For some reason, odd numbers are better so maybe 3s and 5s The euonymus will need sun if it's to remain variegated and pinch off any green shoots of they'll take over.
Ive put the plants in. Not much thought given to placement really (other than the useful tip about putting the variegated plant in sunshine so it remains... variegated.)
Some questions:
- Will they spread (I presume so seeing as theyre ground cover). How long does that take? The few groundcover plants I bought last year have done absolutely nothing!!
- What would you do in my situation? Would you just go and buy enough ground cover to carpet the whole area? If so, the plants I bought were £30 and cover about 2 square feet. So this may be a very expensive exercise!!
- "...and pinch off any green shoots of they'll take over." I want to them to take over. Anythings better than bare soil and it will save me money if they do take over. But I get the feeling theyre going to do exactly what all the other plants have done and do nothing and die.
It looks as if your beds are raised, so the drainage could be quite sharp. Your plants will need regular watering until they've got their roots growing well. Keep an eye on them for their first summer and don't let them go thirsty. The plants should be spread out to give them room to grow - look them up online if the expected spread isn't on the labels. eg Geranium Dusky Crug apparently has a spread of 45 - 60 cm (1.5 - 2 ft) per plant.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
You normally plant in a sort of triangle leaving enough room for the suggested plant spread. Paschysandra prefers shade. Still going to take a year or so to see good coverage. Euonymus always seems to be slow growing for me. You could get some annual seed mix to fill in. Rake and water the ground and scatter them and see what comes up. Poppies are good Couple of acanthus plants will take up a large amount of space and don't need much attention.
@tuffnelljohn I have the same euonymus as you in shade, and it's absolutely fine with no signs of reversion. I had another one in the sun which I had to repeatedly chop bits off which had reverted.
I have another type of euonymus in full sun and it reverts like mad, so from my experience this sun/reversion thing is a myth.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The chap said these were hardy geraniums. The others he said were fast growing (which is what I want).
Theyre in boxes of 8. So I just stick them in the ground in three clusters of 8?
The euonymus will need sun if it's to remain variegated and pinch off any green shoots of they'll take over.
Paschysandra prefers shade.
Still going to take a year or so to see good coverage.
Euonymus always seems to be slow growing for me.
You could get some annual seed mix to fill in. Rake and water the ground and scatter them and see what comes up. Poppies are good
Couple of acanthus plants will take up a large amount of space and don't need much attention.