Inexpensive gound cover?

[mytoy]

Hi all,

I have about 4 acres that I maintain (mow) but it is not really "lawn". It's currently a mixture of grass and weeds and bare spots. The area consists of some direct sun but lots of shaded and semi-shaded areas. It's mostly treed with oak and hickory.

Anyway, I'm looking for a cheap but durable ground cover for this area. I don't really care what it is as long as it's green. I tend to drive over the area a lot with the tractor and ATVs so, durability is definately a plus.

Any thoughts? I appreciate your help.

Best regards

 

[Hakim]

You might want to go to a nursery and take a look at Vinca, also called Periwinkle.

There are two species, major and minor, one for more sun exposure, one more for shade. It covers well, is deep green, and hardy. It covers 2 - 3 feet per year, and can be propagated with cuttings.

Here are some more specs:

The periwinkle can become really invasive in the shade with enough water. It is better to grow it in an area easy to control. As a ground cover it grows well and looks good. It just need shearing occasionally to bring out new growth. It is a good plant for shady areas. The lilac blue flowers occur mostly in the spring, but the shiny green foliage is an enjoyable ground cover.

The species name "major" comes from the Latine for "larger".

Blooming Habits:

The blue flowers appear mostly in spring, and occasionally in the fall. Blooms better with more sun.

 

[NSBound]

John :

Hakim's suggestion of Vinca, or periwinkle, is a good one. I have some around my place and the variety I have seems to do best in the shade, but it doesn't spread as quickly as I would like.

I have also heard good things about a product called "EnviroLawn". It's commercially available in many places, but a Google search will likely find someone near you. Here is a link to one web site that has pictures and descriptions, as well as prices. I plan to use it on about 2 acres surrounding my new house, when it gets built, in Nova Scotia. I like the look of it, and the fact that it sounds very durable as well as attractive with the small flowers in the mix.

Their description is "Sprinkled with annual and perennial flowers for extra color, Enviro-Lawn is ideal for golf course roughs and low-maintenance areas around office parks, cemeteries and parks. Enviro-Lawn establishes quickly and provides an excellent, easy-care ground cover. it requires little or no fertilization, infrequent mowing and minimal watering even in the dry season."
http://www.outsidepride.com/envirolawn.asp

Good Luck!

Ian

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I planted a wildflower patch in part of my lawn and it did NOT work out. But the YARROW did grow and thrive, as well as some grasses and clovers.

The envirolawn seems to be a nice mix that contains some of what I planted and some additional things as well. I can tell you that the yarrow does not look anything like grass, but it is easily maintained, hardy, takes traffic, and looks nice. If left unmowed, it will grow tall and flower, but mine is mixed into the lawn and kept at a couple inches and has been in place for about 7 or 8 years. I think I may buy some of the envirolawn and use it in some of my problem areas becuase it seems to be a commercial version of something I accidently ended up with and wondered how I would duplicate.

 

[Egon]

Ian:

Those flowers will sure make the deer happy


A very hardy very invasive ground cover for many parts north of the border is quack grass. At times it might even resemble lawn if there is lots of moisture and it's cut

Egon

 

[EastTexFrank]

I'm not sure what growing area you are in but a groundcover that is widely used down south is Asian Jasmine. It's naturally low growing and dense but can be mowed. Just crank the mower up to 5" or 6" and hack away at it. If conditions are right it will spread like crazy.

Trachelospermum asiaticum

Asian Jasmine
Description

Trachelospermum asiaticum is originally from southeast Asia and are made up of climbing or twining plants. They are moderately frost hardy and grow in full sun to full shade. Asian Jasmine has oval leaves 1-2 inches long that are glossy and dark green. It has a compact habit and will grow prostrate on the ground or cling to a wall. Asian Jasmine can grow in variety of situations which is why it is often seen planted in many landscapes.

Hardiness: Zones 7-11
Plant Use: Groundcover
Exposure: Sun to Shade
Water Requirements: Medium

 

[PineRidge]

Mytoy I might recommend Bishops Weed (picture attached). It grows like a weed but is actually a rapid growing ground cover. It will grow in difficult spots where nothing else survives. In the summer it makes white flowers.

 

[NSBound]

Egon :

Deer I won't mind. As long as the black bears don't take a liking to it!!

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gifIan

 

[NSBound]

PineRidge :

The stuff you know as Bishop's Weed has many names, and in this area it is called both Goutweed, and "Snow-on-the-Mountain". Mytoy, if you want a very invasive ground cover and don't have any fear of everthing else being choked out, this stuff will do great. It spreads by underground runners, and once established it cannot be removed. It has totally choked out an 800-tulip border in my back yard. I also had to have all the soil dug out and removed from a former perennial bed where the goutweed got too far established. Three years later and it's evident there were some root strands left behind, as it's re-establishing itself in this one big bed where I have (had) a lot of really nice plants. SO in short, Bishop's Weed/Goutweed will sure give you ground cover. Just be sure you really want it!!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Ian