hardy, fast - and effective

21 years ago

I need advice, and a recommended groundcover.

I'm a half an hour north of Kingston, Ontario - have a self-standing gazebo at the cottage that was built into the side of a hill. The "high end" -- the side opposite the hillside -- sits on several railway ties, 4 or 5 feet elevation, and is well on the shady side (directly under a fairly dense canopy of trees/leaves).

I've just added 'fill' to reduce shiting and erosion at the 'high end': the slope is about 45 degrees ... about six feet from top to bottow, and about 5 feet high.

The fill has some sand in it - probably not the best soil.

I'd like a groundcover on this bank of soil that:

- helps to 'anchor' this bank of soil so it is less likely to shift or wash away

- requires zero maintenance

- is hardy and durable - can't be there during the week to water it

- grows fairly quickly, even in shady-tending location

- is attractive - ideally a downright colourful "blanket"

- isn't too, too expensive.

I'm expecting to throw on a couple of inches of good topsoil (mixed with some manure?) before planting the groundcover. There's NO risk or concern of invasiveness: wherever and however the groundcover spreads will be just fine.

Possibilities?

- Golden Creeping Jenny

- Vinca Major

- Moss (which is sold by retailers???)

Would really appreciate any help and recommendations - wish I could even help someone else out, but I don't have any gardening experience or knowledge.

Thanks so much.

Bruce Fulcher

bruceishomeATyahoo.ca

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
21 years ago
Hi Catsdead,

Since you don't need to worry about invasiveness, how about Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum). It can take shade or sun, and spreads underground, so it would help hold soil when established. It's very hardy and semi-evergreen. It gets 6-10" high, and smells like vanilla or fresh mown hay--it's wonderful. In spring it's covered with clusters of tiny white flowers. And you could stick a patch of Lily-of-the-valley in among it somewhere. Here's a link to info on Sweet Woodruff.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sweet Woodruff info.
creatrix
21 years ago
I'd go with the vinca. But you will have to weed in there some.
Related Professionals
Corpus Christi Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Spring Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Flint Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fresno Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Modesto Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Savannah Landscape Contractors · Manhattan Landscape Contractors · College Station Landscape Contractors · Rutland Landscape Contractors · Pocatello Landscape Contractors · Bozeman Landscape Contractors · Honolulu Landscape Contractors · London Landscape Contractors · Atlantic City Stone, Pavers & Concrete · Newburyport Stone, Pavers & Concrete
Mari11
21 years ago
I like bishop's weed (Aegopodium podagraria "variegata")
It has all features you mentioned. And I can give it to you for free (I live in Toronto). Email me, if you want.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.robsplants.com/plants/AegopPodag.php
Ina Plassa_travis
21 years ago
one of the other plants called 'goutweed' or 'false lamium' may be an option...it's aggressive, stubborn, requires little care even initially (I've stuck plants in in a hole make with a stick, stepped on them to 'set' them in, and come back a month later to see them BLOOMING!) and it's striped foliage thrives in shade or anything short of full sun here in zone 6. it makes not-bad looking yellow flower spikes in the spring, and it quintuples in size in the time it takes pachysandra or vinca to double.

the bishop's weed that mari's showing you is also a good deal (can't beat free) and while the lily of the valley take some time to get started, when they start filling in, they're a real treat in a shady area.

Japanese Painted Fern may make a good accent plant, but I would wait until very early fall to put them in (around labor day, for you) since they would not like being totally neglected in the summer their first year.
whip1 Zone 5 NE Ohio
21 years ago
If you go with the vinca i believe that major is an annual, minor is the perennial. I have some and I love it. Bishop weed is rightly named, it spreads like a weed. It would also be good for you.
ume_shu
21 years ago
ONLY plant bishop's weed / goutweed if you are sure you want it there permanently and aren't concerned about controlling spread to other areas. Honestly, it grows pretty much anywhere. My neighbours have it where their back yard meets mine -- unfortunately the only area in my lawn that gets much sun, and I had to dig a large section of the stuff out last year and continually have to pull up spouts that creep under the fence.

I'd go with Vinca -- or Sweet Woodruff, which I am going to try in a shady spot this year. I'm also going to try Wintergreen. So many plants, so little space . . .

Hope you find something that works for your spot.

ume
callalilykris
21 years ago
I have found that Orchid-Frost Lamium is beautiful ("a colorful blanket"), fast-growing, easy-to-grow and very hardy for zone 5. I just love how it looks in my garden!