Ground cover suggestion?
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Tired of pulling/treating for weeds! None of the liners seem weed proof. So thinking about adding ground cover and do away with the mulch in one or two of my islands. Would love to have ground cover than lasts year round here in Georgia!
23 answers
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sun or shade? Irrigation or no?
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Mar 29, 2012
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FULL sun. Irrigation? the old fashion way, by hose/hand :)
Designs by BSB
on Mar 29, 2012
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How about creeping raspberry (Rubus pentalobus)?
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 29, 2012
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This sounds wonderful does it have a bloom and fragant??
Shirley R
on Mar 29, 2012
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It gets an insignificant white bloom and tiny berries, Shirley, but it does take on a nice bronze color in the fall.
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 29, 2012
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Nice, thanks
Shirley R
on Mar 29, 2012
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how much ground are you trying to cover BeckySue? Do you have dimensions or a picture of the area?
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Mar 29, 2012
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I can take a picture today. need to make decisions quickly.. hubby wants to lay mulch this weekend!
Designs by BSB
on Mar 30, 2012
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k, If you don't have irrigation the Creeping Rasberry will require close attention this summer. Once it establishes you will be fine with it next year. You will mostly find it in 4" size pots and it will require that you keep (well drained) moisture to establish. It will tolerate the sun once established. Other than that, you could use the veritable ground cover Juniper such as Blue Pacific or Blue Rug. If you go that route you can add in some daylilies and other perennials to make the bed pop!
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Mar 30, 2012
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So this is the biggest area I am struggling with. This also so happens to be showing the Dogwoods I previously posted about taking one of them out. Decided the leaning one doesnt bother me enough to do so! So ground cover.. the big shrubs behind the Dogwoods are Gardenias, which are our neighbors. All of the smaller shrubs on our side are Encore Azaleas. I do have daffodils around the base of the large Azalea - now dying. So would like to fill in all other areas as much as possible with ground cover. Note: this is a slanted hill, so during rains it gets a good bit of run off from the neighbors
Designs by BSB
on Mar 30, 2012
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I actually like the mulch in a bed like that. Otherwise, I think you want to something very low and unobtrusive that won't detract from your established plants, like the junipers mentioned above. Or what about a ground cover thyme? Is that really full sun under the dogwoods?
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 31, 2012
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Thanks for your view Douglas. I hope the small Azaleas take off this year - they were moved so it stunted their growth! Otherwise.. I would not mind fuller look in this bed. Yes it is full sun ... The dogwoods face due west in the summer, so this is one of the hottest beds in our yard. My neighbors own the other side of this and they have it full of ground cover - lamps ear (which Im not fond of) and thick green that blooms thin purple flowers (forget the name) very pretty. I have a total of 5 beds (sigh).. here are pics of 2 others I am also debating on doing the same thing with. (not showing the largest that is against the front of our home).
Designs by BSB
on Mar 31, 2012
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Thinking it might be easier <?> to have someone come over to give an hour consult ?! Any takers? I live in Lawrenceville/Lilburn area! Call me if you are interested.. phone number on my profile page! :)
Designs by BSB
on Mar 31, 2012
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BeckySue, if you want more color in the L-shaped bed, I would probably plant low annuals like portulaca or gazania, since they are basically blooming machines and will love the sun and heat. For the shadier beds, I would tuck in some hellebores. I'm not sure how happy the azaleas are going to be being beaten down on by full afternoon sun. Make sure they get plenty of moisture and be on the lookout for lacebugs.
Douglas Hunt
on Mar 31, 2012
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Ahh.. didnt know azaleas didnt like full sun. Shame on me. We moved them about 4 yrs ago :( Think we should move them (the small ones anyway) to shade? I have room in one of my other beds, they would only get a little bit of morning sun, otherwise they would be shade
Designs by BSB
on Mar 31, 2012
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Dont recognize all those names .. going to have to google and/or take a list to the nursery by my home!
Designs by BSB
on Mar 31, 2012
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i read somewhere that they use old carpet as mulch, then put thick pile of pine straw on top of old carpet. i think i will try that. will post pixies before, during and after..... also, can use other kinds of mulch instead of pine straws.
Vicki
on Mar 31, 2012
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Hey Becky Sue, some Sedum might be nice in the front fire hydrant bed. I agree with Douglas on the big hill, I do think some low ground cover Juniper might be the best way to go, givin all the other material in that bed. If you have a way to get water to it, some Pachysandra might work on the space behind that bench going down the hill.
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Mar 31, 2012
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If the azaleas seem happy and are blooming, there's no reason to move them: they've somehow gotten acclimated and it will just stress them to move them again.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 01, 2012
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BIG day! 4hrs of racking, bending over, shoveling, spading... I got so dirty that I think my shower now needs a cleaning! Went to a Nursery who didn't have it all so I improvised! Got Phlox and Ice Plant for the area under the dogwoods.. Which by the way, gets sun 2pm and on. Then got another creeping phlox for the area right behind the bench. Then a flat of portulacas (my fav!) for the bed by the fire hydrant. Lots a work... Me pooped! Next time... Need to get junipers or steep areas. And address anther bed ...yet to have been mentioned. THANK YOU all with th help to guide me.. And inspire me!
Designs by BSB
on Apr 01, 2012
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A big day perhaps, but it sounds like big improvements as well.
Douglas Hunt
on Apr 02, 2012
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Well done BeckySue! But ya shoulda come here :) I would have had it all...hehe.....
360 Sod (Donna Dixson)
on Apr 02, 2012
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Just be sure to check out all "groundcovers" carefully. Creeping Myrtle will take over the yard. Usually when they clasify something as groundcover, it is agressive I li9ke the idea of phlox and iceplant, very pretty and easier to control.
DORLIS
on Jun 11, 2015
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