In every garden there will be places where keeping the surface of the lawn lush green can be very difficult. Usually, in very sunny and dry places, the edges of flowerbeds and parts of the plot under the canopy of trees and large shrubs, the grass grows rather poorly and is not a proper decorative element. Then the questionappears, which instead of the lawnwill work in such places. In this situation,ground cover plantscome to the rescue, which quickly cover the entire surface, creating not only a very decorative element of the garden, but also a living bedding that prevents the soil from drying out and excessive growth of weeds.
Ivy can spread over the earth's surface. Perfectly replaces lawn in shady places, near tree trunks and under walls of buildings
The selection of species and varieties of plants for such purposes in the garden should be based on the conditions prevailing in the area that we want to plant them. Completely differentground cover plantswill grow quickly in shade, in moist and fertile soil, than in shaded areas but with dry soil. Also in full sun, in dry soil, the choice of cover plant species will be different than for a sunny area, but with a moderate substrate moisture throughout the growing season.
Creeping golteria, thanks to its underground runners, is an excellent ground cover plant for moist and acidic soils
Ground cover for shade
With shady, humid places to develop, you can tryground cover plantscharacteristic of forest undergrowth.Clumps of the common hoof moth (Asarum europaeum), with oval shiny leaves, interspersed with long stems of the spring delusions (Omphalodes verna) with azure flowers, as well as the varieties of lilac (Lamium maculatum) and the yellow goblin (Galeobdolon luteaszek), with colorful pale leaves carpets throughout the season, brightening up places in shady corners of the garden. Also, the dense carpet of evergreen leaves of common ivy (Hedera helix) and Japanese ruble (Pachysandra terminalis) can be successfully used to cover large areas of shaded area.
The idea of developing damp, shady places seems very interesting by planting various species and varieties of garden ferns in them, which will bring the delicate beauty of lace leaves to the garden. When compared with ferns, the crane (Heuchera) comes out very well.
Trying to create a dense carpet of ornamental plants in a shaded site, but with little soil moisture, we also findground cover plantsmatching the such places.You can choose from many garden varieties of Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis), Brunnera macrophylla (Brunnera macrophylla), commonly known as the Caucasian forget-me-not, the aforementioned varieties of spotted light and yellow goblin (Galeobdolon luteum), and Siberian thorn (Waldsteinia ternata) and butterfly violet (Waldsteinia ternata). ) with attractive white flowers.In such places you can also cultivate many spring tuber species that use the moisture accumulated in the soil after the snow melt. Wood anemones (Anemone nemorosa), yellow anemone (Anemone ranunculoides), spring anemone (Ficaria verna), and hollow bark beetle (Corydalis cava) are some of the species that decorate the garden until the end of May, then quickly fall into a state of rest to wake up only in the next season.
An interesting ground cover species, characteristic of forest undergrowth, is the common hoof moth. Works well in shady and damp places
Covering plants for the sun
The management of dry, acidic soil in full sun withground cover plantsis equally challenging. In such an area, it is possible with a little effort to prepare a large area of heather or a herbal meadow with a small proportion of other flowering perennials. Heathers and heaths thrive even on very poor soils, provided that they are very permeable and acidic. Plants, planted 30 cm apart, will form a compact carpet over the course of two seasons, which breaks out with a huge number of flowering shoots each autumn. By planting heathers on the heath, you will be able to enjoy a colorful spectacle also in early spring, when there are not many flowering plants.
If, instead of blooming heathers, the owners of the plot would like to enjoy the pleasant aroma of herbs and the view of insects willingly visiting the garden throughout the season. compose a unique plant arrangement of thyme (Thymus sp.), available in many forms differing in the scent and color of the leaves, aromatic varieties of the common arugula (Origanum vulgare), commonly called oregano, low mugwort species (Artemisia sp.), supplemented with beautifully flowering dotted cloves (Dianthus deltoides), coastal bind (Armeria maritima) ) and the perennial (Jasione laevis) with blue flower heads.
And can we useas ground cover plantsin the sun as ground cover plants ? In the shade, the common ivy is the most common, but in the sun it does not cope so well and freezes easily.In a sunny position, as a groundcover climberthe variable vine 'Elegans', which also has moderate soil requirements, can work well.
