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Ground cover ideas to go around winter/spring perennials?

#1 · 11th November 2022, 6:02 pm

Hi folks, our new-build wildlife-friendly garden is slowly taking shape with a bunch of trees and shrubs planted and 75 (!!) native hedgerow whips turning up at some point.

I'm after some suggestions for what to do with this corner in front of our cypresses, which we're trying to make into a mini woodland habitat. I've put in some wildflower bulbs right around the trees, and we're also planning to plant ferns to fill the space closer to the fence at the back as it's quite shady.

I've whacked in load of cyclamens, primroses, forget-me-knots, daisies and foxgloves in the bed in front just to fill the space, and I'm in search of ideas of what else to put in there that will mix in around them and give good ground cover for the rest of the year. Is there some kind of grass that would just fill in but not need mowing (so we don't mow up the plants!), or something else?

Alternatively, I'm open for other suggestions about what to do with this bit next year- we can always move the plants elsewhere.

Thanks

Pic for reference (ignore the giant heap of horrible clay - that's going off to the tip...)

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#2 · 14th November 2022, 8:17 am

Hi @pondlife

Fantastic to see you're making such great leaps and bounds with your new garden.

You've got a good mix of early spring flowers in that list which is a great pollen source for bees and early insects.

As for a mix of ground cover to help bulk it up in between, why not look up Luzula nivea (Snowy woodrush)? It's a woodland-style plant that looks a bit like a low grass. However, it's evergreen and, in spring has amazing white flowers.

Try adding to that some Tellima grandiflora (Fringecups) you can grow these super easily by seed, and all of a sudden, you've got a gorgeous scheme!

I'm sure other Ninjas will add their suggestions too! Here's a video to help you layer up plants when planting a new garden border to assist.

Happy gardening.

PondLife and HelenPD have reacted to this post.

#3 · 14th November 2022, 11:05 am

Thank you so much! These look like great ideas 🙂

HelenPD has reacted to this post.

#4 · 14th September 2023, 9:44 am

Spring is a good time for plants that are more sensitive to cold temperatures. Some ground cover plants, like certain types of creeping sedum, can be planted in early summer.