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Too many groundcovers

Posted by jennth3 PA z6 (My Page) on
Sat, May 16, 09 at 20:12

This is our first spring in a new state and a new house. One of the previous owners was very found of groundcovers, and in the backyard, there are a number of them. Most of this area is shaded by a mature japenese maple, but some of it is at least partially sunny.

This area is split in three parts by two paths. The shadiest has what I think is wild strawberry and some sort of variegated periwinkle growing somewhat slowly, and I don't think I will mess with those. The middle part is mostly English ivy and some pachysandra with a few starts of I think virginia creeper. The sunniest part has the English ivy, pachysandra, bishops weed (I think), and a grape vine that I could probably try and train up.

My question to the more seasoned gardeners is what should I pull, and what should I encourage? Ideally I would like to have only one groundcover in each section, but I don't know which of those can be sucessfully pulled out - I'm already working on the bishops weed. The house was unoccupied during the bulk of last years growing season, so there are a lot of young plants growing that we aren't sure were planted on purpose.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Too many groundcovers

I haven't gardened in PA but ivy here is a scourge, so I would encourage you to try to get rid of it if you can. I understand that can be quite a job. I like the variegated Vinca minor. I haven't grown Pachysandra. Did you just want a low maintenance ground cover or did you have other plans for the area?


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RE: Too many groundcovers

I'm not sure. I don't get really excited over groundcovers, but then since they are established, it seems like it would be worth it to keep them there. There are other plants in there, but there are also what I would consider large spots of just groundcover that I would like to put some perennials in. I guess I just cut back the groundcovers, dig a hole, and mulch?


 
 

 

 


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