Deliver me from Groundcovers
June 9th, 2008 
by Susan Harris
Why? 
- Because they’re the most problematic plant group in the landscape. Ground must be covered, but there are few easy solutions, sometimes none. If they spread and fill out, they just keep on spreading.
- Because for the last year I’ve spent untold hours removing my groundcover mistakes, the worst of which was not knowing the difference between creeping and clumping liriope. Then there’s the dominance of the delicate-looking Bishop’s weed in part of my front garden, a removal task that’s on my list of things to do - when it’s not 98 degrees. Before-and-after photos coming soon.
- And because I’ve recently researched and written 12 new plant profiles and an intro page about ground covers, so I need a break. And frankly, I haven’t covered English ivy yet and there’s no way that’ll be fun.
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June 10th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
can’t wait for the photos.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Liriope is a thug there and here, ajuga. I am constantly trying to rid the lawn of this plant. If it were evergreen, it would be no problem. It’s always something! If not one thing, then another…who said that besides Rosann Rosanna Danna? I hear you about the heat. Too much, too soon!
June 10th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
On your groundcover link you described carex as a grass, perhaps so as not to confuse readers. But carex is definitely not grass; it’s an entirely different species. True, many carexes look superficially like grasses, but they have significant differences.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Got tons of English ivy–simply pull it back, rip it out where I don’t want it. With all my shade I can’t afford to be picky.