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Using Groundcovers In Your Landscape Elaine Homstad, MG, FCMGA February 2, 2010
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Why Groundcovers? Prevent erosion Suppress weeds Provide low-maintenance effects Reduce lawn area Provide coverage in hard-to- grow (shady or too dry) areas Create differentiation of garden beds
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Determining Your Needs Shady or Sunny? Dry or Wet? Foot Traffic or Out-of-the-Way? Pets to consider? Any wildlife you wish to attract or deter? All of these factors will help you decide on the groundcover best for you and your conditions
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Low-growing evergreens Look for short (6-12”) spreading or creeping varieties Groundcovers Avoid invasives (Hedera Helix) Short ornamentals Look for grey-green or feathery foliage Select plants which form mounds or clumps Select plants that spread through rhizomes or are self-seeders Plant Choices
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Low-growing Evergreens Junipers – Very hardy - like sun, but will tolerate partial shade, prefer dry environment, do not mind heat – Varieties to look for: Blue RugBlue Pacific Blue ChipBar Harbor Mother LodeNana Sea Spray There are many others – search your local nursery or online – look for “horizontalis”, “conferta” and “procumbens” varieties
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‘Blue Chip’ ‘Blue Pacific’ ‘Blue Rug’ ‘Mother Lode’ Japanese - ‘Nana’ ‘Sea Spray’ ‘Bar Harbor’
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Evergreen Groundcovers Virginia Creeper Pachysandra Cotoneaster Ajuga (“Bugleweed”) Sedums Vinca
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Pachysandra Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG
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Vinca Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG
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Ajuga Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG
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Lamium Cotoneaster Photo: Amol Kaikini, MG
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Sedums
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Virginia Creeper
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Short Ornamentals Lamb’s Ears (Stachys) Coreopsis Sweet Woodruff Evergreen Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) Creeping Thyme Green & Gold (Chrysogonum Virginianum) Note: all of these like sun
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Lamb’s Ears (Stachys) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia) Coreopsis Candytuft Sweet Woodruff Green & Gold – Chrysogonum Virginianum
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More Short Ornamentals Sedges and short fescues Miniature Hostas (a treat for deer) Ferns Lily-of-the-Valley (can be toxic to dogs and cats) Impatiens (annual – deer LOVE them) Note: all of these will survive in partial to full shade
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Sedge Miniature Hostas (photo: White Flower Farm) Lily-of-the-Valley Ferns Impatiens
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Pets and other Critters To keep out unwanted beasts… Use the PSSST factor when choosing plants: Prickly Smelly Spiny Spiky Thorny
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PSSST Factor Plants Plants whose stems and leaves are generally avoided by dogs, deer, and others: Cotoneasters Vinca Junipers Liriope Lamb’s Ears Ajuga Pachysandra Lamium Sedges Sweet Woodruff
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Looking for more advice? See what others have done Read books and magazines Talk to staff at garden centers and nurseries Consult web sources www.fairfaxmastergardeners.org
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HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY!!
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