Tough low groundcover recommendation needed

jamiet · Mar 08, 2010 5:21 pm

Hi Folks,

I'm looking for a tough groundcover, preferably a native, to go between my pavers and stepping stones. I currently have Pratia Pendunculata but this stuff hates the sun and burns off in Summer. It comes back in winter but in the meantime every weed that the Pratia was outcompeting germinates and drives me mad! The weeds are normally flickweed (which looks like pratia when it is little making it very hard to get rid of) and some nasty sowthistle and dandelions that have blown in from next door.

There are two spots I need a good groundcover for. One gets the westerly sun without much shade. The other spot is a bit more nasty. It gets shade in winter but lots of sun in the summer.

My soil is clay-based but is gradually improving after 9 months treatment with Botany Humus and heaps of Powerfeed, Seasol+ and Liquid Organic Humate.

Any suggestions for a good groundcover?

Thanks,
Jamie

kek · Mar 08, 2010 5:43 pm

Without knowing where you're located, it's hard to recommend something suited to your climate, but here are a few suggestions that might work (or might not

):

Myoporum Parvifolium
Scleranthus biflorus
Dichondra repens
Scaevola something-or-other :th:

There are lots of photos and info on the net if you Google the names.

kek · Mar 08, 2010 5:44 pm

Native violet (viola banksii) - although it likes shade, so maybe not....

Southies · Mar 08, 2010 5:48 pm

kek, jamiet is in Sydney ....... beat you to it jamiet - thought you'd get a faster answer :wink:

kek · Mar 08, 2010 6:09 pm

What about a low-growing succulent for the really hot spot? Some of the sedums are beautiful and don't mind hot and sunny.

http://www.thesucculentgarden.com.au/sedum.html

Or even good old pig-face?

kek · Mar 08, 2010 6:10 pm

Thyme?

jamiet · Mar 08, 2010 6:23 pm

Thanks folks..will look into your suggestions when I go to the nursery on Saturday. As Southies says, I'm in Sydney's north west.

Incidentally, I just tried one of those green mulches. Turtle Nursery in Rouse Hill has it as 'leaf mulch'. It smells great and is full of leaves, sticks and offcuts but you have to get it bagged the day before you pick it up or it will start composting in the bags. It's pretty cheap ($8 per bag and those bags are pretty heavy) and I reckon it looks great.

Southies · Mar 08, 2010 6:30 pm

jamiet, do they deliver ?

jamiet · Mar 08, 2010 6:34 pm

That Dichondra repens is one of the weeds I've been trying to eradicate amongst the pratia. It's a bugger to get rid of, only bettered by flickweed and oxalis. The Scaevola, especially a prostrate form and perhaps a Sedum look the most suitable.

TheGardenWhisperer · Mar 08, 2010 9:26 pm

kek that thyme is a fantastic idea. Marjoram also.
Dichondra is not so flash in the sun. Bloody flick weed and Oxalis :evil:

Being in paver's you need to be mindful of Oc Health and Safety. Will it be a trip hazard? The thyme would be the best in that case. Mondo can be dangerous when it establishes as it can get some height to it and people can and do trip.

TheGardenWhisperer · Mar 08, 2010 9:28 pm

Oh and thanks Turtle nursery

http://www.turtlenursery.com.au/
This is a great initiative.

jamiet · Mar 08, 2010 9:41 pm

Southies

jamiet, do they deliver ?

Yes they do 7 days a week. It might be a bit pricey for you because you're on the other side of Sydney.

Closer to you Southies is Menai Sand and Soil. They have a similar leaf mulch and also a Forest Floor mulch which appears to be leaf mulch that has been composted for 6 months: http://www.menaisandsoil.com.au/mulches.htm

jamiet · Mar 08, 2010 9:46 pm

Fu Manchu

kek that thyme is a fantastic idea. Marjoram also.
Bloody flick weed and Oxalis :evil:

You're not wrong, Fu. The local wholesale nursery is infested with those two weeds. I overheard one of their landscaper customers cursing as he's pulling the weeds out of each plant he was buying.

TheGardenWhisperer · Mar 08, 2010 10:17 pm

Why was he buying it?

TheGardenWhisperer · Mar 08, 2010 10:20 pm

Avoid composted mulches. The goodness has already gone and you end up applying a mulch that holds a heap of water close to the surface, a no no in mulch world.

Mulch is so much more than just holding water in the soil for longer. It is also the very best source of fertiliser in a far more available and eco friendly way. It is also what helps create new soil. Something we must learn how to do

jamiet · Mar 09, 2010 7:31 pm

Fu Manchu

Why was he buying it?

I didn't bother to ask, but perhaps it was because he couldn't find the species elsewhere close by and was working on a Saturday. He was saying it was almost not worth buying.

Southies · Mar 09, 2010 9:43 pm

jamiet

Southies

jamiet, do they deliver ?

Yes they do 7 days a week. It might be a bit pricey for you because you're on the other side of Sydney.

Closer to you Southies is Menai Sand and Soil. They have a similar leaf mulch and also a Forest Floor mulch which appears to be leaf mulch that has been composted for 6 months: http://www.menaisandsoil.com.au/mulches.htm

Fantastic! :z:

Thank you so much jamiet - I'll look into it this week ::smile::

Nott · Mar 11, 2010 12:53 pm

Is this ground cover Myoporum Parvifolium?
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

If not, may i know what is that?

kek · Mar 11, 2010 3:14 pm

Looks like it, Nott. It gets little white flowers all over too, like this one: http://blog.mindbites.com/wp-content/uploads/myoporumparvifolium.jpg

Very pretty! I'm plotting to kill off the grass on our nature strip and plant some of this instead, among other things.

Nott · Mar 11, 2010 6:03 pm

Thanks Kek.
I just found the pic is really vague. I also looked up My ~ Po~ in google b4 , also in nursery. However, the foliage in ur pic seems much larger and thicker than those I see in nursery-- which are a bit "needle" like

I'm plannint to do the same, cos I really don't want to mow the strip and the weed is so "powerful" here! Are u using the white form / pink form?

I always need to pull out the Kikuyu in the garden bed at the backyard.