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Ground Covers
Q. I am looking for an inexpensive ground
cover for under my deck. I live in Northern
Virginia and the soil is mostly clay.
A. I have had a similar problem as you describe and here are the three ground covers I have used at different times of my gardening life: Myrtle or vinca minor. It grows readily in poor light and clay soil. It even adds a wonderful pale blue flower in the late spring. It is very hard to kill and spreads rapidly plus you can take cuttings and root them easily! Pachysandra. A taller cover but very easy to grow. Deals fine with heavy soil as I had in Toledo's backyard. Is evergreen as the myrtle above. Mint: spearmint or peppermint. Place it anywhere and it will take off
sending underground shoots all over the area. Be aware that it is very much a weed and
if not controlled will grow everywhere it wishes! Great for summertime drinks and garnish for fruit bowls and desserts. Wash well before use to rid of dirt and any spray you may have used. It does not get insects
but neither do the above two. Perfect eh? Some ivies will do well too
and stay green throughout. They are a bit slower in growth but are quite attractive and even come in a nice variegated variety.
Liriope muscari ranges from 12 to 24 inches in height. When not called monkey grass
it's also known as lily turf or simply Liriope. 'Big Blue' is the most popular and available selection. The leaves are 1/2 to 3/4 inches wide. Liriope is usually dark green in color but some selections
such as 'Silvery Sunproof' and 'John Burch ' have striped white or yellow leaves. Those selections tend to do better in sunny locations. 'Evergreen Giant' grows tall
usually 2 to 3 feet in height. It makes a nice foundation planting against the house under low windows. It isn't as cold tolerant as other selections and is best suited for the Coastal and Tropical South. Liriope spicata sometimes called creeping Liriope
has soft narrow foliage. Because its foliage is not stiff it forms a loose mound. It isn't recommended as an edging plant because it spreads aggressively and will quickly grow into turf areas and flowerbeds. It works well in large beds as a ground cover
where weeds have a hard time competing with it.
Liriope thrives in a moist fertile well-drained
soil and will take sun or shade. Roots known
as stolons move underground allowing the
plants to spread. More popular for its foliage
Liriope does have attractive summer flowers.
'Majestic' has the showiest producing spikes
of purple that fan out at the top of plants.
Liriope blooms are usually violet in color
but 'Monroe's White' has cream-colored flowers.
Monkey Grass
Q. I have what I think is called Monkey
Grass ground cover. Do you know anything
about it? Does it stay short?
A. There are three distinct types which I will describe here. Dwarf Mondo Mondo and Liriope. Mondo Grass [Monkey Grass]
Dwarf Mondo tucked in between these rocks
softens the hard edges It grows only 2 to
3 inches tall and won't trip up pedestrians.
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