A Lot Of Ground To Cover - How To Choose The Right Ground Covers For Your

Garden

If you are ready to cover up some of the barren or ugly patch that you may have in your garden, control some hillside erosion, or spread out some beautiful color in your garden, now is the time do it. The fall planting season is right around the corner, so now is the perfect time to learn how to utilize your ground cover plants to solve the problems that are in your garden. The ground cover can also pull together your overall design in your garden. Fall is a great season for planting ground covers in your garden. These shallow-root plants benefit from relatively warm days. The shallow-roots also benefit from plenty of moisture. The water can also get the shallow-roots to get established very quickly.  The moisture helps them grow quickly. You should know that planting ground covers are not difficult at all. It can offer quick visual rewards because of the prolific growth habits of its many varieties.

When gardeners think of ground covers, the goal is to cover barren ground, control erosion, and/or suppress weeds. While ground cover accomplishes these things, it can also unify your garden. If you make a good choice, you cannot only brighten up your garden, it can help the overall condition of your garden. These can have a great effect in the garden when they are used visually to bring together ornament plants. They can also form tapestries of color for your garden. When you choose the right ground cover for your garden, it is like getting the right floors for your home. For example, if you choose the right carpet for your home, it will enhance the beauty of your home. Therefore, if you get the right ground cover for your garden, it will also enhance the beauty of your garden. In selecting ground cover, make sure you look at many varieties. The right ground cover can help your garden with such conditions as, shade exposure, sun exposure, and foot traffic, throughout your garden area. There are more varieties that are available to you then just the traditional ground covers that you will find in your local nursery.

Here are some guidelines and some considerations to help you decide which ground cover is right for your own personal garden design:

Size: Make sure to look for low growing ground covers for smaller gardens, such as between shrubs and along pathways. The taller ground covers will look best in larger areas and on slopes.

Form: Some forms of ground covers include compact, mounding, succulent, and leafy. Trailing can be utilized, but that depends on your design.

Color: The variation is foliage and flower color for ground cover can be extensive. Make sure to consider a flowering ground cover to cover some large areas without other plants.

Shade gardens: Try a mixture of the golden tones of Acorus ‘Ogon' or Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest Grass) with a velvety green Baby Tears and a bit of Helichrysum ‘Limelight'. These covers make very pretty gardens and work well with hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and azaleas.

Perennials: Use the perennials as an alternative to traditional ground covers. Lamium, Lantana sellowiana, Lamb's Ears, and Erigeron karvinskianus are just a few examples that can help tie your garden together. Bacopas are also another example of ground covers.

Large areas: Carpet roses have quickly become quite popular with gardeners who are looking to add a large amount of color. These carpet roses are very resistant to many diseases. The carpet roses come in many different colors such as pink, apple-blossom, white, or red flowers. Ivies, trailing vines, and Nasturtiums also add a lot of color to your garden.

Below trees: Try using Festuca California (the needles and leaves may fall through the ground cover) or Vinca major under oak and pine trees. Maybe even try a combination of Irish and Scotch moss underneath a Japanese maple tree.

Take the time to plan out what you need to do. Also take the time to pick what plants and trees you want for your garden. The fall planting will be short, so remember that when fall time comes around. As soon as the weather cools off, you will be ready to plant your beautiful plants and flowers.