Ground Cover Plants

Aster dumosus Wood's Blue 

Also known as Michaelmas Daisies these old favourites bloom from late summer into fall with lots of intense blue, long lasting, daisy-like flowers. They are very hardy and they form ever-increasing compact clumps but they need to be divided every 3 - 4 years in the early spring. Plant them in pots or borders and combined with other late flowering plants they will provide color when most other plants are fading. The name Aster is derived from the Greek word for Star.

• Spreads over the years
• Covers bare spots quickly
• Colour green
• Full grown height 25 - 50 cm
• Full grown width 25 - 50 cm

     
                                                  

                                                     

                   Convallaria majalis White

Also known as Lily of the Valley these very sweetly perfumed, May flowering bell-shaped blooms make perfect cut flowers. Lily of the Valley will spread over time into large areas, ideal for under shrubs and other shady or partially shady positions. The thrive in humus rich well drained soil.Height 12- 16 cm

• Covers bare spots quickly
• Cutflowers
• Fragrant
• Spreads over the years
• Colour green
• Full grown height 10 - 25 cm
• Full grown width 1 - 10 cm

                                                      

                                         Campanula carpatica Blue Clips

Campanula carpatica Blue Clips is a lovely ground covering plant with large bell blooms; if spent flowers are removed regularly it will continually produce flowers from June until late September. They're ideal for borders, pots and rockery gardens.

• Covers bare spots quickly
• Suitable for rockery gardens
• Colour green
• Full grown height 10 - 25 cm
• Full grown width 1 - 10 cm

                                                              

Ground Covering Rose "Pink"

No garden is complete without ground covering roses, they are suitable for filling areas where low cover is needed, can be trained on rockeries or to cover unsightly objects. They are also excellent for providing low maintenace colour and look good growing in pots as well as in mixed borders for a more informal look. Flowering from summer into autumn they keep weeds at bay and discourage cats with their dense prickly branches.

• Covers bare spots quickly
• Fragrant
• Colour green
• Full grown height 25 - 50 cm
• Full grown width 10 - 25 cm

Saponaria ocymoides Soapwort

Saponaria is a very rewarding ground covering plant. It blooms abundantly during July to September with bright pink flowers grouped together in thick clusters providing you with a carpet of colour. Saponaria will spread rapidly and is ideal for edges.

• Covers bare spots quickly
• Spreads over the years
• Suitable for rockery gardens
• Colour green
• Full grown height 10 - 25 cm
• Full grown width 10 - 25 cm

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Tips for Beginners

• Don’t do the entire garden

Most people who are just starting out or have moved into a new garden feel pressured to do the whole garden at one time. I persuade most of my clients to stage the design and build. This is great for beginners and I would suggest they concentrate on getting the area around the house finished first. Not only will this give you an area that you can enjoy relatively quickly but it also means you can budget for the entire garden. 

• Cover the soil with ground cover plants

One of the biggest problems newcomers to gardening find is maintenance – the last thing you want to do is spend all of your down time looking after a garden. Plan ahead, think about covering every centimetre of your soil with plants – choose ground cover plants and place them in-between larger shrubs and don’t be afraid to plant annuals, these will suppress any unwanted weed growth. 

• Buy quick growing plants

Plants take time to grow and whether you have grown from seed or cuttings a garden full of tiny new plants can be demoralising at the best of times – choose plants which grow fast and that will give you a great show in your first season. Try clump forming perennials such as Asters and grasses – buy plants that can easily be split to make several plants for the price of one. 

• Use natives wherever possible

Native plants offer a fail safe answer to many new gardeners. Native plants have adapted over the years to most climatic and soil changes therefore make the most easily to look after plants. Choose Hazel and Birch for fast instant structure. Native plants are generally much cheaper than their hybrid alternatives so keep a look out in the garden center. 

• Vegetables

Vegetables can be extremely rewarding to the first time gardener and also offer you a chance to understand how plants grow and what they need to survive – forgetting to water your tomatoes will give you a nasty shock! Picking and eating your own produce also helps you bond with your garden and there is nothing quite so relaxing as returning home from a hard days work to water the vegetables and harvest a crop.

• Use local garden centre knowledge

Garden centres are a great source of knowledge with most having help desks. It is important to use this knowledge and ask staff for help with certain plants and also to clarify if the plant you are buying is right for you.

• Share cuttings with neighbours

The great thing about gardening is that it is addictive and gardeners are nice people – sharing cuttings and seeds from your garden with your neighbours will encourage a profitable return!

http://www.theenglishgarden.co.uk/advice-on/top-tips/beginner