Tips for Choosing Groundcover and Grasses

The type of groundcovers and grasses that you choose will be determined by your soil type, whether there is more sun or shade and the moisture needs of the plant. If you have heaps of water, then you can happily choose moisture loving plants to grow in your dry situation so long as you water them regularly.

Groundcovers are often grown where other grass and plants won’t thrive, such as under trees or on dry, hot banks with poor soil. They can be grown where the ground is too steep to mow, or they can be planted amongst other shrubbery to fill in those bare spaces and keep the soil from eroding.

Some groundcovers ramble quickly over the ground while others form attractive mounding clumps more slowly. Some are slightly higher than others and this should be considered before the final decision is made. Rock garden plants are often suitable to use as groundcovers.

Moss pink or Phlox subulata is a rockery plant that does very well in poor soil where it has little competition from other plants. The moss-like foliage forms a dense mass from which spring masses of gorgeous little flowers in pink, white and purple. An aging plant may develop brown spots that need to be filled in. To counteract this problem, simply divide the plant and plant the fresh pieces there.

If your winters are severe, you may like to try Baltic English Ivy - Hedera Helix Baltica - while Japanese - pachysandra terminalis is good for shady areas. The latter will reach about 22 cm above the ground and the foliage is purple-tinged in spring. It spreads by underground stems and is grown for the attractive foliage, as the flower is not particularly impressive.

Sedum has over 300 species that range from minute to huge, so be careful which ones you purchase. The smaller ones are ideal for groundcovers. They are drought tolerant and easy to propagate by braking of a piece and planting it.

Ornamental grasses can be found to suit every location. They can grow thick and matting or in tall striking clumps of up to 10 feet like fountain grass. Generally, ornamental grasses cannot be walked on or mown like normal lawn grasses that have been developed especially for lawns. Mowing destroys the crown and the plant will die.

Some vigorous grasses and groundcovers may be considered pests and it is best to avoid these. In some cases they are only pests in certain areas where they grow really well. They can often be grown safely in those areas where there may be snow or sharp frosts to keep them in check.

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