HOME GARDEN
By Bob Bayes
http://www.qualitygardens.biz/
qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk
I will now review the progress of the groundcover bed that I planted in May.
As with the vegetable plot, some things have done better than others. Although, I must say that I have not been disappointed with any of the plants used, rather I have been very pleased with a couple of my choices.
All the plants used were rooted cuttings that I had taken in Spring so were not of the size that one would normally buy from a garden centre, so I was expecting the bed to take a little time to develop. I planted the plants about a trowel’s length apart, which would compensate for the smallness of the plants (a normal planting density for full size plants would be between 3 and 9 plants per metre squared).
Of the plants used, the Blue Marguerite (Felicia amelloides), Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinales ‘Prostratus’), Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and Trailing Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) have all done as expected. They have settled into the ground well and are starting to put on good growth. When I next have time I will use the growing tips of the peri
winkle and geraniums as cuttings to provide more plants. This will also encourage the plants in the ground to form side shoots thus thickening up the groundcover. The Blue Marguerites are naturally of more compact growth and the Trailing Rosemary is a much slower growing shrubby plant. Both have got themselves established and will, in time, cover the ground.
Two plants have, however, exceeded expectations. Despite only being planted as rooted cuttings both the Verbena (Verbena peruvianis) and, a plant that I stumbled upon on my travels
, Polygonum carpaticum ‘Purpurea’? are already carpeting the ground and there is not a lot of soil to be seen. The Verbena is in flower now and I have three shades of pink/mauve and the Polygonum will produce small pink flowers.
The other plant I used was a yellow form of Trailing Ice Plant (Lampranthus spectabilis) As these were already fair sized plants (already in pots having been taken as cuttings from my previous garden) it is no surprise that they too are giving almost total groundcover.
A bed of solely ground hugging plants can be a little too one dimensional so, to add height, one of the plants that I have used is an old favourite of mine, the Canna indica or Indian Shot Plant. In England it was used as a specimen ‘spot’ plant in seasonal, summer bedding. Here
I am using it for the same effect, but I will be able to leave it in the ground all the year round. Originating from South America it is available in a wide range of leaf colour, flower colour and height. In this border, my plants are all growing to about1.5m high and I have 5 plants that display two leaf colours and four flower colours. I am on the lookout for more. It thrives on moisture but will also grow in quite arid conditions, although the plant will not be so robust. The rhizomes can be split during dormancy to provide new plants.
By Bob Bayes
http://www.qualitygardens.biz/
qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk
I will now review the progress of the groundcover bed that I planted in May.
As with the vegetable plot, some things have done better than others. Although, I must say that I have not been disappointed with any of the plants used, rather I have been very pleased with a couple of my choices.
All the plants used were rooted cuttings that I had taken in Spring so were not of the size that one would normally buy from a garden centre, so I was expecting the bed to take a little time to develop. I planted the plants about a trowel’s length apart, which would compensate for the smallness of the plants (a normal planting density for full size plants would be between 3 and 9 plants per metre squared).
Of the plants used, the Blue Marguerite (Felicia amelloides), Creeping Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinales ‘Prostratus’), Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor) and Trailing Geranium (Pelargonium peltatum) have all done as expected. They have settled into the ground well and are starting to put on good growth. When I next have time I will use the growing tips of the peri
winkle and geraniums as cuttings to provide more plants. This will also encourage the plants in the ground to form side shoots thus thickening up the groundcover. The Blue Marguerites are naturally of more compact growth and the Trailing Rosemary is a much slower growing shrubby plant. Both have got themselves established and will, in time, cover the ground.Two plants have, however, exceeded expectations. Despite only being planted as rooted cuttings both the Verbena (Verbena peruvianis) and, a plant that I stumbled upon on my travels
, Polygonum carpaticum ‘Purpurea’? are already carpeting the ground and there is not a lot of soil to be seen. The Verbena is in flower now and I have three shades of pink/mauve and the Polygonum will produce small pink flowers.The other plant I used was a yellow form of Trailing Ice Plant (Lampranthus spectabilis) As these were already fair sized plants (already in pots having been taken as cuttings from my previous garden) it is no surprise that they too are giving almost total groundcover.
A bed of solely ground hugging plants can be a little too one dimensional so, to add height, one of the plants that I have used is an old favourite of mine, the Canna indica or Indian Shot Plant. In England it was used as a specimen ‘spot’ plant in seasonal, summer bedding. Here
I am using it for the same effect, but I will be able to leave it in the ground all the year round. Originating from South America it is available in a wide range of leaf colour, flower colour and height. In this border, my plants are all growing to about1.5m high and I have 5 plants that display two leaf colours and four flower colours. I am on the lookout for more. It thrives on moisture but will also grow in quite arid conditions, although the plant will not be so robust. The rhizomes can be split during dormancy to provide new plants. If you have any gardening queries then I would be pleased to help. Please send any comments or questions to: http://www.blogger.com/qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk or visit my blog site: quality-gardens-crete.blogspot.com, where you will find this and previous articles and post your comment there
