Re: Rhizome/stolon depths for creeping perennials
- Subject: Re: Rhizome/stolon depths for creeping perennials
- From: M* T*
- Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 00:49:25 -0400
Well, Mark, of the ones you list, I only grow Pachysandra and Vinca.
Vinca roots where it touches ground, so it's not a matter of
controlling underground stolons; you simply have to keep giving it a
haircut to keep it in bounds once it gets established. If it manages
to root in where you don't want it, you just pull it or dig that bit
up.
Pachysandra does travel underground, but not all that deep; I'd say
something 6" deep would keep it in place; a foot on the outside.
Mowing will also keep it in check as it tries to travel into lawn
areas and you can go around and whack it back, too.
Whatever you plant, you're probably looking at 3 seasons before it
really starts to cover and think about traveling outside its allotted
area.
As for what to use....hmmm...well others who actually do use edging
barriers will likely have better advice than I can offer, but seems
like that standard black plastic edging that you bury ought to do the
trick.
Be advised that Pachysandra terminalis does NOT like sun and will
turn a very sickly yellowish green if exposed to too much of it; it
will also turn yellowish if the soil is too alkaline. It loves shade
(I think it will grow in the dark), although it will take a couple
hours of direct sun a day - what I'm trying to convey is that it is
not a plant for full sun. It is the absolute workhorse of
groundcovers for shady situations; stays neat all year plus you get
white flowers in spring. Once established, very few weeds grow
through it. I only have to deal with woody plant - tree - seedlings
and blasted wild grape periodically. Vinca, OTOH, allows a lot of
stuff to grow up through it since it only roots in here and there.
If you want aggressive, try Lamium galeobdolen:-) It will eat
anything in sight once it gets established and grow about anywhere.
The variegated form is quite nice as a groundcover, although only
partially evergreen in my climate. It has spikes of yellow flowers
in spring. It also travels above ground, so cutting the new long
stems back before they have a chance to root is all you need to do;
no barrier necessary.
An extremely nice groundcover for either sun or shade is Geranium
macrorrhizum. It is not "aggressive" in the sense that Vinca or
Lamium or even Pachysandra are, but steadily covers ground at a slow
pace by extending its above ground rhizomes. It is semi-evergreen
for me in USDA z. 7 plus, in addition to flowers in spring, the
foliage turns red in autumn where sun hits it...plus I like the scent
of the foliage.
Another good groundcover for sun to part or even medium shade is
Symphytum grandiflorum - not evergreen - but creeps along just below
the top of the soil and roots in providing lush foliage all season as
well as flowers in spring. Fairly aggressive, but easily controlled
by pulling or chopping what goes where you don't want it to.
Oh, there are so many good groundcovering plants, depending on where
you are gardening and what kind of light you have and what effect
you're trying for.
Most of the ground in my fairly large garden is covered with some
plant or other acting as groundcover; could never keep up with
maintenance if it were not so. I don't have any barriers between
beds and what passes for my lawn and really think that if you select
the right plants and give them periodic haircuts, you won't need to
use a barrier.
Back in 1997, I wrote a long series of articles on groundcovering
plants which may interest you. Hit the link to my index in my SIG
and then hit the link to In Marge's Garden and scroll down...you'll
see titles like 'Galloping Groundcovers', etc.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: shumaker@Encompasserve.org
>
> Can anyone point me to (hopefully) a single source for rhizome
> depths for the common perennial ground-cover plants (e.g.: vincas,
> pachysandras, verbenas, delospermas, worts)?
>
> Oh, and another question -- what materials can I use for a long-
> lived deeply-buried barrier? Aluminum tends to dissolve
underground
> in my yard; how about PVC (siding or heavy sheeting), polyethylene
> sheeting, asphalt roll roofing material, or what?
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