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Post by houseodessey on May 30, 2007 18:15:23 GMT -5
My front yard is a barren, dusty wasteland where no grass will grow. Can anyone recommend a nice groundcover for almost full shade that also tolerates heat/drought? It would be a bonus if it doesn't grow taller than 6-8 inches, too.
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Post by lavandulagirl on May 30, 2007 19:25:52 GMT -5
Ajuga, and creeping jenny. The first one has a variety of leaf colors - mine is deep purple, and it has purple flower spikes. We can walk on it. The other is a paler green, and mine has bright yellow, ground level flowers. We also walk on it. I can mow them both too, with no adverse effect. So if you need to run a mower or weedwhacker near them, no prob.
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Post by flowerpower on May 31, 2007 6:19:28 GMT -5
The Ajuga is nice. It has spread into the lawn here and we just mow it down. I was also thinking Myrtle (vinca minor) or Lamium (spotted Dead Nettle)
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Post by houseodessey on May 31, 2007 20:12:16 GMT -5
Ajuga and deadnettle sound right up my pathetic yard's alley. Henbit grows great here in TX. I'm glad to see some other offerings from the nettle family. My neighbors love their vinca in a similar situation so I'll probably put that in the planters as it tends to get tall.
Thanks, girls.
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 3, 2007 6:15:31 GMT -5
If you get the Vinca minor it shouldn't get too tall. Good luck with your project!
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Post by jaliranchr on Mar 2, 2008 10:39:36 GMT -5
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Post by hoosierheightsfarm on Mar 2, 2008 13:43:02 GMT -5
Poison ivy. ;o)
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barb
gopher
Posts: 14
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Post by barb on Jul 27, 2008 15:01:03 GMT -5
I was reading through old posts and was interested in this one because I have some shade areas that are really a problem. I looked up the ajuga and really liked it. It seems perfect. All except the price. Does anyone have or will have any seeds that they would do SASE? I am just getting started trading seeds so I don't have a very good selection to trade. I do have an overabundance of Corepsis (Tickseed).
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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 27, 2008 15:54:49 GMT -5
I have Ajuga that you are welcome to. Keep in mind that I am very opinionated, but I think that vince should never be planted here in IN. You will never, ever be able to get rid of it. The Ajuga I have is dark purple, and while it does spread, it is easy to rip out if it goes where it isn't wanted. It will grow in full sun or shade, and it does have pretty little flowers in spring. If you do want some, I wouldn't recommend planting it right now, best to wait until the weather has cooled off a bit. If there are any other plants you are looking for, just ask, I may have it. Karen
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barb
gopher
Posts: 14
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Post by barb on Jul 27, 2008 16:31:26 GMT -5
Do you have or know of another another ground cover for shade that would be better. I am looking for a ground cover that likes shade and doesn't mind being stepped on. In our shade areas the grass is completely gone where we walk through. Our property is on a hill so it is hard to redirect our foot traffic. I have wild strawberries growing on one of the hillsides where I need more ground cover but they are not spreading into the path. I even transplanted some closer to the path but not much growth. It's so discouraging that we have these bare paths. One shady area we mulched and I am pleased with how it looks. We have lawn furniture in this area. I thought about it for the paths but decided against it because I figured it would all get washed down the hill. Plus I need to fix the problem as inexpensively as possible. I feel like it might be an impossible problem area to solve.
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Post by plantsnobin on Jul 27, 2008 18:39:50 GMT -5
Would it be possible to post pics of the area? It would help to see how deep the shade is, and the grade of your hillside. There are many native plants that would probably meet your requirements. If the space is wide enough, you could have a nice shade garden with a path running through it. A few possibilities would be some of the early blooming spring ephemerals such as bloodroot, virginia bluebells, dicentra, hepatica, arisaema, etc. Then of course you could have ferns, and maybe a shrub or two to anchor things, maybe spicebush. They are larval host to the cutest caterpillar you will ever see. Whoops, I may be getting carried away. I tend to do that. Maybe I better start off asking what color you want to predominate, and the size of the space.
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barb
gopher
Posts: 14
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Post by barb on Aug 1, 2008 19:47:51 GMT -5
I got a chance to take pics of the area this week. Now I have to wait for my daughter to put them on the computer. It is her camera. I thought about getting brave and trying to do it myself. My luck I would mess her camera up.
I love every color so i do not have a preference. I hope the pics will help tell more what I am dealing with. Hopefully will get them posted soon.
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