Do you have a problem area in your yard, such as no grass under trees? One of the best solutions for low maintenance gardening is to use ground covers. They are ideal for a variety of situations such as an alternative to lawns, filler for bare spots in a flower border, erosion control, or to soften the edges of stepping-stones.
Most ground covers are easy to care for. You don't have to mow or fertilize as frequently as a lawn and many of them are quite drought resistant. Whatever your growing conditions and design requirements, there is a plant suitable for you. Here is a short list of possibilities to get creative juices flowing.
Carpet Bugle Weed (Ajuga reptans)
Low growing rosettes of glossy oval leaves. Lavender blue spikes of flowers appear in spring. Varieties are available with color ranging from pink to burgundy to purple-bronze. Full sun to full shade. 3 - 4 inches tall.
Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Perfect for the shady areas of your garden, but also grows in sun. Strap-shaped, brilliant green leaves. Delicate, sweet smelling, white bell-like flowers appear in spring. 4 - 8 inches tall.
Creeping Jenny 'Aurea' (Lysimachia nummularia)
Great for ground cover and in containers. The chartreuse foliage really adds a punch of color to the garden. Not to be confused with the weed Creeping Charlie. Jenny is well-behaved. Full sun to partial shade. Golden creeping Jenny 'Goldilocks'. The plant looks like it has long strands of small golden coins. Ideal along wet borders such as pools. 3 inches tall. Sun – Partial Sun
Lamium 'Anne Greenaway' (Lamium maculatum)
An excellent ground cover for shaded sites, 'Anne Greenaway' offers a new dimension to lamium. Neat green leaves, edged in bright gold, have a silver central stripe. Clusters of hooded lavender/mauve flowers in spring. 8 inches tall. Partial to full shade.
Roses
There are many varieties of roses available that grow about 12 to 18 inches tall and almost 4 feet wide. Roses are an excellent choice where erosion control is needed or if deer resistance is an issue. Most ground cover types are carefree so you don't have to worry about the maintenance usually required when growing roses. A few varieties to look for are the 'Pearl Meidiland' 'Sea Foam', and 'Nozomi'. Full sun.
Black Eyed Susan 'Goldstrum' (Rudbeckia fulgida)
Although it is not a traditional ground cover, its spreading habit makes black eyed Susan a good choice when you are trying to fill space. Use this plant as a companion to ornamental grasses to create meadows of color and movement. A North American native, rudbeckia produces golden yellow single-petaled flowers with a dark eye, hence the common name black eyed Susan. You can count on these blooms to bring butterflies to your garden from late summer through fall. Full sun to partial shade. 24 inches tall.
Mazus reptans
Works between cut flagstones to soften the edges. Tiny, bright green leaves and delicate, lavender blooms in spring. Semi-evergreen. Spreads quickly. 2 inches tall. Full sun to partial shade.
Lilyturf 'Silver Dragon' (Liriope spicata)
As far as ground covers go, you can't get much more adaptable than liriope. It thrives in any light and most soil conditions. It loves the heat and is drought tolerant. The only thing that puts a damper on liriope's spirit is standing water, so plant them in a location with good drainage. 'Silver Dragon's white and green variegated foliage adds light to a dark area. 12 - 15 inches tall.
Sedum 'Angelina' - Brilliant, needle-shaped, golden yellow foliage creates a beautiful mat of color. Try it between stones in a rock garden. Drought resistant. 3 inches tall Sun – Partial Sun
Dianthus 'Neon Star' - A sun lover covered in vibrant pink aromatic flowers. Grow it along walkways in well-drained soil. 3-4 inches tall. Sun – Partial Sun
Maiden grass 'Morning Light' – Silvery foliage with bronze seed heads that dry to cream. Beautiful along fences or the back of flower borders. 4 to 5 feet tall. Sun to Partial Shade
Ivy 'Golden Ingot' – A well-mannered, non-invasive ivy with colorful variegated leaves. Try it under trees and shrubs to create a patterned carpet. 4-5 inches tall. Sun – Partial Sun
Maintenance Tip:
Some ground covers such as liriope and English ivy can be whipped into shape with a lawn mower raised to its highest setting. Do this in late winter or early spring, before new growth emerges. After you give your ground cover a haircut, apply a slow release fertilizer to feed it over an extended period of time.
REMINDER: Don't fertilize your lawn until the middle of May. Waiting gives the roots a chance to lengthen and strengthen. If you fertilize too early, the blades will green up, but at the expense of the root system, which is what sustains the turf when rain is scarce later in the year.
UPCOMING EVENTS
* Saturday, April 18 10am – Charleston Public Library - Kathy Hummel - "Landscaping with Deer-Resistant Native Plants." Lots of handouts.
* Saturday, April 25 – Herb and Garden Festival, Mattoon. The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners booth at the Corner of Ninth and Broadway will have plants at really good prices just in time for spring planting. There will be lovely hanging baskets, ornamental grasses, native Illinois plants, canna lilies, sedum, daylilies, coleus, tomatoes, basil, and other annuals and perennials for sun and shade. The Master Gardeners will happily answer your gardening questions. Plus Master Gardeners Shirley Kolbus & Phyllis Schultz will be available to answer your gardening questions at St. John's Lutheran Church, 8am-Noon.
* Saturday, May 9th, 10 am Douglas Hart Nature Center – Darla Chouinard - "Composting with Worms".
