Keith Mundy

With winter well and truly here and with those cold and blustery winds that seem to come directly off the snow chilling us to the bone, what better time to sit by the fire and do some planning for the upcoming warmer months in the garden.

This month and next I will look at some individual categories of garden plants that not only add beauty to the garden but also can be effective for a wide range of other purposes.

Ground cover plants come in many forms and categories from conifers to Australian natives to perennials and non-Australian plants.

Many are absolute ground huggers and others can reach 50–70cm high but can be as wide as 3–4m.

There are categories that will tolerate first line coastal to varieties that can handle severe frosts and low water. Others are shade tolerant and many are edible, like herbs.

To elaborate on these we will start with first line coastal. Many of the plants that suit this particular situation are Australian natives and it is well worth mentioning that a stroll along coastal gardens and natural areas will soon give you an indication as to what species are handling this difficult growing area.

Species such as Carpobrotus (an Australian native succulent) are very good for dune stabilisation along with groundcover Banksia and Westringea varieties. Myoporum and Hakea both have groundcover varieties. A good non-Australian plant is the Shore juniper (Juniperus conferta) that will mat well and stabilise sandy soils.

It is important to remember that soils along the coastline can vary widely from clay/shale to very poor sandy soils. In these cases it is also a good idea to add some organic matter to your soil to improve the chances of the new plantings to establish.

Moving away from direct coastal we then move into more protected locations with heavier soils and not so much wind. Again some organic material mixed into the planting hole will help these plants establish.

In open sunny positions in these locations the list is endless. Australian natives include Grevillea, Leptospermum, Callistemon and Banksia with many others that are softer perennial types including Scaevola and Brachyscome.

Non-Australian plants include groundcover Camellia (Marge Miller and Snow), Carpet roses, Cotoneaster dammeri, Convolvulus and the list goes on.

Shaded gardens are always a bit of a problem but there are many plants that can be used in combinations with perennials, including Camellias, Chinese star Jasmine (often used as a climber) and the very beautiful Gumpo Azaleas. Space does not allow me to mention the many others that are available.

Herbs are the most likely category of groundcovers that do not get much of a mention but there are many of great benefit.

These can be used to cover paths within the herb and vegetable garden or used to cover a retained area within the garden. Several varieties of Thyme are suitable for walking on and prostrate Rosemary also falls into this category.

The ground preparation for groundcover plants is the same as for all other plants, with the inclusion of some compost mixed with the existing soil to give the plants a good start.

There is a common mistaken belief that ground cover plants will provide weed suppression.

There might be some weed suppression but generally weeds will still grow through the groundcovers and will be very hard to remove after the plants have established.

Ideally, the best method is to lay down several layers of moist newspaper and cover with moisture-retentive mulch prior to planting and then pull paper and mulch aside sufficiently to make the planting hole. Plant the plants and then water in and pull paper and mulch back around the plant. Over the period the newspaper takes to decompose, the weeds would have most likely died. Some careful hand weeding and spot spraying after that will ensure the garden stays weed free.

It is important to remember that during the course of their life, plants will have failures and successes. If you have tried a particular plant in your garden, don’t give up if that particular variety has not done as well as you expect. Many factors can be at play here including soil types, moisture regimes and sun or shade. Sometimes it will take a couple of tries to get a success and things will not look back after that.

Every garden has different requirements so it is important to seek qualified advice before making your choice. Your local nursery person will have many years of experience to help you make the right choice to complete this very rewarding project in your patch.