Creating Ground Cover with Plants and Garden Aggregates

Bare soil is not only an unattractive feature in a garden, bare soil also leaves the garden open to a wide range of issues including, fouling from pests such as cats. In addition bare soil sites are also prone to weed infestations, which may affect the rest of the garden over time. As such, in order to maintain a well manicured effect, the gardener may choose to cover such sites using either ground covering plants or a suitable garden aggregate.

Ground Cover Plants

By far the most attractive way of covering up a bare patch of soil is with the use of ground covering plants. There are a wide range of plants available which will provide ground cover including, flowering annuals such as Lobelia to evergreen perennials such as Ivy.

Ivy – Ivy is a quick and effective way of covering a large amount of space in a short period of time. The advantages of Ivy are its rapid rate of growth, as well as its environmental credentials for garden wild life. Unfortunately Ivy, if not kept under control can become somewhat of an invasive weed. Ivy will not be limited to ground cover, the plant is also an effective climber and will scale both buildings and garden fences at a rapid rate. Ivy comes in a variety of attractive forms, from plain green leaves to variegated varieties with both yellows and greens.

Lobelia – This is a ground covering annual flower. Lobelia spreads rapidly and will give the gardener an additional reward of a multitude of flowers during the height of summer. The down side is that Lobelia is an annual, hence the plant will do little to help ground cover during the winter months.

Campanulas – Campanulas represent one of the best ground covering plants available. The plant is a herbaceous perennial, as such the plant once sown will not need to be replanted the following year; in addition the plant will also provide year round cover. In addition to rapid spreading green foliage, the plant also provides a plethora of bell shaped flowers in the summer. A variety of colours are available; blue and white flowering varieties are most common.

Ground Cover – Garden Pebbles, Gravel and Aggregates

An alternative and cost effective method for covering a bare patch of soil is the use of a suitable selection of garden pebbles, gravel or other garden aggregate. In its most simple form a garden aggregate may be spread over the desired area and left. This will deter pests such as cats from attacking the soil. However, weeds will be just as happy to germinate in an untreated aggregate bed, as they would in bare soil.

If making use of garden aggregates to cover up a patch of bare soil, it is recommended that a weed suppressing membrane is laid first. A weed suppressing membrane stops weeds from growing up out of the soil and into the aggregate based bed. Once the membrane has been laid, the desired pebbles, gravel or aggregate can be spread over the desired area.

Gravels – Garden gravel makes an excellent covering for sites where, either a country effect is required, or where plants with a love of free draining soil are to be grown, such as Lavender.

Garden Aggregates – There are a wide range of garden aggregates available, for a contemporary effect consider various varieties of slate such as plum or graphite. For a more traditional effect consider aggregates such as Cumbrian and Scottish Red or Solent and York Gold.

Garden Pebbles – Garden pebbles are often much more expensive than gravels and standard aggregates. As such they are used to better effect on smaller areas, or to cover the surface of large pots. Pebbles come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from large beach pebbles, suitable for garden landscaping, to smaller polished oriental pebbles, better used to cover the soil of a large pot.

Read more about gadening:

• Cat Deterrents – How to Deter Cats From the Garden
• How to Build a Raised Bed in the Garden
• Growing Acid Loving Plants

Sources:

Bradley-Hole, K. 2001. Stone, Rock and Gravel Gardens. Cassell.

Phillips, L. 2006. The small garden. Frances Lincoln.