I continue to simplify my own garden and streamline its maintenance. And I am increasingly conscious of what needs water and what can thrive on not just gardeners neglect, but also in dry conditions. I am filling spaces with things, that over time, won’t require weeding and I am constantly looking for plants that are beautiful with easy care and in the interest of reducsing my mulch usage, I am looking for ground covering plants that will similarly help to hold moisture in the soil.
Expert Garden Design Advice for Adding Ground covers
On the topic of ground covers I wanted to share with you some expert advice from garden designer Joanne Neale, who, like me, has reservations about the overuse of mulch. Mulch is expensive and time consuming and with the addition of more perennial ground covers, it is easy to a take less-is-more stance on mulch use. Mulch is a necessary tool that can and should be attractive… but it is not a celebrated design element in any self respecting garden. And over time, as a garden matures, ideally there is decreasing need for mulch.
Q: How to use less mulch?
A: Ground covers.
Image: Galium odoratum (also known as sweet woodruff) is delicate in appearance but vigorous and drought-tolerant. It is one of many flowering ground covers that blooms in the spring. It is excellent paired with Viola labradorica. Image by J.F. Gaffard CC BY-SA 3.0
As you are adding plants to your garden, remember to be patient. I remember the first time I heard the oft repeated gardener’s maxim, “First year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap”. It was told to me by a friend’s mother, who is an avid daylily breeder with a mind-boggling New Hampshire garden. I’ve since enjoyed reassuring myself and others (namely clients and student) with this saying – I love that it is basically true, but find it amusing that because it rhymes I think people seem to put more stock in it’s wisdom.
“First year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap”
Lets hear from Joanne on how to get them going:
How to establish ground covers in your garden
I promise, ground covers will make your gardening life easier – but only if you do it right. Here are some important things to remember before you start replacing your boring old mulch with fabulous new ground covers.
Check your soil and site conditions.
Is the area sunny, shady, or in-between? Wet, dry, or in-between? Make sure you understand what is going on below ground, before you start planting.
Eliminate all invasive weeds before starting!
If you have a stand of the dreaded Bishop’s weed. (Aegopodium podagraria) or other invasive, eliminate it first or your ground cover will never succeed. Digging, burning, spraying, and smothering are all options—use whichever you prefer.
Prepare the soil to ensure success.
I like to dig in a healthy addition of compost or leaf mold to each hole when planting my new ground cover plants. It’s best not to rototill or dig up the entire bed, as this will expose weed seeds which will sprout; it may also damage shallow roots of neighboring trees and plants like azaleas and rhododendrons.
Plant at the best time for success.
Give your new plants a month or more of cool, rainy weather to start and they will do fine without a lot of extra attention. For New England, this means no later than the middle of May for spring planting, or the middle of October for fall planting. Remember to water during dry spells and don’t stop until the ground freezes in winter.
Space your ground cover plants properly.
It is worth doing a little research before choosing a ground cover, to ensure you are spacing for optimum coverage. Many nurseries will provide a suggested spacing table. Reading about the plant will also give you an idea of ultimate spread. Woody plants should not be spaced too close, as they will resent future crowding – plant according to their mature width. For perennials and spreaders, adjust the spacing to suit your patience level.
Mulch (sorry, yes) until it is no longer necessary.
Finish up by mulching the entire bed with 2-3” of nutritive material (compost, shredded leaves, fine aged bark mulch) to conserve moisture and encourage plants to spread.
Don’t forget to weed early and often to prevent your new plants from being crowded out by more aggressive undesirables
Images:
Middle – Iris cristata forms a mat and is perfectly suited as a spreading blanket beneath ericaceous plants such as azaleas and rhododendrons. Image by Ryan Somma by CC 2.0.
Bottom – Microbiota decussata turns a rich brown in winter. For a lovely winter effect, mass it on a hillside or under red twig dogwoods. It demands excellent drainage. Image by KYMI CC BY 3.0.
For more Ideas see my full list of ground cover and mulching plants that can be used in a variety os situations (full sun, shade, part shade, etc):
Now, I’d love to answer your questions! What do you want to know about growing ground covers or using mulch? Leave a comment and let me know.
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Ground covers is the base of any yard, choosing the right cover to use is imperative. This is a great review of the issues that need to be considered. Thanks for sharing
Weeds ugh – no matter whats covering it you seem to get them. Even with artificial turf – which I use alot, you’ll see some weed growth around the edges. Drainage does seem to help!
Everybody always tells me it takes me too long to start planting. I want to make sure I remove all the weeds before I start plantings. I rather spend more time weeding at the beginning, than catching up for the rest of the season, trying to maintain the garden.
Hello Rochelle, Thank you for sharing your expert advice regarding the Ground Covers. Till now we were in the image that more you mulch, better is your crop but certainly after reading your blog you had curtailed the veil of the mainstream thoughts. I hope that this ground covers has also made the gardening easier of a layman.