Cariboo Gardening Guide 2003
* Ground Covers *
The term ground cover applies to both plants and landscape groundcover materials, such as pea gravel, drain rock, lava rock, or bark mulch. To create a low maintenance landscape it is desirable to cover the soil area between plants to reduce weeds. Not only is this ground cover functional but also adds to the aesthetics of the design.
To achieve a natural look use bark mulch and/or round river rock. The coarser the rock, the easier it is to maintain. It can be easily cleaned up in spring with a hose or a leaf blower. The river rock can symbolize a dry creek bed running through a landscape. Planting in large areas is difficult, a solution is to create planting areas within the rock that have bark mulch which allows plants to spread and thrive.
Use groundcover fabric beneath any rock such as river rock, pea-gravel, crushed rock or lava rock. It acts as a soil separator and a weed barrier. Whether you should use groundcover fabric under bark mulch is debatable. I recommend adding an extra 1" (for a total of 3") of bark mulch in a landscape area if you don’t use fabric. The bark will eventually migrate into the soil and can be topped up every couple of years to freshen the look. Coarser bark lasts longer and takes on a grayish look, which is good for naturalizing. Often people will apply a thin layer of bark overtop the fabric and end up with unsightly bare spots. Another problem with fabric occurs when plants are planted less than 18" apart most of the fabric is removed when cutting out the holes for the plants.
Plants can also act as groundcovers. They fill in between the main players on the stage and unify the entire landscape. Ground covers can also highlight a specimen or feature such as an urn or fountain. For example, Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’- a perennial creeper with chocolate foliage and shining, lacy blue flowers planted around Hosta Sum & Substance will accentuate the Hosta and make it jump out at you even more. Planting crocus and ‘Snowdrop’ Anemone together around the base can highlight a fountain. The crocus will provide early spring color and be followed by a dense patch of delicate nodding white flowers in late spring and intermittently through out the summer.
Some excellent groundcovers include:
Goutweed – Variegated lime green and white grow to 1’. Very invasive be careful where you plant this.
Kinnikinick – Fine textured evergreen foliage grows to 6". Excellent in dry areas. Combines well with Pine & Sumac.
Heather – Hardier than you might think. Choose a site sheltered from the hot sun.
Daylily – Choose an ever blooming variety – Stella de’Oro, Happy Returns
Bigroot Cranesbill – Successful even in dry shade, flowers and has good fall foliage.
Elfin Thyme – Very tightly woven thyme, slower growing but doesn’t allow weeds in.
NEW! Alpine Carpet Juniper Ht. 8" Sp. 3 - 4" Zone 3 Full sun
The soft textured, deep blue green foliage with dense spreading habit and tolerance of brutal cold make this juniper a reliable plant for difficult sites. Use on slopes for coverage or erosion control, allow it to drape off retaining walls or as a groundcover. Excellent deer resistance.
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