Wandering aimlessly through the garden center the other day (an occupational hazard), I came across a section called Ground Covers. The plant benches were full of the usual suspects: vinca, pachysandra, liriope, creeping euonymous and ivy, among others.
Nothing unexpected, nothing terribly interesting, reflecting the common perception that ground covers are merely default plantings intended to fill voids.
Horticulturists, however, have a much broader idea of what constitutes a ground cover, an outlook that begins by rejecting the idea that such plants must be evergreen and less than, say, 18 inches high.
Not all perennials, shrubs or ornamental grasses lend themselves to use as a ground cover, but a lot of them do, and by planting them in bold juxtaposition, you can make landscapes that are soothing and engaging at the same time.
By definition, you need relatively large quantities of these plants. To save costs, buy in the smallest containers available and enrich the soil with compost and other organic goodies. If the plant label says to space the perennials 12 to 15 inches apart, go for the loose end of the range. Mulch lightly to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and water and hand weed as needed. Most perennials reach maturity in three seasons.
David MacKenzie, author of “Perennial Ground Covers,” offers three sound rules for their use:
w Use only one or a few select varieties in one area to avoid a clutter of different plant types.
w Match the size of the leaves to the scale of the space.
w Choose plants that get along.
Another abiding principle is that ground covers are about leaves, not flowers. You can compose some attractive contrasts with leaf colors, textures and shapes. Many will bloom conspicuously – hostas or hardy begonias, for example – but place them on the basis of their foliage.
In areas where tree root competition isn’t a problem, I’ve used hostas, specifically two varieties in separate areas. One is Krossa Regal, which is a big plant with blue-green leaves. It occupies a large area under a deciduous magnolia. Closer to the house, I’ve planted Royal Standard. This blooms in late summer. Both get an organic feed as they unfurl in spring and watering in periods of drought. The slugs seem to leave them alone, and they perform well year after year.
The cranesbills, or hardy geraniums, are marvelous mounding perennials that stay evergreen in the winter. They bloom through the spring and seem little troubled by pests or disease. They do well in partial shade but work in full sunlight, too, though they will tell you when they need a drink.
The world has awoken to Lenten roses, or hellebores, in the past 10 years. This is another evergreen perennial with nodding flowers in late winter but big and attractive dark green leaves throughout the year. It does best in partial shade and rich soil, where seedlings may even become a problem, but it will also grow in the dry shade beneath trees.
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