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Damp ground cover

steve howesteve howe Posts: 55
in Plants

I am in the process of planting a collection of Cornus on damp ground extending from a pond. The ground is heavy sandy clay with a lot of humus (old grassland) and gets very wet during winter. I have sprayed off the old turf and turned it over and added barrowloads of compost. After a good soaking I have planted five different varieties of dogwoods, mainly chosen for their coloured stems, along with three Betula nigra (River Birch) and some Sorbaria.

I am thinking a low-growing, preferably evergreen gound cover would look good beneath the shrubs as they get established (they are still quite small from 9cm pots) While there are quite a few hebaceaous plants I can put in to add interest - Astilbes, Hosta and Hemerocallis for instance, I would like some sort of low-growing ground-coverer to try and suppress the inevitable weeds.

Anyone any thoughts?

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905

    What about primulas such as florindae or japonica. Their rosettes are quite weed suppressing. Vincas could be another choice.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904

    http://www.thompson-morgan.com/flowers/flower-plants/perennial-and-biennial-plants/mazus-reptans/t10912TM

    Someone posted a picture of this a while back and we all got mazus envy. It's very low growing and  beautiful shade of blue.

     

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    this little white comfrey is good but would take some eliminating if you changed your mind.

    Symphytum orientale

    image

    for something a bit taller, S. asperum

    image



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Invicta2Invicta2 Posts: 663

    Ajuga flourishes in damp ground useful if you want something that is ground hugging.

  • steve howesteve howe Posts: 55

    Thanks for those suggestions All,

    Primulas! the one thing I have loads of and never thought to use them, several dozen mixed drumsticks are now going in. I managed to get some Mazus, but now I've improved the soil around the Cornus I think it might be a bit too dry, on the surface at least, so have put them around the pond margins. Can't seem to get Symphytum orientale anywhere online at the moment, I have lots of ordinary Comfrey but would be loathe to let it loose here! Pics to follow when it looks a bit more presentable.

    Thanks again

    Steve

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