegan juniper, blue-gray except in winter, when it is purple, and Sargent juniper, a dense green type) form a mat 8 to 20 feet high. All are attractive either pruned or in a natural state.

For areas in deep or light shade, there are evergreen vines such as the Baltic ivy and Pachysandra, Periwinkle with its blue-and-white spring flowers, and Plumbago which has brilliant blue flowers in the fall. English ivy is good for the shady north side of buildings. For soil that is too sandy for shrubs there is Scotch broom, which bears yellow blooms. Other covers include Hay-Scented Fern, Sandwort, Lily of the Valley, Maiden Pink, Winter-Creeper Thyme and Phlox.

Some Ground Covers to Avoid

Suggestions are often made for ground covers which can take the place of grass for lawn, but such covers are usually much more difficult to maintain than grass is, even though it is claimed they do not require mowing. Among he ones that are suggested are Chamomile, Sandwort, Pearlwort and Dicondra.

Chamomile is a flowering perennial used in medieval times for turf, and while fragrant and soft, it is also untidy and weak. Sandwort, which has rather fleshy leaves with a smooth surface grows 1 inch long and must be kept mowed to remove the seed stalks.

Pearlwort, which has to be watered freely, is only practical in a hot, humid climate; and unfortunately it is a haven for grubs, moths, beetles and sow bugs. Dicondra, a low-creeping herb used on the West Coast for ground cover, is considered a weed by many people, and while easy to grow, does not stand up well against abuse.

Learn more about landscape planning and design by visiting http://landscapehints.com, a popular landscaping website that offers information, tips and free landscaping resources and advice.

Landscaping Wilmington