Use low-growing layers to add color, texture, and continuity to your landscape
The staff at your local garden center works hard to assemble eye - take in displays ofcolorful perennial , slyly arrangedsucculents , and architecturalgrasses . But the ground - cover section is probable an unremarkable , out - of - the - way of life gangway , lined with uniformly dark-green flats . Who could fault you for passing it by ?
Do n’t let the second - class baby’s room condition fool you . Well - chosenground coverscan wait on a variety of functions in the garden . So skip the overworked varieties that everyone use , and imagine of ground - hugging layers as an opportunity to incorporate sheer color , insidious fragrance , andseasonal interestinto any garden design .
Mix ground covers with taller plants to hold a slope
If your garden includes a hillside , plant a mix of tree , shrub , and ground cover charge can be an in force erosion - control scheme . The overlap tier of branches and leaves break up the energy of rainwater before it hits the footing , while the interlocking layers of beginning help bind soil together and take up surplus wet . To forefend overwatering the gradient , pick out plant life that require minimum supplemental pee .
From a blueprint point of view , choose plant in a diverseness of heights , textures , and shapes creates a more pleasing effect than cover the area with only one or two flora varieties . I typically include low - piss perennial and grasses for summer and fall interest , combine with evergreen plant soil covers with winter berries , flowers , or foliage color to extend seasonal appeal . I ’m peculiarly fond of those that will inflate over and soften retaining wall . Some of my favorite choices are ‘ Coral Beauty ’ cotoneaster ( Cotoneaster‘Coral Beauty ’ , USDA Hardiness Zones 7–8 ) and coarse possum haw ( Arctostaphylos uva - ursi , Zones 2–6 ) .
Take back some turf
While nothing completely mime the durable perfection of a good old - fashioned turf lawn , many ground covers are sturdy enough to withstand at least periodic foot dealings and expect significantly less urine and sustainment than grass .
To shape the best options for your garden , base your criterion before chaffer the nursery . If your lawn will have trivial to no foot traffic , you will let on that you have more possibilities . Try Roman chamomile ( Chamaemelumnobile , Zones 6–9 ) or blue star crawler ( Isotoma fluviatilis , Zones 5–9 ) for an emerald green mat that detain short without mowing ; natural spring flush add a pop of seasonal coloration .
For something that combine the refined appearance of turf with well less maintenance , consider a aboriginal meadow fescue blend . Typically get from seed and occasionally available in sod form , aboriginal mixes ( sometimes referred to as “ no - mow ” portmanteau ) are crafted to utilize less water and to tolerate a orbit of cultural stipulation . Many will handle more shade than traditional superoxide dismutase , making them a salutary option for transitional surface area . They can be mowed or left unmowed for an informal hayfield gist .
The size of it of the area to be incubate is another crucial consideration . Most ground covers are implant from flats or plugs and take clip to satiate in . Vigilant weeding is a must while newfangled ground get over establishes . If you will be planting a heavy arena , save yourself the extra maintenance and regard hydroseeding or program - seeding a native mixing , which will typically sate in in less than two months .
Add color and texture between pavers
Planting dry land cover between stepping - stones is a time - honor design strategy to dress up a plain pathway and link up it to the circumvent garden . Once again , alimony should be part of your excerpt standard . tight - grow ground covers will quickly obscure the pavers and require regular cut back . wearisome spreader or those naturally on the bantam side are a better choice . To add drama , I move around to sedums such as lustrous green ‘ Angelina ’ ( Sedum rupestre‘Angelina ’ , Zones 6–9 ) to highlight gold - colored pavers .
It can be difficult to irrigate expeditiously between pavers , lead some gardeners to avoid planting entirely . Rather than filling every joint with greenery , prefer an inorganic medium , such as gravel or decomposed granite , and sum in a few small-scale plants . I care small - scale grasses or mounding plants , like black mondo grass ( Ophiopogon planiscapus‘Nigrescens ’ , Zones 6–11 ) or heucherella ( ×Heucherellacvs . , Zones 3–8 ) .
Try taller textures under trees
Planting under tree is where most of us fall back on tried - and - true variety like ivy , genus Vinca , or pachysandra . But low - growing , unvarying ground embrace like these lean to visually run aground a tree diagram , disconnecting it from the rest of the garden . Use , instead , a ground binding that is taller and looser , which assist bridge over the gap between the primer coat and the tree ’s canopy .
Try plant with dark - colored or vary foliage to tot up a bit of garden drama . colourful yield or flower lend seasonal coruscation to a louche spot . Just think that any plant that you choose must have the power to handle shadiness and root contention .
Pulling a design together
Low growers with little leaves tuck neatly into awkward spaces , such as the intense angles created when multiple curve converge . Choose slow - spread varieties that can well be garnish to keep your carefully planned melodic line from being obscured .
Ground covers can also be used to bestow color and fragrance in unexpected slipway . I often add small fleck of chamomile or thyme closemouthed to nerve pathway , where they are well positioned to release their herbal aromas when step on .
In pocket-size space , soil covers can bid a pernicious way to carry a colour theme through the garden . Where giant pops of red or pea green would overmaster , a touch of ground - tier people of colour may be all that ’s call for .
When it comes to solving a design dilemma or sum an extra layer of interest to a garden , terra firma covers are my go - to solution . glance over your garden with a decisive eye , and you may find many opportunities to add some untiring , low - growing plant to your own designs .
— Susan Morrison is a garden room decorator and writer and the proprietor of Creative Exteriors Landscape Design in Concord , California .
PLANT pick
Five great ground covers
While each region will have its own palette of appropriate footing cover , here are a few of my darling .
1. Thyme(Thymusspp. and cvs., Zones 5–9)
Delicate foliation , summer flowers , and a delicious fragrance that Rudyard Kipling indite “ smells like first light in paradise”—what ’s not to love about this undercoat - cover mainstay ? There are many cultivar of thyme uncommitted , so make certain to choose one with the height and spread out appropriate for your space .
2. Sedum(Sedumspp.and cvs.,Zones 4–9)
Cold hardy and tough , sedum is an easy way of life to add colour — from subtle to bold — to a garden design . I ’m particularly doting of ‘ Cape Blanco ’ and ‘ Angelina ’ , which count spectacular robe over a keep wall .
3. Silver carpet(Dymondia margaretae,Zones 9–11)
More and more , gardeners desire the unifying swath of color that turfgrass provides but in tincture other than greenish . Silver carpeting fits the visor , distribute quickly to make a drouth - resistant , low - growing evergreen plant lawn .
4. ‘Sunshine’ creeping speedwell(Veronicarepens‘Sunshine’, Zones 7–9)
The cheerful , chartreuse leaves of ‘ Sunshine ’ creep speedwell are staring for brightening a spot that is too green in the garden . Speedwell fall back its leaves in declivity and prefer mild temperatures , making it well suited for nerveless climate or lightly shaded orbit between stepping - stones .
5. Fire Spinner®ice plant(Delosperma‘P001S’, Zones 5–10)
If you like a shot of magnificent colour in your outpouring garden , look no further than Fire Spinner ® internal-combustion engine plant . Forming an evergreen gym mat of apple green foliage , it blaze in spring with blooms in shades of orangish , pink , and yellow .
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A no-mow fescue lawn offers lush texture with less maintenance. Preserving the open feeling of a traditional lawn but with a fraction of the mowing and water needs, fescue is best used in areas with little or no foot traffic.
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A no-mow fescue lawn offers lush texture with less maintenance. Preserving the open feeling of a traditional lawn but with a fraction of the mowing and water needs, fescue is best used in areas with little or no foot traffic.
Create an opening.Roman chamomile carpets a picnic grove. Leaves bruised by visitors’ footsteps release a fresh, fruity fragrance.
Loosely planted ground covers look great between pavers. Adding a colorful mix of tough, attractive creepers is an easy way to soften and energize a pathway.
Add a subtle scent and soft texture in a hot, dry location. Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus, Zones 5–9) spills and fills effortlessly around hardscaping. The tiny tough leaves release a delightful herbal fragrance at the slightest touch.
Large, loose ground covers work well under trees. In addition to its billowy texture, bergenia (Bergenia cordifoliaand cvs., Zones 3–9) contributes seasonal interest with bright spring flowers and colorful autumn foliage.
