Re: What type of groundcover do I use??

Joe,

For quite a few nifty ideas, visit the Louisiana Gardener site

http://www.louisianagardener.com/

Hit Past Issues in the left navigation column and select the February
2000 featured article from the selection of past issues that comes up
in the main window - "Beyond Monkey Grass" is the title.  The photo
that goes with the article shows a vignette of several groundcovers -
quite nice IMO.

I agree that there ought to be some variation in your groundcover or
the area could be pretty boring.  If you wanted to use only Ajuga,
you could make a tapestry planting of the different varieties -
'Catlain's Giant' could be interesting with the purple leaf and then
some with lighter leaves or plain green.  I have found, however, that
you need to watch the more common varieties if you have them planted
with some of the slower growing variegated ones and make sure they
don't eat them alive.

Ajuga spreads via over ground runners that make a rosette of leaves
that roots when it touches soil.  They also seed around.  The mother
plant blooms and then sends out runners all around.  Sometimes it
rather dies off, leaving its offspring to carry on.  Ajuga can form a
very nice, solid, groundcover where it gets sufficient moisture and
sun...despite being touted as a "shade" plant, it really wants some
sun.  Doesn't need a lot, but if it's put in a dark place, it will
simply move out to more light.

As others have said, it is very easy to either pull out or cut back
or snip off the runners and plant them where you want them.

But, it seems to me that there are other plants that will also do
very well where you are.  Read that article as it mentions and
describes quite a number of them that are adapted to your climate.
That's a site you ought to bookmark as it is devoted to your area:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: cajun Joe <cajun4@HOME.COM>
> Date: Thursday, August 17, 2000 9:44 AM
>
> Hello everyone = I have and area about 60' long, and 7' wide that I
am
> considering planting a groundcover on.
>
> The area is between 2 buildings with lot's of light, and gets about
2-3
> hours of direct sunlight a day. I also have plants (scrubs),  about
2'-3'
> high, about 4' apart running the length of the area = each plant
has plastic
> edging around it, about 2" deep. I keep the scrubs well mulched,
and use
> landscape cloth as a barrier?
>
> If I plant a groundcover = I would like to have one that I can
control from
> going inside the scrub areas. Someone suggested Ajuga to me, but
doesn't
> that propagate by underground roots? Would I have and
uncontrollable problem
> in that regard?
>
> Any help or suggestion will be appreciated. Thank you
> Cajun in Zone 9, in New Orleans
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