A gardening expert has claimed that growing one type of plant will reduce the chances of weeds growing.
Writing in Amateur Gardening magazine, Liz Zorab said adding ‘ground cover plants’ across your garden can provide the perfect solution to unwanted weeds.
She said: “Ground cover plants serve a variety of purposes and can make the garden look great all year round. They suppress weeds by limiting the amount of light that reaches the soil, reducing the number of unwanted seeds that germinate.”
With weeds still finding a way through our soil during the winter period, Liz emphasised the importance of ground cover being able to lessen the chances of wind and rain having an impact on the soil below which will in turn reduce the possibility of weeds finding their way through the undergrowth.
And she also pointed towards another key beneficiary of ground cover plants, adding: “Ground cover plants also provide shelter for wildlife.”
While there are a multitude of ground cover plants to pick from over the summer and autumn, Liz said that the choices on offer can become somewhat limited during the close of the year.
The gardening expert also picked out some of her favourites that will be able to stand firm amid the ongoing cold conditions.
Glandora prostrata or ‘heavenly blue’ as it is sometimes known is one of Liz’s top recommendations as despite mainly enduring its best months of the year in spring an summer, thanks to its evergreen nature, it is the perfect choice for weed preventing ground cover this time of year.
She explained: “Here’s a gem for well-draining loam or sandy soil, though it will fail to thrive in heavy and waterlogged soils. It prefers full sun, although I’ve seen it growing under a tree on a south-facing spot. Also known as Lithodora diffusa ‘Heavenly Blue, this evergreen plant forms a mat across the ground, reaching up to 50cms (19.6in) spread and only 15cm (6in) high.
“It has dark green leaves and intense blue flowers during spring and summer. If your soil is heavy and water-retentive, try growing in a raised bed.”
Also in her list of recommendations, Liz name checked Rhododendron Bloombux and Bergenia purpurascens as other good options to help stop unwanted weeds from sprouting out of our soil.
