Guest Author - Hellie T.
Ground cover plants are ideal for keeping weeds at bay as their thick cover helps to suppress annual weeds and creates a wonderful carpet of foliage and flowers.
Ground cover plants also help to conserve moisture and stop soil erosion. If you have a problem area in your garden where ground cover would be ideal then choose from some of the plants listed below.
Plant in groups of at least 5 or 7 plants of the same species for the best effect.
Ajuga Reptans - Burgundy Glow or Variegated Bugle
This is a lovely evergreen ground cover plant that has shiny green foliage with dotted with splashes of pink, bronze and cream. It will form a dense mat and in the spring will provide masses blue flowers. It does spread but is not invasive. Height 2ins (5cm).
Alchemilla Mollis - Lady's Mantle
An easy to grow plant that has rounded light green leaves. It will flower from June to late August with sprays of tiny green-yellow flowers. Dies down in winter but will shoot again in spring. Height 12ins (30cm).
Aubretia
These plants have small but brightly coloured flowers in mauves, purples and pinks and when planted in large groups make a truly spectacular display in spring. The foliage is evergreen - another bonus and they make an excellent plant for popping in stone walls where their flowers are very showy.
Bergenia Cordifolia Purpurea - Elephant's Ears
An evergreen clump-forming plant which has large purple tinged green leaves. In February and March they have bell-shaped deep pink flowers on tall red stems. Height 12ins (30cm).
Dianthus – Pinks
These lovely scented flowering plants should be compulsory in any English Garden. They are low growing, mound forming plant with evergreen silver leaves. Good in dry areas they prefer well drained soil and sunny spot.
There is a good range of colours available.
Epimedium Rubrum
This plant will grow in shade or sun and has heart shaped red leaves which turn yellow and orange in autumn. Sprays of crimson flowers are held above the foliage in spring. Height 12ins or 30cms
Geraniums or Cranesbill
Johnson's Blue is a good one to try. They are easy to grow and don’t mind shade or a sunny spot. They have dense foliage and lovely delicate blue flowers in the summer. They are fast growing but not invasive and if you cut them back after they have flowered they will produce a second flush of blooms. Height 12 ins or 30cms.
Heuchera
They are many heuchera varieties to choose from. They make good ground cover with their heart-shaped, lobed, long stalked strongly veined leaves. Small tubular creamy-pink or red flowers appear in early summer on tall stems held well above the leaves. They grow in sun or shade. Height12ins or 30cms
Tiarella cordifolia or Foam Flower
This is another evergreen plant with pale green foliage. In the summer it has flower spikes of white tiny star shaped blooms that create the appearance of frothy foam! Height 6 in or 15cm. Good planted beneath trees and shrubs.
Vinca major -Lesser Perwinkle
This is a hardy perennial with evergreen dark green leaves which is extremely easy to grow. It likes a sunny spot and well drained soil. The flowers can be pink or blue appear from late spring to late summer. Height 8 ins or 75cm
Enjoy your garden
