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Is there anything I could grow under Leylandii to make it look neater? Would like to discourage cats

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
edited May 2023 in Problem solving
I have this area under Leylandii trees. Previously the whole area was packed with oxalis, and I dug all that up by the root, having to dig pretty deep to get it all out.  Unfortunately that left behind sandy, loose, dry soil - an ideal cat litter tray for the many cats around here.
Now weeds have grown and I have left them for now, as the cats don't go where it's packed with weeds.
It looks messy though, and I was wondering if there are any plants I could grow there instead of weeds to cover that area, which would be able grow in that dry shaded soil under Leylandi. Ideally a plant with little upkeep, and flowering if possible.
Any suggestions are much appreciated.
P.S. Not referring to the areas full of weeds at the bottom-left of the 1st photo, and bottom-right of the 2nd photo, which are supposed to be lawn. There is grass underneath those areas I think/hope.




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  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Ivy.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Great idea fidgetbones thank you
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited May 2023
    I think there is a little bit of an ivy-like plant that spreads across the ground and produces violet-type flowers nearby, maybe that would be a good choice (would buy a number of them and plant them).
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    fidgetbones said:
    Ivy.
    Not just ivy.  I recommend "Curly Locks" (aka Manders' Crested) for interesting leaf, apple-green.  Perhaps Hedera colchicum, large leaves.  Variegated perhaps not best in shade.

    Was the Oxalis, wood sorrel?  Pity, one of my favourite wild flowers.  Pink Sorrel is quite good too, not wild but naturalised - mine just arrived.

    Hardy geraniums might be good too. I think your young wild plants, bottom pic, are a type of geranium.

    For cats, get a Jack Russell or a shot gun.  Nothing else works.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited May 2023
    Thank you bédé that looks very nice indeed, and what an interesting leaf shape. It is a very shaded area, so I hope it would be OK. I just need something that will grow and spread readily (but hopefully not climb up the leylandii) and give good ground cover, so that could be ideal.
    The oxalis was oxalis corniculata I think, with tiny purple leaves and tiny yellow flowers (smaller than the pictures I can find online). I quite liked it at first, but was told it can spread and get invasive into the lawn so that's why I got rid of it. I like the look of wood sorrel, I just looked it up.
    I'd love to put some wild flowers there, if they'd grow.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Pink678 said:

    The oxalis was oxalis corniculata I think,
    Oh.  You have definitely not got rid of it.  I'd put money on it's returning.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited May 2023
    When did you remove the oxalis?  I’d put money on it returning very soon. It’s very persistent and seeds freely. 

    I’d try hardy geraniums there … G. phaeum ‘Alba’ would probably  cope there after some initial tlc. 


    There’s also a dark flowered version. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited May 2023
    You are both right, it did!  ;)  Removed over 2 years ago, then it came back the next year but weaker/smaller and in just a few areas I'd missed, so I dug the remaining bits out. Not coming back this year though, fingers crossed. I dug deep to get all root bulbils out and sifted any root bits from the soil, so I hope any more growth will be new plants that I can pluck out quickly. I know its a tough one to get rid of, but I did the best I can as I didn't want to let it run rampant and get into the lawn.
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited May 2023
    The geraniums look lovely Dovefromabove, I'm very tempted to try them. The white flowers would be so pretty. It sounds perfect actually - a "dense, weed-suppressing mat".
    I wonder how many of them I'd have to buy, or whether I could get just a few and they would spread into the area ...
    Ah but I do see they like moist soil, and it is dry there unfortunately.  I could water them a lot to start off, and hope they'd hold.
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Vinca minor, woodruff, cyclamen. 
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