Ground-covering plants are popular as fillers, particularly in difficult areas in the garden. They can also be used instead of a lawn as they require less maintenance, fertilising and watering, but bear in mind that ground covers aren’t suitable for heavy foot traffic areas.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Once established, ground covers need little attention, just an annual feed of a slow-release fertiliser and a little pruning, if needed, to keep them within bounds.
Before you choose a ground cover consider if it is the right plant for the situation. What is the height and spread? How fast will it grow? Does it need sun or shade and how far apart should plants be spaced?
Unattractive sloping embankments can be made into a real feature when planted out with quick-growing pig face, star jasmine, gazanias or Virginian creeper.
Cerastium tomentosum is another plant to cover a large area in a short space of time. It develops a dense mat of silvery/grey foliage and lots of pretty white, cup-shaped flowers in late spring through summer. Grows to about 10 centimetres high.
Three tough plants that don’t mind windy, dry coastal conditions and will tolerate grey water are the prostrate Correa reflexa nummclarifolia with pretty pale yellow, bell-shaped flowers; Convolvulus sabatius thrives in these harsh areas and Juniper conferta Shore is a low-growing, very hardy conifer especially useful in exposed coastal locations.
Another coastal lover is Arctotis the drought-resistant daisy that grows well in sandy soils especially near the sea and comes in a wide colour range from pinks to reds, bronze to lemon-orange and all shades of yellow as well as white.
Ajugas are my choice for lightly-shaded spots. These adaptable carpeters have striking blue flowers although the colour of the leaves in some varieties may vary from green to bronze, red, and green with white. Bees love the flowers.
If you like grasses then Ophiopogon japonicus, mondo grass, with its dark green leaves and light lilac flowers in summer might suit the purpose. Sometimes it may be a little slow to establish. Needs shade in hot, dry areas.
If your soil is on the alkaline side try Dianthus which are extremely hardy, fragrant plants that thicken out from clumps.
With their profusion of sweetly-scented flowers in shades of white, pink, primrose, mauve and purple, the Alyssums are great fillers scattered between cracks in paved pathways.
Violets are small, scented, perennial herbs that spread by runners and grow from 10 to 20 centimetres high. A semi-shaded position particularly with protection from the hot afternoon sun, as found under trees, would be perfect for them.
The aromatic herbs of prostate rosemary, thyme, chamomile and low-growing mints not only make great living carpets but also their dense matting growth habit suppresses weeds and keeps the soil beneath cool.
For areas where no plant will grow use gravel, stones or pine bark as the ground cover.
DIARY
September 19: The Australian Plant Society meets at the Max Fry Hall on Gorge Rd, Trevallyn, at 7.30pm. Guest presenter will be Tim Rudman speaking on the current status of Mrytle rust in Tasmania. Visitors are welcome. For more information visit www.apstasnorth.org
September 20: The Launceston Horticultural Society meets at Windmill Hill Hall, High Street, Launceston at 8pm. Home made supper.
September 21: The Launceston Orchid Society meets at the Newnham Uniting Church Hall, George Town Road, Newnham at 7pm. Visitors most welcome.