Trailing gazanias are a ground cover. They require little water, but won't turn up their heels if watered a lot.
Covering the ground takes careful planning, thought
By Tony Tomeo
Every plant species used in gardening has its function. Some plants are grown to produce fruit, vegetables or flowers. Trees and some large shrubs are grown to provide shade or barriers. In areas under larger plants or areas that are not regularly cultivated, ground covers are often used to conceal otherwise bare soil or to help minimize erosion.
Choosing ground cover is much like choosing shade trees. Each species has its own characteristics. Growth rate, plant form, maintenance requirements and tolerance to site-specific conditions are a few of the characteristics to be considered. It is also important to consider the function the selected species must perform. For example, those that would grow well as large-scale bank cover with minimal maintenance might not perform well in smaller, well-irrigated areas of the same garden.
Generally, ground covers grow rapidly. This is fortunate since it is usually necessary to pull weeds until the soil is covered with the new ground cover. Slower-growing species may require mulching and weeding for several years. If one of the purposes of the ground cover is to minimize maintenance, it would obviously be advisable to select one that gets established quickly.
I have always preferred perennial ground covers, which creep along without ever extending stems more than a few inches high. As these plants grow on top, the older parts below decay so that depth is maintained.
However, many ground covers are prostrate growing shrubs that can eventually get quite deep, especially after they have filled in their area and begun to pile up on each other. Good examples would be the low-growing junipers, which function very well for many years but eventually grow into a thicket that collects baseballs and Frisbees.
Algerian ivy, a prostrate vine, does not get quite as deep as juniper, but deep enough to become home to rats and possums. Another concern with both Algerian ivy and English ivy is that they can climb and damage trees and buildings. (Ivy maintained as ground cover is in its juvenile form. If permitted to climb, it will exhibit its shrubby adult growth, which will bloom and produce seed.)
Although ground covers require less maintenance than other ornamentals, they still have specific needs. Some are very particular about irrigation. Those that are drought tolerant, such as ceanothus and manzanita, may have problems with generous irrigation, while others prefer to be irrigated similarly to lawns.
Most creeping ground covers require edging to keep them confined. Some, such as hypericum, prefer to be mowed annually. Maintenance requirements are certainly a concern if ground covers are used in difficult-to-cultivate areas, especially because of minimal requirements. Of course, selection of ground covers requires as much effort as selection of anything else for your garden. It is important to research your alternatives and know what can be expected from each before making a selection.
Perennial of the Week: Trailing Gazania
Trailing gazania, Gazania leucolaena, is a low-growing ground cover that requires minimal maintenance. Once established, gazanias only need to be irrigated about twice a month but will tolerate generous irrigation required by other ornamentals planted with them. They will grow in just about any soil. Trailing stems spread rapidly, but may leave dead spots as they creep away from where they were originally planted.
This problem may be remedied by simply "plugging" stem cuttings that may be salvaged as the area is edged.
Gazanias may also be divided every few years in early spring. The more traditional gazanias produce silvery foliage; the more common, recently introduced cultivars have green foliage with gray undersides. Some cultivars produce all green leaves.
The daisy flowers range in color from orange, yellow and white to bronze, some with dark centers. Gazanias, like most ground covers, are grown in flats. The number of plants in each flat should be about 56, which is seven rows of eight. However, modern production techniques often include more plants in each flat. If given 12-inch spacing, which is closer than necessary, each flat will cover an area 7 feet by 8 feet.
Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408.358.2574
Saratoga, California Since 1955
