Garden Tips Newsletter
Groundcovers for shade
Garden Tips Newsletter - July 9, 2001
For those of you who would like to add another element to your landscape beyond turf -- think about groundcovers. Groundcovers are a great way to cover an area and are an excellent alternative for turf in heavily shaded areas. The key to having great groundcover is to put in enough plants so that when planted as close together as possible they will grow together quickly. After planting and before the area is totally covered make sure you mulch the area to reduce weeds. If you are planting over an area with bermuda grass be sure to rid the area of the grass or it will be a constant problem. Once planted, make sure you water and fertilize the area regularly to promote quicker and fuller growth.
Some great groundcovers for light shade include: Common periwinkle (Vinca minor), English Ivy (Hedra helix), Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus), Carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), Lirope (Lirope muscari, L. spicata), and Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata).
Some great groundcovers for heavy shade include: Sweet violet (Viola odorata), Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Arabicus', Japanese painted fern (Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum), Lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis), Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), Holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum), Cast iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), Confederate jasmine (Trachelosperum jasminoides), Asian jasmine (Trachelosperum asiaticum).
Lelia Scott Kelly, Ph.D., writes Garden Tips weekly and is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.