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Best groundcover plants that can be walked on?
Posted on 5/13/24 at 2:45 pm
Posted on 5/13/24 at 2:45 pm
I'm looking for the best option for groundcover plants that can also double as a walkway. It won't get significant foot traffic, but I'm trying to avoid a rock path. It may end up being that, but would like to have some sort of groundcover plants if possible.
Our house faces directly west and we have a strip of land to the left of the house, if you're facing the house, between our house and the property fence. It's where the majority of the water in the backyard runs off and it gets direct sunlight from probably mid May to about late Sept. Then partial for a month of so, then zero sunlight from probably late Oct through early April.
Any suggestions on some sort of ground cover that will not die off if there's basically zero direct sunlight for approx 4 or so months every year. Most everything I've found seems to either need partial sun or full sun.
Our house faces directly west and we have a strip of land to the left of the house, if you're facing the house, between our house and the property fence. It's where the majority of the water in the backyard runs off and it gets direct sunlight from probably mid May to about late Sept. Then partial for a month of so, then zero sunlight from probably late Oct through early April.
Any suggestions on some sort of ground cover that will not die off if there's basically zero direct sunlight for approx 4 or so months every year. Most everything I've found seems to either need partial sun or full sun.
8
Posted on 5/13/24 at 4:39 pm to CharlieTiger
Zoysia
Posted on 5/13/24 at 6:36 pm to CharlieTiger
Frog fruit may work and Horse herb would work.
Posted on 5/13/24 at 9:05 pm to CharlieTiger
Synthetic turf
Posted on 5/13/24 at 9:27 pm to CharlieTiger
I know of nothing that could thrive in those low-light conditions that would be durable.
Posted on 5/14/24 at 4:47 am to CharlieTiger
Asiatic jasmine. shite is indestructible. caution though, it will take over
Posted on 5/14/24 at 6:16 am to CharlieTiger
Plants grow by the inch and die by the foot.
Posted on 5/14/24 at 7:48 am to CharlieTiger
Dwarf Mondo
Creeping Jenny
Any kind of plant is going to be a stretch though. You’ll more than likely end up with some sort of path worn through it. Also you have to choose something that’s not going to be an ankle turner or trip hazard (like Asiatic Jasmine or Vinca major or minor).
Creeping Jenny
Any kind of plant is going to be a stretch though. You’ll more than likely end up with some sort of path worn through it. Also you have to choose something that’s not going to be an ankle turner or trip hazard (like Asiatic Jasmine or Vinca major or minor).
Posted on 5/14/24 at 8:28 am to CharlieTiger
I'd get some stepping stones/pavers from Home Depot and get something to grow around them. Sort of like this:
Posted on 5/14/24 at 8:31 am to TheBoo
quote:
Zoysia
That's what we had and still sort of have. The one side closest to the fence is still in decent shape, but the middle and closer to the house are just sort of bare and spotty at best. We have a wildflower bed that takes up about 2 feet between the grass and the fence that we really like. Lots of flowers in spring and summer and a bunch of pollinators.
quote:
I know of nothing that could thrive in those low-light conditions that would be durable.
This is what I'm concerned about. I may just end up going with river rock or something like that, but again, would prefer something alive.
quote:
Asiatic jasmine
Hadn't looked at this yet. It's probably a little taller than what I'm looking for. Would really like something that's only a few inches tall at best.
quote:
Dwarf Mondo
Creeping Jenny
Have looked at these. We already have some creeping jenny in pots that we were thinking about cultivating, but wanted to see if anyone here had any better suggestions.
Posted on 5/14/24 at 8:34 am to CatfishJohn
quote:
I'd get some stepping stones/pavers from Home Depot and get something to grow around them.
Thought about that too. We actually already have that closer to the house toward the front. We have some steps that come off the side of the house and have large stepping stones that lead to the gate in front, but only take up a portion of the strip.
At this point, it's probably that or all rock since I just don't know that anything will stay alive year round with the sun situation. Even if they could withstand a freeze now and then, they would get zero light in the winter and stay damp and dark.
Posted on 5/14/24 at 8:47 am to CharlieTiger
I'd say a cool season grass like fescue, but if you're in ATL and it gets full sun May-Sept, it will likely burn off.
There is something I've done in similar areas in East Tennessee called "BlueMuda". I seeded both Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass. Give that a google.
Bermuda will thrive in the Summer, Bluegrass should stay green in the winter.
LINK
ETA:
Both bermuda and bluegrass are rhizomatous so they'll self repair and spread during their respective growing seasons, although bluegrass at a much slower pace.
There is something I've done in similar areas in East Tennessee called "BlueMuda". I seeded both Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass. Give that a google.
Bermuda will thrive in the Summer, Bluegrass should stay green in the winter.
LINK
quote:
Key Takeaways
Bluemuda is a grassing scheme designed to leverage the strengths of Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass. It has shown promise in the transition zone, an area of the country where both cool- and warm-season grasses routinely struggle at different points of the year.
There are many advantages with bluemuda fairways including better traffic tolerance, reduced recovery time, increased density and improved year-round color.
Not all Kentucky bluegrass cultivars are well-suited for bluemuda. Use of the ‘Midnight’ types of Kentucky bluegrass can result in an inconsistent surface.
Unlike overseeding with ryegrass, converting to bluemuda only requires an initial grow-in and there is no transition period in the spring. Both Kentucky bluegrass and bermudagrass are able to coexist together with a good agronomic program.
ETA:
Both bermuda and bluegrass are rhizomatous so they'll self repair and spread during their respective growing seasons, although bluegrass at a much slower pace.
This post was edited on 5/14/24 at 8:58 am
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