Issue #41, January 19, 2007

The Garden at Rock Cottage

Grounding Experience

by Lance Brilliantine

Every garden has one or more problem spots, those areas where things do not grow well. Typically there are areas that are either too shady or areas where the sun scorches plants before they can root effectively. Luckily, there are adaptable plants that resolve such gardening problems.

Ground covers are a wonderful group of plants that provide a unifying landscape effect in either sun or shade. Because they are vigorous, they are able to withstand many of the problems of other plants. Some will tolerate being walked on. Others produce wonderful, tiny flowers and dense foliage in textures that compliment and tie together a landscape.

These practical plants have many uses. On slopes they will control erosion, or provide a substitute for lawns in areas too shady to support grass. They can be used as accents in areas that are too narrow for shrubs. Wide-spreading ground covers fill large areas with carpets of foliage and can even eliminate costly and time-consuming maintenance such as mowing and edging.

There are also aesthetic reasons for using ground covers. They soften the harsh lines of architecture, walkways and driveways. When inter-planted beneath trees and shrubs, ground covers will provide textural balance and link plants as a unifying element in the garden. They can be used as specimen plants that add interest and a low-growing cover among taller plants.

A number of the popular ground covers do very well on the East End of Long Island. Ajuga is a low-growing, hardy plant for sunny areas that spreads rapidly and blooms in May and June with lavender flowers. Lamium blooms with lovely pink-to-purple flowers at the same time and has waxy green or variegated leaves. It is best in shady locations. Pachysandra grows in sun or shade and is a shrubby, evergreen ground cover that grows about 10 inches tall. It spreads by rhizomes that form a dense carpet of dark green foliage. The oval leaves appear as whorls at the stem ends and produce tiny white flowers in early spring. Periwinkle, one of the more popular ground covers, has smooth evergreen leaves that spread on long, intertwining strands. It produces lavender blue flowers that appear in spring and continue intermittently throughout summer into fall. Growing about six inches tall, it is highly effective on slopes and banks that are partially shady. The Virginia Creeper is a fast-growing, vine that attaches itself with tendrils. The deciduous leaves radiate outward from a leaf stem. The leaves turn fiery red in fall and are very showy. Flowers are inconspicuous, but the plant produces blue-black berries that attract birds. It is very easy to grow but can take over an area if not managed correctly. Virginia Creeper will thrive in either sun or partial shade and is an excellent cover for slopes or places where grass is not practical.

Regardless of the type of groundcover, proper planting is important for the plants to grow and spread rapidly. The best time to plant ground covers is late winter, early spring, or fall when the soil is likely to remain moist. This helps the plants establish themselves.

Work the soil to a depth of about eight inches and incorporate fertilizer, some lime and organic matter. (It is, of course, best to perform a soil test to see exactly what is required.) Situate plants in a pattern effect, spacing about ten inches apart for most ground covers. Place a moderate amount of mulch around each plant and water the plants well to help establish a strong root system. Keep the plants generally moist – but not wet – for at least the first month. Ground covers can be encouraged to spread rapidly if they are periodically fertilized during the first growing season. On newly-planted ground covers, apply a complete fertilizer, one that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, immediately after planting. Reapply a nitrogen fertilizer four to six weeks later and continue two more times in the first year. Only apply fertilizers when foliage is dry. Once fertilizer is applied, water the area thoroughly to help disperse the fertilizer into the upper five inches of soil. Watering after the fertilizer is applied will prevent any burning of foliage and also avoid potential injury to new roots.

Ground covers should be a part of every garden. They possess the ability to resolve garden problems as well as to help synchronize the garden by tying elements together effectively. Because they are so low maintenance, they are also a welcome addition to more complex landscape arrangements.

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.