By Robert Gettle When you switch from planting lawn grasses to planting ground cover the possibilities are practically unlimited. Grass is great for ball games, picnics, playing, and normal traffic areas. But grass requires more maintenance and uses more water than any of the rest of your landscape. Ground cover is a great complement to your grass lawn to minimize maintenance and add elegance to your landscape. Ground cover is a low-growing,ground-hugging perennial plants that carpet an area with blooms or usually colored foliage. The secret to using ground cover successfully is to choose the right ones.
Many varieties of plants make excellent ground covers. Are you tired of the extra maintenance it takes around trees or shrubs to keep them looking good? Use pachysandra or ajuga instead.
Under trees or on a slope where grass grows thin try ground huggers like barberry or lamium or vinca these plants will prevent erosion. Along a sunny walk or a bright spot in your garden try strawberry plants. In addition to the pleasing appearance there is the added bonus of the fruit. The plants will keep producing fruit for years to come. Creeping thyme is excellent between stepping stones .There is also the added benefit of the fragrance every time you walk through. Each step will produce waves of fragrance. The charming evergreen ground cover creeping wintergreen has a year round appeal. In spring small pinkish white bell-shaped flowers are followed by wintergreen-scented bright red fruits that last until the following spring.The lustrous bright green leaves also wintergreen-scented turn burgundy red in the fall. It grows 6 inches tall and spreads nicely once established. Prefers part to full shade in moist acidic soil rich in humus. There are also low growing of varieties of juniper which are over used as this is what most landscapers turn to as a staple ground cover. Ground covers require little maintenance after they are established. Ground covers maintain moisture levels and choke out weeds. Ground covers are especially good on slopes that are difficult to maintain. Ground cover should be enclosed in edging to keep it from becoming invasive. Use landscape timbers ,brick, or pavers to hold its growth in check. Another way to control it is to cut it back. Maybe you can find a friend to give it to. Robert Gettle bob@bobgettlelandscaping.com http://www.bobgettlelandscaping.com 25 years experience in landscaping. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Gettle http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-Ground-Covers&id=482075 ativan and alcohol
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