HOME GARDEN
By Bob Bayes
http://www.qualitygardens.biz/
qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk
Ground Cover Planting:
In front of my vegetable plot and just across the drive from my front door there is an awkward shaped piece of garden with a mature olive tree growing in it. Because of its location I want make this into an ornamental border.
My aims are not only to create something that is pleasing to look at but also an area that requires little work (once established). This will be achieved by using plants that are not only attractive but will also cover the ground. Eventually, with the ground covered, there will be little chance of weed seeds germinating and winds will not be able to whip up a dust storm off the bare soil.
Before planting a bed with groundcover it is imperative that the ground is properly prepared and weed free. The emphasis is on weed free. Although a good groundcover scheme will suppress germinating weedlings, it has no chance if established perennial weeds are already in the soil. These will out compete the wanted plants and are practically impossible to remove from an established bed.
Similarly, during establishment, the bed should be kept weed free. This can be aided by using a mulch of something like bark chippings which need to be spread at least 5cm deep between the plants. Not only does this help to preserve moisture and suppress weed growth, it will slowly decompose into the soil surface thus improving its structure. Many plants also appreciate growing over and through the bark and will naturally set new roots and produce new plants.
Many types of plants are suitable for producing groundcover. I am looking for relatively low growing and generally evergreen plants that will form a carpet underneath the olive. I intend to plant a few individual plants within the bed to give a bit of variation in height and to extend the period of interest. For this reason I will not use any naturally climbing plants (many of which make excellent groundcover), nor will I use anything that is too vigorous and will become too invasive.
In order to fill the space as quickly as possible I will set the plants at least 3 to a square m
eter and am considering using the following:
Creeping rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis ‘Prostratus’) Arsimares
Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca Minor) Agrioliza
Trailing Ice-Plant (Lampranthus spectabilis) Mesembrianthinthimo
Verbena (Verbena peruviana) Vervena
Blue Marguerite (Felicia amelloides) Felitsia
I may also experiment with trailing geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) Gerani.
What are your experiences of growing groundcover plants in Crete? Why not post a comment on my blogsite http://www.quality-gardens-crete.blogspot.com/ where you can also read this and my previous articles.
WILDPLANT OF THE MONTH:
Chrysanthemum coronarium (Crown Daisy,Agria Margarita)
It's a shame crow
n daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium, now Glebionis coronaria) had its botanical name changed, since the word chrysanthemum combines the Greek for gold (chrysos) and for flower (anthos)-a perfect description for this lovely annual, which usually has yellow petal-like rays and a yellow central disk, as in the picture, although a bi-colour form is also common here on Crete. Therefore I have continued to use its old name.
An obvious choice for May’s plant of the month as it is the main ingredient of most of the Mayday floral wreaths
By Bob Bayes
http://www.qualitygardens.biz/
qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk
Ground Cover Planting:
In front of my vegetable plot and just across the drive from my front door there is an awkward shaped piece of garden with a mature olive tree growing in it. Because of its location I want make this into an ornamental border.
My aims are not only to create something that is pleasing to look at but also an area that requires little work (once established). This will be achieved by using plants that are not only attractive but will also cover the ground. Eventually, with the ground covered, there will be little chance of weed seeds germinating and winds will not be able to whip up a dust storm off the bare soil.
Before planting a bed with groundcover it is imperative that the ground is properly prepared and weed free. The emphasis is on weed free. Although a good groundcover scheme will suppress germinating weedlings, it has no chance if established perennial weeds are already in the soil. These will out compete the wanted plants and are practically impossible to remove from an established bed.
Similarly, during establishment, the bed should be kept weed free. This can be aided by using a mulch of something like bark chippings which need to be spread at least 5cm deep between the plants. Not only does this help to preserve moisture and suppress weed growth, it will slowly decompose into the soil surface thus improving its structure. Many plants also appreciate growing over and through the bark and will naturally set new roots and produce new plants.
Many types of plants are suitable for producing groundcover. I am looking for relatively low growing and generally evergreen plants that will form a carpet underneath the olive. I intend to plant a few individual plants within the bed to give a bit of variation in height and to extend the period of interest. For this reason I will not use any naturally climbing plants (many of which make excellent groundcover), nor will I use anything that is too vigorous and will become too invasive.
In order to fill the space as quickly as possible I will set the plants at least 3 to a square m
eter and am considering using the following:Creeping rosemary (Rosmarinus officianalis ‘Prostratus’) Arsimares
Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca Minor) Agrioliza
Trailing Ice-Plant (Lampranthus spectabilis) Mesembrianthinthimo
Verbena (Verbena peruviana) Vervena
Blue Marguerite (Felicia amelloides) Felitsia
I may also experiment with trailing geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) Gerani.
What are your experiences of growing groundcover plants in Crete? Why not post a comment on my blogsite http://www.quality-gardens-crete.blogspot.com/ where you can also read this and my previous articles.
WILDPLANT OF THE MONTH:
Chrysanthemum coronarium (Crown Daisy,Agria Margarita)
It's a shame crow
n daisy (Chrysanthemum coronarium, now Glebionis coronaria) had its botanical name changed, since the word chrysanthemum combines the Greek for gold (chrysos) and for flower (anthos)-a perfect description for this lovely annual, which usually has yellow petal-like rays and a yellow central disk, as in the picture, although a bi-colour form is also common here on Crete. Therefore I have continued to use its old name.An obvious choice for May’s plant of the month as it is the main ingredient of most of the Mayday floral wreaths
