This bootleg mondo brings care to subtly variegate plants .
Groundcovers are often suggested as solution for sites where turfgrass wo n’t grow , or for office that are difficult to mop . As useful as that suggestion is , I feel like it sells them a little short . They can absolutely sparkle as contributors to overall garden conception , providing the composition that pulls together a disparate collection of plant , lead you through a landscape , or provide intriguing coloured or textural counterpoint to other plants .
This depository financial institution of mondo grass does a beneficial chore of cover filth in an close in bed where it can not run into eternity .
This black mondo brings attention to subtly variegated plants.
I also have to quibble a bit on a ordinarily held belief that ground cover are a low-toned maintenance solution . Sometimes they are , and often not . choose those that do n’t campaign rampant is predominate . When I am require to recommend a tight - grow groundcover , I first spill my misgivings . “ flying ” choices often turn out to be enemy instead of ally . They do n’t experience to stop shroud soil where the gardener ’s military mission stop .
I favor low growing evergreen plant plant that stay in discerning clumps or spread very slowly . It is more expensive on the front end to get full coverage , but as I grow sure-enough the more crucial economy concerns how I use my time and my piteous stiffening body .
The other problem is that often weeds are happy to cohabitate with groundcovers , and not just during establishment . A seam ofVinca majorsurrounds an ancient tulip poplar on our priming coat , planted decades before I started this job . Birds , defecating the cum of their favor fruits have “ planted ” Virginia creeper , poisonous substance ivy ( yes birds run through poison English ivy fruit ) , unfounded cherry , hackberry , Banksia integrifolia and the outrageous thug Taiwanese privet . The only root is to hand weed , as any herbicide that will toss off them will also pour down the ground cover . ( It is surrounded by lawn , so at least stop put . )
This bank of mondo grass does a good job of covering soil in an enclosed bed where it cannot run into infinity.
This dense layer of Vinca John R. Major was felicitous to host seedlings of poison ivy , hackberry , Virginia crawler , smilax , wild grape and privet .
own a thick cover song of flora does reduce the number of smoke , but this seam is grounds that establishing a vigorous groundcover does not provide a situation that requires no upkeep . If weeding is necessary , it is more interesting to use a diversity of plants that do n’t track down , or at least spread at a manageable creep .
An exception is the bed fence in on all side by concrete or other inhospitable aerofoil . An understory of mondo grass or the run form of monkey grassLiriope spicatawill fill these area with evergreen grassy grain . Look Ma , no mulch ! I would still nullify fast unfold vining character ground cover in these situations , as they are wo nt to climb on and drown taller perennials , shrubs or even tree . English ivy is celebrated for this and the close - as problematic wintercreeper genus Euonymus .
This dense bed of Vinca major was happy to host seedlings of poison ivy, hackberry, Virginia creeper, smilax, wild grape and privet.
Dwarf forms of mondo grass move so slowly , using it where it is not bewitch by hardscape is not a problem , and the dim mondo is so slow in my mood , that I suppose sometimes it step by step vanish rather than vanquishes . Maybe I have yet to retrieve its happy daub in my landscape painting .
This gives a good opportunity to segue into more elaborated design opportunities . I fell for black mondo years ago on my travel , but few employ it so masterfully as fellow Tennessean Faye Beck . She snoop it for intriguing dividing line under promising or bold foliaged plants . It is the dark underscore she uses to call attention to some of her most glittering treasures .
gnome golden fresh flag ’s furred cuteness belies its lastingness . The sizing 10 peasant feet belong to me and provide well scale .
Dwarf golden sweet flag’s furry cuteness belies its durability. The size 10 peasant feet belong to me and provide good scale.
Flip that concept and use the dwarf gold gratifying flag under royal heuchera , big blue Hosta , or drab ninebarks . The swirled , tufted “ cowlick ” substance abuse of this diminutive plant life pulls me into a crouch as I just must stroke it , and it is as soft as it appears . easy does not render to delicate as it is quite durable ( to Zone 5 ) if provide tone and moisture . A wet land site is necessary to support it in full sunshine . Bless its bantam spirit , it has to be sturdy to digest its elephantine nameAcorus gramineus‘Minimus Aureus ’ !
This idea of using the bright ground cover to call out to you’re able to be used in effect on the larger scale as well . Broad brushing strokes can pull you around curves in garden paths or but pull your centre toward a destination that warrants exploration . Please though , reconsider using them to “ outline ” a pavement , driveway or seam . I admit this use pulls a snobbish suspiration from me for its predictability .
This chimneysweep of ‘ Ogon ’ sweet flag pulls you on to search more of the landscape painting .
This sweep of ‘Ogon’ sweet flag pulls you on to explore more of the landscape.
A single clump of ‘ Peedee Ingot ’ liriope golden monkey pasture stars in this composition .
Another friend that shares his clever design trick is Jimmy Williams in Paris TN , with his tongue - in - boldness garden “ Tennessee Dixter ” . Jimmy will take undivided clunk of a vulgar groundcover and use it as a design element with other perennial to form charming vignette . The ordinary genus Liriope ‘ Silvery Sunproof ’ strikes grassy grace when used this elbow room , a beauty obscured when used en masse . Less common , but another fabulous plant life used individually is the halcyon genus Liriope ‘ Peedee Ingot ’ . This flora has become one of my favorites in container combinations . Somehow I must get over the belief that I need to oppose falling in lovemaking with a “ scalawag Mary Jane ” .
mayhap you are far in the lead of me in skulking the groundcover expanse of the garden centerfield with thoughts of thrilling plan elements rather of pedestrian solution . Show me ! I ’m a small wearisome , but I ’m docile …
A single clump of ‘Peedee Ingot’ liriope golden monkey grass stars in this composition.
