Plant Answers

Weekly Express-News Article
“San Antonio Life”
By Calvin R. Finch, PhD, SAWS Water Resources Director, and Horticulturist
Saturday, September 2, 2006

“The Groundcover Option”

Have you enjoyed trying to keep your lawn green this summer? Do you have pets or children that need an expanse of lawn on which to run and play games? If you answered no to all of those questions, it may be time to consider replacing all or part of your lawn with an attractive groundcover. Every autumn area nurseries have sales on groundcovers in 1 gallon or 4 inch containers of Asiatic jasmine, dwarf ruellia, monkey grass, and English ivy. The groundcovers are evergreen and once established are easy to maintain and drought tolerant.

Kill the lawn with Roundup or Finale and plant the groundcovers right into the killed sod. Alternately, you can add 2 inches of compost and till it into the planting area. If stubborn Bermuda grass or St Augustine reappears next spring, just use one of the grass specific herbicides (Fusilade II, Over-the-Top, Vantage and others) to control it.

Asiatic jasmine has shiny green leaves and makes a very tight groundcover. It has a spreading growth habit and when left on its own, makes an attractive undulating cover about 18 inches tall in sun or shade. One of the best characteristics of Asiatic jasmine, however, is that it can be molded and manicured. Shape it however you want with your string mower. Deer do not eat jasmine in most neighborhoods.

Dwarf ruellia grows to about 12 inches tall. The foliage is attractive but the main claim to fame is that it blooms throughout the growing season (violet, pink, or white). Deer eat ruellia in droughts but it is not their favorite food.

Monkey grass leads a whole family of grass-like groundcovers whose major difference is their height and the thickness of blade. Dwarf mondo grass has a fine blade and only grows to 3 inches. Giant liriope may grow to 2 feet tall. The most useful plant of this group is standard monkey grass. It is 6 inches tall. Grow the grass-like ground covers in the shade or in partial sun.

English ivy is a fast spreading groundcover for shady landscapes. Rooted cuttings placed on 1 foot centers in the autumn will cover a bed in one season. English ivy is a favorite deer food so do not use it in a neighborhood blessed with high populations.