Synopses & Reviews
Open sweeps of lawn are a large part of most home landscapes, but imagine turning those stretches of lawn into striking swathes of beautifully planted ground covers. Barbara W. Ellis explores hundreds of wonderful possibilities in her new guide, helping readers create eyecatching splashes of color and texture in unexpected places.
More than just broad expanses of a single plant, ground covers can bring a fresh look to dozens of landscaping challenges and opportunities. Flowering plants, herbs, mosses, groundhugging shrubs, and heathers, planted singly or in creative combinations, can cover all sorts of ground situations with unexpected drama and add an elegant, professional look to otherwise dull and ordinary areas. Additionally, hardscape lawn alternatives such as bluestone, crushed gravel, brick, or shredded bark mulch introduce pathways and help create defined borders.
Working with the theory that ground covers should be hardworking as well as beautiful, Part One, Rolling Out the Carpet, inspires readers with low-maintenance, creative ideas. Simplify lawn mowing by filling in awkward corners with easy-to-care-for colorful plants. Edge walkways to keep them neat and attractive. Use broad drifts to control erosion along streams. Ground covers can fit anywhere.
Part Two, Landscaping with Ground Covers, matches plants to specific site requirements. Looking for herbs hardy enough to thrive between stepping stones? Shrubby plants that tolerate full sun? Native ferns for a woodland floor or moss gardens for acid shade? Ellis has all the answers and the experience to combine appropriate plants in stunning combinations. Part Three includes in-depth how-to for planting, growing, and propagating, with special emphasis on site preparation, plant selection, and weed control.
From single-plant drifts to unexpected plant combinations and new uses for natural hardscaping, ground covers are an exciting, low maintenance alternative to traditional lawns.
Review
"Barbara W. Ellis transforms yards into flowering pieces of art...offering low-maintenance schemes, plant combinations, and in-depth advice on nurturing verdant landscapes."
Home Magazine
"Covering Ground will inspire with its wonderful possibilities for creating eye-catching color and texture in unexpected places. Ellis has the answers to the toughest garden situations..."
East Coast Gardener
"If you're making the decision to get rid of some water-thirsty lawn, here's help. Here are plenty of alternatives, as simple or as show as you want, for sun or shade, around pavers, along edges, fragrant or not, fast- or slow-growing, high- or low-maintenance."
St. Petersburg Times
"There's life beyond lawn grass, and even beyond English ivy and pachysandra. You'll find lots of good ideas in Covering Ground." Chicago Tribune
"Barbara Ellis ... elevates utilitarian ground cover plants to garden stars." McClatchy News Service
Synopsis
Ground covers are a pretty and practical way to bring diversity, elegance, and durability to open sweeps of lawn. Give your landscape a vibrant new palette that is both sustainable and low-maintenance through plantings of herbs, shrubs, mosses, and more. Barbara W. Ellis provides a variety of full-color lawn designs and professional planting advice to get you started. You'll be amazed as your ordinary lawn transforms into a striking display of color and texture.
Synopsis
REIMAGINE the Possibilities for Covering Your Ground REPLACE GRASS on hard-to-mow slopesCONNECT scattered flower beds, trees, and shrubsCONTROL erosion along stream banksCARPET the patches between stepping stonesSTABILIZE boggy areasEDGE walkways, curbs, and drivewaysCREATE natural alternatives to traditional lawnsADD A SPLASH OF COLOR anywhere you need it!
Synopsis
REIMAGINE the Possibilities for Covering Your Ground
REPLACE GRASS on hard-to-mow slopes
CONNECT scattered flower beds, trees, and shrubs
CONTROL erosion along stream banks
CARPET the patches between stepping stones
STABILIZE boggy areas
EDGE walkways, curbs, and driveways
CREATE natural alternatives to traditional lawns
ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR anywhere you need it!
Synopsis
REIMAGINE the Possibilities for Covering Your Ground
REPLACE GRASS on hard-to-mow slopes
CONNECT scattered flower beds, trees, and shrubs
CONTROL erosion along stream banks
CARPET the patches between stepping stones
STABILIZE boggy areas
EDGE walkways, curbs, and driveways
CREATE natural alternatives to traditional lawns
ADD A SPLASH OF COLOR anywhere you need it!
Synopsis
Looking for an alternative to a traditional lawn? Covering Ground explores hundreds of wonderful possibilities. Flowering plants, herbs, mosses, ground-hugging shrubs, and heathers, planted singly or in creative combinations, can add interest, elegance, and drama to otherwise dull and ordinary areas. And hardscape options, such as bluestone, crushed gravel, brick, or shredded bark mulch, can create pathways and define borders. You'll be inspired by these low-maintenance, creative ideas, and Barbara Ellis includes all of the information you need to successfully select, plant, and care for the ground covers that you choose.
About the Author
Barbara W. Ellis is a freelance writer, editor, and lifelong gardener. She is the author of many gardening books, including The Veggie Gardeners Answer Book, Deckscaping, Shady Retreats, and Covering Ground. She holds a B.S. in horticulture from the Ohio State University, Columbus, and a B.A. from Kenyon College. She has worked as managing editor at Rodale Press and as publications director for the American Horticultural Society and is affiliated with the Hardy Plant Society Mid-Atlantic Group, the Garden Writers Association, and the Perennial Plant Association. She lives and gardens in Maryland, where she and her husband live in a renovated “green” home with an assortment of rescued dogs, cats, and parrots. Her garden, which is managed organically and designed to be wildlife-friendly, features a wide range of ornamentals, herbs, and edibles for both sun and shade.
Table of Contents
Getting Creative with Ground Covers
Part One: Rolling Out the Carpet
Why Ground Covers?
Making the Most of Ground Covers
Addressing Problem Spots
Knowing Your Site
Plant Selection
Creating Combinations
Going Wild
Aggressive & Invasive Ground Covers
Covering Ground with Hardscape
Part Two: Perfect Plants for Every Site
Active Spreaders for Sun & Shade
Sun Lovers for a Patterned Garden
Ground Huggers for Paths & Stepping Stones
Small-Scale Spreaders
Perennials for Bold Cover in Sun
Ground Covers for a Sunny Slope
Vines for Covering Ground
Shrubby Ground Covers for Sun & Shade
Selections for Shade
Flowering Ground Covers for Shade
Native Plants for a Woodland Floor
Ground Covers for Wet Soil
Ground Covers for Acid Soil
Part Three: Planting, Growing & Propagating
Site Preparation Basics
Buying & Installing Ground Covers
Planting on Slopes
Planting over Time
Caring for New Plants
Renovating Ground Covers
Growing Your Own
USDA Hardiness Zone Map
Photography & Garden Design Credits
Resources
Index