Using Groundcovers

In Your Landscape

Elaine Homstad, MG, FCMGAFebruary 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 evergreensLook for short (6-12”) spreading or creeping varieties

•GroundcoversAvoid 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 Rug Blue Pacific• Blue Chip Bar Harbor • Mother Lode Nana• 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 PlantsPlants 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• www.fairfaxmastergardeners.org

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!

HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!