Using Groundcovers In Your Landscape Elaine Homstad, MG, FCMGA February 2, 2010

Why Groundcovers? Prevent erosion Suppress weeds Provide low-maintenance effects Reduce lawn area Provide coverage in hard-to- grow (shady or too dry) areas Create differentiation of garden beds

Determining Your Needs Shady or Sunny? Dry or Wet? Foot Traffic or Out-of-the-Way? Pets to consider? Any wildlife you wish to attract or deter? All of these factors will help you decide on the groundcover best for you and your conditions

Low-growing evergreens Look for short (6-12”) spreading or creeping varieties Groundcovers Avoid invasives (Hedera Helix) Short ornamentals Look for grey-green or feathery foliage Select plants which form mounds or clumps Select plants that spread through rhizomes or are self-seeders Plant Choices

Low-growing Evergreens Junipers – Very hardy - like sun, but will tolerate partial shade, prefer dry environment, do not mind heat – Varieties to look for: Blue RugBlue Pacific Blue ChipBar Harbor Mother LodeNana Sea Spray There are many others – search your local nursery or online – look for “horizontalis”, “conferta” and “procumbens” varieties

‘Blue Chip’ ‘Blue Pacific’ ‘Blue Rug’ ‘Mother Lode’ Japanese - ‘Nana’ ‘Sea Spray’ ‘Bar Harbor’

Evergreen Groundcovers Virginia Creeper Pachysandra Cotoneaster Ajuga (“Bugleweed”) Sedums Vinca

Pachysandra Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG

Vinca Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG

Ajuga Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG

Lamium Cotoneaster Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG

Sedums

Virginia Creeper

Short Ornamentals Lamb’s Ears (Stachys) Coreopsis Sweet Woodruff Evergreen Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) Creeping Thyme Green & Gold (Chrysogonum Virginianum) Note: all of these like sun

Lamb’s Ears (Stachys) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) Coreopsis Candytuft Sweet Woodruff Green & Gold – Chrysogonum Virginianum

More Short Ornamentals Sedges and short fescues Miniature Hostas (a treat for deer) Ferns Lily-of-the-Valley (can be toxic to dogs and cats) Impatiens (annual – deer LOVE them) Note: all of these will survive in partial to full shade

Sedge Miniature Hostas (photo: White Flower Farm) Lily-of-the-Valley Ferns Impatiens

Pets and other Critters To keep out unwanted beasts… Use the PSSST factor when choosing plants: Prickly Smelly Spiny Spiky Thorny

PSSST Factor Plants Plants whose stems and leaves are generally avoided by dogs, deer, and others: Cotoneasters Vinca Junipers Liriope Lamb’s Ears Ajuga Pachysandra Lamium Sedges Sweet Woodruff

Looking for more advice? See what others have done Read books and magazines Talk to staff at garden centers and nurseries Consult web sources

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!