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Plant suggestions - PLEASE !

powderworkspowderworks Posts: 51
in Problem solving
I'd welcome any advice on plants for heavy soil, here in NW England.
I'd like to have ground cover plants - with some flowering perennials - to reduce the amount of time spent weeding. (the bark was put down at the end of last year) 
Azaelas and rhods. grow well but I already have alot of those.
Any suggestions would be most welcome.
Thanks
(btw - the geranium seen on the tree trunk is going to be planted)
 

Posts

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited May 2021
    First off, get rid of the weeds really thoroughly now - dig up or kill the roots entirely, or they will come back even if it's planted up!

    To smother the ground I'd go with bold groups of Persicaria amplexicaulis, Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue,' and for a bit of height, Aster umbellatus. These plants bulk up really well and also spread to fill any gaps (especially the Symphytum, which you have to watch out for or it will take over). The Persicaria and Aster are probably vigorous enough to compete, though. Geranium 'Rozanne' is also good as it produces leafy cover over a wide area. If you plant all that at, say, 5 per m2, it should knit together quite quickly and allow weeds little chance of establishing. If you can mulch in late spring you should smother any new weed seedlings that might otherwise come up.

    You can combine all these with spring bulbs, pulmonaria and primulas for spring interest.

    If you wanted an evergreen shrub groundcover, Prunus 'Zabeliana' is quite good.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    edited May 2021
    Asters don’t grow well for me on acid soil.
    Vinca might be a good choice for ground cover,  grows well on my acid soil.
    you  could sprinkle some foxglove seeds over, they take care of themselves once you’ve got them. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited May 2021
    Lyn said:
    Asters don’t grow well for me on acid soil.
    Vinca might be a good choice for ground cover,  grows well on my acid soil.
    you  could sprinkle some foxglove seeds over, they take care of themselves once you’ve got them. 
    Aster umbellatus (Doellingeria umbellata) prefers slightly acid soil (although it is adaptable) - it's a different beast to the usual garden hybrids.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • powderworkspowderworks Posts: 51
    Loxley said:
    First off, get rid of the weeds really thoroughly now - dig up or kill the roots entirely, or they will come back even if it's planted up!

    To smother the ground I'd go with bold groups of Persicaria amplexicaulis, Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue,' and for a bit of height, Aster umbellatus. These plants bulk up really well and also spread to fill any gaps (especially the Symphytum, which you have to watch out for or it will take over). The Persicaria and Aster are probably vigorous enough to compete, though. Geranium 'Rozanne' is also good as it produces leafy cover over a wide area. If you plant all that at, say, 5 per m2, it should knit together quite quickly and allow weeds little chance of establishing. If you can mulch in late spring you should smother any new weed seedlings that might otherwise come up.

    You can combine all these with spring bulbs, pulmonaria and primulas for spring interest.

    If you wanted an evergreen shrub groundcover, Prunus 'Zabeliana' is quite good.
    Thank you very much. I loathe this ground tbh - poor soil and stony. I much prefer my veg. plot ! I'll look at your suggestions with a view of buying some.
    Thanks once more.
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