Comments on: Covering ground

By: Cyd

Cyd — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:37:08 +0000

I have sweet woodruff, and catmint given to me by a well meaning neighbor. I also have a campanula purchased at a garage sale. Now I am more careful about what I allow and I always warn my friends about what is invasive, even when they think it is so pretty. I wish everyone else would do that before passing it along. I always cringe when I see people actually spending money on these things at nurseries.

Cyd, Wouldn’t it be nice if there were warning labels? There are degrees of aggressive/invasive – there could be color codes (red=danger!) or a points system… -kris

By: Layanee

Layanee — Sat, 16 May 2009 13:14:13 +0000

Your ground covers are truly that! Not many can boast the extensive coverage of your personal, public garden! LOL I know it takes a bit of work to keep them looking so pristine. Love these shots.

Thanks, Layanee – yeah, that goutweed covers some acres I think! -kris

By: ginny

ginny — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:58:56 +0000

Marsh Marigold! That critter formally known as Caltha palustris has spread its seed here en masse. It started out innocently enough, blown in from who knows where, and I welcomed the buttercup bright yellow color along the edges of our property. Especially in wet spots. Well, this year it’s in the lawn, in pathways and it is not a fun plant. Yes, it dies back completely in late spring, but I fear that next year will bring bigger drifts of the darn thing. AND they actually sell this stuff in catalogs. Recession-proof plant…..I could pot it up and sell it by the road! DANGER.

Yikes mikes, Ginny – I don’t remember ever noticing that in your garden! Buttercups, I remember… -kris

By: Susan Sims

Susan Sims — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:09:31 +0000

I’ve got both goutweed – which I’ve always known as “Bishop’s weed” – and lily of the valley. I’m waging a continual war on the first; my battle on the second being soon to come. Lily of the valley is easier to pull out, though.

Susan, And at least Lily of the valley doesn’t have the same bad habit of becoming hopelessly tangled in the roots of favorite perennials and shrubs. May the force by with you. -kris

By: Carol, May Dreams Gardens

Carol, May Dreams Gardens — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:51:49 +0000

I had English ivy, but evicted it a few years ago, by hacking it out, And to think I planted it and thought I could control it. Moneywort is another ground cover I shouldn’t have planted. And most of my beds are covered by some kind of creeping sedum, easy enough to weed out, but still I can’t believe I planted it. Groundcovers… they seduce us and then once they’ve got just a tiny foothold, they take over.

Carol, I am still seduced by the groundcovers that are easy enough to pull out wherever they’ve overstepped – and sedum pieces make such great gifts! -kris