Groundcovers for Problem Areas

There are several low-growing plants that provide suitable cover for problem places. They cannot endure frequent traffic or play on them, however. Where shade is too dense for plant growth, gravel, bark, or similar non-living groundcovers should be used. A few groundcover plants suitable for hot, dry banks, include creeping juniper, crown vetch and Hall's honeysuckle.

Creeping juniper is attractive close to the home where a neat groundcover is needed. Varieties such as Bar Harbor and Wilton Carpet (Blue Rug) grow densely and only eight inches tall. These varieties and others are suitable for south or west exposures which tend to be hot and dry. Crown vetch is useful on dry, steep banks. It is less suitable for small areas close to the home since it grows taller, is not evergreen and is not as neat appearing as the creeping juniper. Attractive, small pink flowers are produced in early summer. It forms a dense mat of roots that are excellent for preventing erosion and has become popular for use on road cuts along highways. Although it can begrown from seeds, quicker cover will result if plants are used.

Hall's honeysuckle is a semi-evergreen woody vine. It grows 18 to 24 inches tall and grows rapidly once established. It is best suited to large, open areas and banks. Do not plant it among shrubs and trees, as the honeysuckle will twine up and over them and may choke them out. For shady locations some suitable groundcovers include Vinca (myrtle or periwinkle), Purple-leaf winter-creeper, Ajuga and Pachysandra.

One of the most widely adapted is Vinca. It maintains dark green foliage throughout most of the year and produces light blue flowers in early spring. It is also suitable for partial shade and will tolerate full sun. It grows about six inches thick and produces long vines that root down as they creep along the soil. Do not plant it in wet locations where disease may develop. Well-drained soil, high in organic matter, promotes vigorous growth.

For dense shade, Pachysandra (Japanese Spurge) is an outstanding ground cover. It grows six to eight inches tall and is evergreen. It likes a soil rich in organic matter, and under shallow-rooted trees it should be watered during dry periods of summer. Purple-leaf winter-creeper is a rather loose-growing groundcover suitable for large areas with light shade. Height ranges from eight to twelve inches. Foliage is evergreen, turning a purplish-red in the fall. Since it is an euonymus, it is subject to an insect pest called euonymus scale.

Ajuga is a semi-evergreen plant for shade, partial shade or full sun. Plants have green or bronze foliage. In severe winters leaves turn brown but are hidden quickly in spring when new growth develops. Plants form low rosettes about four inches tall and produce spikes of blue flowers in early spring.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/groundcovers