Planting Ground CoversGround cover is a solution for many gardeners because it's a low growing, ground-hugging perennial that produces any variety of flowering plants or colorful foliage. Your lawn is one type of ground cover to avoid because it needs maintenance. What you should look for in a ground cover is a plant that requires no or low maintenance. To blanket the base of a tree choose shallow rooted ground covers i.e. periwinkle, woodruff or violets that won't compete with the tree roots for nutrients in the soil. Also use ajuga and ivy to spread around tree roots and to fill in lonely bare spots under evergreens and shrubs. An edible groundcover like srawberries plants grows nicely used in a narrow sunny stretch between a house and a walkway. The bonus comes in the form of fresh fruit and preserves for years to come. Pachysandra is another popular border plant for around hard surfaces and walkways. Ground covers are usually maintenance free after they are established. They act like a mulch in that they preserve moisture and choke out weeds so other plants can thrive. Ground covers are particularly well suited for sloping landscapes which are difficult to reach and maintain. Once rooted they spread often with abandon so they blanket an area. Of course these qualities can make a ground cover a nuisance. The unpleasant side of ground covers is their persistence and tenacity. They can virtually take over a garden and become a number 1 pest. The rate at which a ground cover spreads is an important detail to consider when planning you garden. For example, pachysandra is a lovely ground cover but it takes much longer to get established than say ajuga or ivy. There are also many varieties of ground covers well suited for unsuitable conditions. For example lily of the valley, violets or liriope grow well in shady areas that other varieties may not. Before you go out and buy any ground covers ask among your friends if they have any ground cover they'd like to get rid of. If you do all the work, most people will gladly take you up on your offer. Some ground covers have deep rooted systems while others have a simple runner system that spreads throughout the soil. When digging them to transplant to your garden use a trowel and remove as much soil surrounding the roots as possible. Spread them loosely and lay them in an open box or container to transport them to your yard. Get them in the ground right away and plant them in the same depth as they were. If you can't find a source of free ground cover talk to the folks at your local nursery and garden center. They can recommend the best growing and spreading varieties for your particular area. Measure the area where you plan to use ground cover before shopping so you know how much of an area you want covered. Information about how far and how fast a ground cover spreads is printed on the plant label. In most cases how many you buy will be decided by your budget, or how long you are willing wait for the plants to spread naturally and blanket the area. For example, on the label stick for ajuga it suggests you space each plant 12-15 inches apart. If you have an area that's 1 1/2 ft. by 5 ft.to cover with ajuga you could purchase 5 plants and place them in the center of the 18 inch deep space a foot apart. In a couple of years they will spread to cover the entire area. Or you could decide to purchase 10 plants and plant them closer together and filling in the area in a random pattern. By the end of the growing season your area should begin to be nicely covered. Prepare you soil as you would for planting any other type of plant by cultivating the soil and mixing in some compost or nutrients. Most ground covers can be planted about 6 inches deep but check their specific requirements. Ground covers are sold in individual containers, in large flats and as bare root bundles of roots and cuttings. Handle the individual plants gently separating them apart before putting them into the prepared soil. Cover them with a light mulch to fight weed growth and retain moisture. Mulch does a nice job of covering up the bare spots between the plants of ground cover while it spreads and grows. written by Gene and Katie Hamilton
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