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

24

Posts

  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you so much TheGreenMan, I just searched for images online and they all look so lovely. Going to research them!
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    All three of them grow under my thuja plicata and it gets barely a sliver of sun is and is as dry as bone. It baffles me how they survive/thrive. 
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Wow that sounds absolutely perfect. I might get all three.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited May 2023
    My ivy suggestions will climb.  But controllably.

    I have found that Hedera hibernica is less inclined to climb, but is not an exciting colour or shape of leaf.  Dense and weed-suppressing par excellance.

    And thank you for staying with the thread.  Many bad-mannered posters don't.
     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
    Thanks so much. As long as it climbs very slowly it would be OK. It's quite a battle getting under those leylandii so cutting it down would not be that comfortable!
    Dense and weed-suppressing is just what I want. I'm going to do some research and think about it, but I might end up getting some ivy like Hedera hibernica, plus the flowers that TheGreenMan mentioned.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cats must be very easily deterred where you are  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited May 2023
    Urrr, I wish! I love them too though. I've kind of resigned myself to continue fighting the battle but being happy with minor victories! Got some good success with Citronella.
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    I would second the Vinca suggestion. It grows where nothing else does, it's evergreen and it roots wherever it touches the soil so makes good ground cover. I have a variegated one which lights up very dry, deep shade under a huge ash tree and mature beech hedge in my garden.

    I garden in a very, very dry area of the country with the double whammy of mature trees which suck every last bit of moisture and goodness out of some borders. Geranium Phaeum and some of the other hardy geraniums are often recommended for dry shade but (IME) they don't survive in very dry, very depleted soil. Bulbs, corms and tap rooted plants (cow parsley etc) fair much better.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Great that is very encouraging, growing where nothing else does, that I what I need. The purple flowers are really pretty.  Hopefully it will spread quite nicely. I'm unsure as to how many of the plants I'd need to buy per square metre.
    It is so very dry and depleted under those trees, as you say sucking out all the moisture and nutrients.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I just meant they'd still lie on ...and worse, here regardless of what plants are there  :)

    Vinca is probably the best solution as it doesn't really care about soil or conditions. The blue ones anyway, the whites are fussier.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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