Ground Covers Original PowerPoint created by Howard Henderson Modified by the Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June, 2002

Definition Ground covers are low-growing plants that cover the ground in place of turf. –Serve 3 purposes: Fill in bare spots in the landscape. Help prevent erosion of soil on steep banks. Fill in shady areas under trees where other plants have difficulty growing.

Principal Types Broadleaf Evergreen –Retain their leaves year-round Deciduous Evergreen –Lose their leaves during the fall and winter season Coniferous –Have needlelike or scale-like leaves –Retain their color throughout the year

Uses In the landscaping where the soil is not suitable for growing grass. This includes areas that may be: –Too steep –Too rocky –Too shaded –Shallow soiled Simply for their beauty

Selection Ask the following questions before selecting a ground cover: –In what type of soil does the plant grow best? –Is it suitable for the locality? –How is it propagated? –How long will it take for the plants to cover the area in which they are planted?

Selection continued Ask the following questions before selecting a ground cover: –What is the mature height of the plant? –Are diseases and insects a problem? –How expensive are the plants?

Selection Ground covers should be selected for the following reasons: –They are adapted to the soil in which they are to be planted. –They are adapted to the local hardiness zone. –They are relatively free of diseases and insect problems.

Planting Consider special problems in the area: –Steep slope: If not too steep, add topsoil and organic matter –Peat moss or rotted manure Add fertilizer –2 to 5 pounds of a fertilizer over each 100 square feet. Dig the materials into the top 6 inches of soil prior to planting

Planting continued Spacing –According to size –Growth rate per year –Time allowed for plants to spread to cover the area

Planting continued Steep slopes: –Need to be covered more quickly so plants must be placed closer together –Higher initial plant cost Level areas: –Plants can be spread out –Reduces initial planting cost –Takes longer for the ground cover to completely cover the soil surface

Fertilizing After initial application at planting time, fertilizer should only be applied to keep plants healthy. If necessary, apply fertilizer in early spring. Two application methods: –Dry granular fertilizer scattered over area and watered in –Soluble form mixed with water siphoned through watering/sprinkling system

Mulching Cover entire surface with the material prior to planting –Less time consuming than mulching after plants are in place Continue to mulch until the ground cover has traveled over the entire soil surface –Aids in weed control –Aids in moisture retention

Mulching continued Materials suitable for mulching ground covers: –Pine bark –Hardwood bark –Pine needles –Well-rotted sawdust –Peat moss –Decomposed leaves

Pruning Necessary to confine the planting to the area in which it is desired. Accomplished by: –Mowing around the edges –Cutting around the outer perimeter

Watering Newly planted ground covers should be watered as needed during the first year. Apply at least 1 inch of water if plants start to wilt or if soil becomes dry. If the proper ground covers are selected, watering should not be necessary after the first year.

Controlling Insects and Diseases Rarely a serious problem in ground covers. If control become necessary, identify the disease or insect. Spray with recommended pesticide. Safety First! Be sure to wear protective clothing.

Common Ground Covers Bugleweed Rock-cress Wild ginger Sweet woodruff Chrysogomum Lily-of-the-valley Bunchberry Crown vetch Maiden pink Sunrose Barrenwort Plantain lily Aaronsbeard, St. Johnswort Lamiastrum Evergreen candytuft Spreading English yew Creeping mahonia

Common Ground Covers Partridgeberry Paxistima Sarococca Juniperus horizontalis Bar harbor Waukega Blue rug Lily turf Moneywort English Ivy Dwarf lilyturf Japanese spurge Stonecrop Periwinkle or myrtle Bearberry Heather Cotoneaster Heath Wintercreeper Wintergreen

Reference Introductory Horticulture By H. Edward Reiley & Carroll L. Shry, Jr.