My Garden

Help please...

Last post 05-08-2008 7:59 PM by Love in the garden. 9 replies.

• 01/08/2008 02:11 PM

  Love in the garden Location: Shrops Joined on: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8

  Reply | Contact   Hello to everyone,  don't know if I've got the hang of posting yet but here goes......I have a really awful scrubby area, below a bank.  The bank is planted but I don't seem to be able to locate something to cover the lower area.  To be honest, I'd like it ready made as it's outside the kitchen window, but that isn't the case so I'd like a rapid spreader, evergreen to cover it quickly.  My soil isn't great, very dry in Summer.  I've planted some low growing sedums but feel I'd really like a low growing shrub.  I'd welcome any suggestions as I'm quite new to the garden   Thanks folks!

• 01/08/2008 03:32 PM

  In reply to

  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200

  Reply | Contact How about lavender? after it has settled in it will cope with dry soil.   Two other plants I have that spread very well and give all year round colour are Anthemis and Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea'.  The flowers last on the Anthemis from April until July and has a silvery foliage.  The Ajuga flowers April to May and the purple foliage spreads really quickly, I planted one in the flower border two years ago and it's runners are now making their way across the lawn.  sue1002

• 01/08/2008 07:36 PM

  In reply to

  BluebellsGalore Location: London Joined on: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 16

  Reply | Contact I'm not sure what your aspect is or the pH, but Pachysandra terminalis is a great ground cover for dry (& shade) conditions.  Pachysandra will definitely oblige in dry conditions & it's evergreen, spreading & fully hardy.  But that's not a low growing shrub... Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald Gaiety' is a low growing shrub which would tolerate the dry conditions, but it may not be as low as you want - do you want something prostrate?  What about Cotoneaster?  Cotoneaster horizontalis or Cotoneaster dammeri are both low growing shrubs.  Dammeri will put up with tough conditions - any aspect or soil type. Other groundcovers I use are:  Vinca minor for its flowers & evergreen foliage. That's happy in dry conditions. Ophiopogon is another great ground cover. You could use either the green (O. japonicus or O. planiscapus), black (O. planiscapus 'Nigrescens') or the variegated, depends what effect you want to create.  I have my 'Nigrescens' in soil that's dry in summer, but not baking or bone dry as it doesn't get full sun 'til afternoon.   Also, what about a Bergenia?  They'd spread, are evergreen & depending upon what variety get flushed with colour during frost.  They prefer moister soil, but they put up with dry conditions.  I'd definitely agree with the other posting re: Ajuga reptans. In addition to considering your aspect & the soil pH, your choice will just depend on what leaf shape, form or colour you want.  I think if you check out those suggestions you'll find something which appeals to you

• 03/08/2008 05:35 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 3,347	Reply | Contact  You could consider variegated perwinkle - grows easily and looks good all year round. It's a type of vinca which has already been suggested. The cotoneaster horizontalis would be good as long as it's not shady. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 04/08/2008 09:50 AM	In reply to
  sue1002 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Joined on: 06 Sep 2005 Posts: 5,200	Reply | Contact  Would the variegated periwinkle be the Vinca major Phot's, it grows like a weed in my garden (it came in from next door) and I've spent the last five or six years trying to get rid of it, it strangles everything in sight. sue1002

• 04/08/2008 10:58 AM

  In reply to

  Susiq Location: Northumberland Joined on: 16 Feb 2008 Posts: 1,104

  Reply | Contact What great responses and timely as I was just about to ask almost the identical question! I'm just about to develop a similar area for the lodge - I had considered putting down shingle and placing pots on it for low-maintenance, but from the suggestions above I might just go for low ground cover afterall. I wanted colour as its outside the kitchen window, but it really is right on the A1 so whatever goes there will be quite exposed to the winds.

• 05/08/2008 07:45 PM

  In reply to

  Love in the garden Location: Shrops Joined on: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8

  Reply | Contact Thanks for your reply.  I planted Vinca last year & am very pleased with it.  I've been given some Bugle & a bronze leaf Violet which I hope will spread as I am told it will be rapid & in fact a nuisance in paths & gravel, I won't mind. I will probably have to reshuffle a couple of things I planted last year as I think I got things a little wrong!  I've no idea of the ph at all but I can tell you we are surrounded by Rhododendron which has gone wild in places, I'd imagine it went in during Vicorian times.  I'll look up all your thoughts & note the ones I think will be a good bet for me.  Thanks, Michele

• 05/08/2008 07:49 PM	In reply to
  Love in the garden Location: Shrops Joined on: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Reply | Contact Hi Sue, I haven't quite got the hang of this replying & I think I've mailed you a reply via my email!  Thanks & I'm taking notes as I sit here with my RHS Gardeners' Encyclopedia & a gem - a car boot buy, Readers Digest Garden Plants & Flowers, 1972.  Thanks, Michele

• 05/08/2008 07:56 PM	In reply to
  Love in the garden Location: Shrops Joined on: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Reply | Contact Hi, out of them all the Ophiopogon looks like it would do great in the west position, but it's going to be too tall as I don't want to block the view to the bank beyond, that's why I forst thought of low growing Sedum, really no mor than 4" tall would be ideal.  Michele

• 05/08/2008 07:59 PM	In reply to
  Love in the garden Location: Shrops Joined on: 12 Jul 2008 Posts: 8	Reply | Contact Hi, thanks for your reply.  Got the periwinkle & it's doing great on the bank.  Started with the Sedum below, really need something no taller than 4".  Have some Bugle & Bronze Leaf Violet that I hope will spread.  Thanks, Michele