Kobierzec is, next to the tapestry, one of the types of Persian rugs, most often multicolored, covering floors or hung for wall decoration.Of course, conifer carpets are only a metaphor, but they refer to larger plantings of conifers, which are of low habit, have different colors and textures, and cover larger areas of the garden instead of floors.
Establishing a conifer carpet is not the cheapest and is certainly more expensive than sowing grass, but with time the costs of maintaining the turf far outweigh the costs of caring for coniferous carpets. Conifers often have lower cultivation requirements than grasses, because they grow better in light and dry soils, therefore they rarely require irrigation.
The most popular and best imitating grass are the low varieties of junipers - especially the creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis and the common Juniperus communis.We can choose from a large number of varieties that differ in the strength of growth and color of the shoots.Valuable creeping juniper varieties that never exceed 10 cm in height include: 'Wiltonii' - about enough strong growth and gray-blue color, 'Monber' (ICEE BLUE) - with slow growth and blue color, 'Golden Carpet' - with slow growth and golden tinge or 'Prince of Wales' - with green shoots.
All the varieties mentioned have roller shoots and are non-pricking. The second species - common juniper - has slightly prickly needles. Its varieties 'Green Carpet' and 'Greenmantle' have slow growth and an intense green color. To cover larger areas and obtain a faster effect and stronger suppression of weed growth, use more strongly growing varieties, reaching 0.3-0.5 m in height with age.
It is worth recommending a wide range of varieties of Pfitzer Juniperus pfitzeriana with yellow shoots, e.g. 'Gold Star', 'Gold Kissen', 'Gold Coast' or 'Old Gold'. In blue, 'Blue Carpet' is a variety of the juniper, Juniperus squamata, but also other varieties of this juniper may be interesting, e.g. 'Hunnetorp' or 'Holger' with golden spring increments. Interesting, intensely green and definitely "coniferous" is the coastal juniper Juniperus conferta, as well as its varieties 'Emerald Sea' and 'Schlager', creating dense covers up to 0.3 m high.
Mountain pine is a good ground cover plant, also for poor soils and dry sites, especially its botanical variety Pinus mugo var. pumilio.This short, bushy pine grows up to 1 m, but can be cut (and even mowed!) to maintain a low, dense habit. Original ground cover can be obtained by planting Pinus sylvestris scots pine varieties with creeping shoots: 'Albyns' or 'Hilside Creeper'.
A slightly different ground cover is obtained by using the stunted thread varieties of the Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Nana' (green) and 'Filifera Aurea Nana' or 'Sungold' (golden).Thanks to them we get the effect of symmetrically arranged bulges - like in a quilted fabric.
Density of conifers planting
How should coniferous ground cover plants be planted, since, for example, most junipers grow over 2-3 m in diameter with age? Should they therefore be planted every 2 m? Of course not!When planting large areas, we should choose such a spacing of plants that relatively quickly, i.e. after 3-4 years, obtain full coverage of the ground (because then the problems with weeds will end) and to provide the plants with growth conditions for many years.
Therefore, when planting most of the species and varieties listed in the article, the planting density should be assumed in the amount of 1 pcs / m2 (strongly growing varieties) to 3 pcs / m2 (varieties
weak stature).
Conifers perfect for shade
In places with little light, we should give up junipers and reach for the still not very popular, but valuable Siberian microbiota, Microbiota decussata, whose shoots are covered with fine scales and needles (non-pricking). During the growing season, they are green, and in autumn they turn reddish-brown.The microbiota is fully frost-resistant and has low soil requirements.
Yews can also be planted in shady places, but unfortunately good ground cover varieties are still lacking. One of the few is 'Repandens', but the older plants are swelling up and are already over 1 m high.
