Sun Requirements English ivy when grown as houseplant, like medium to bright light. It’s won’t tolerate low light conditions. Ivies with white variegated leaves like less light than dark green leaf versions. It can grow under artificial lighting. Outdoors English ivy grows well in shade as a vine or groundcover. Bloom Period and Plant Shape […]
Category Archives: Groundcovers
How to Grow: Cyclamen
Listen to this podcast on how to grow and care for cyclamen flowers. This houseplant and, sometimes garden plant, originated in the Middle East and has spread throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Its name is derived from the Greek, “Kuklos”, which means circle, referring to the shape of the tubers and leaves. It’s […]
How to Grow: Corydalis
Listen to this podcast on growing and caring for cordyalis perennial groundcover. This spring blooming ground cover often carpets areas under deciduous trees and in gardens with its pink or white blooms. This tuberous plant has been used in Chinese medicine from chronic pain relief. What is this spring beauty? It’s corydalis. Corydalis is a […]
How to Grow: Groundcovers as Food
Learn how to grow and care for groundcovers for food and for fertilizer for your trees. Transcript Groundcovers are beautiful plants that cover the ground with greenery and flowers. They help reduce weeding and protect the soil from drying out. Plus, they look nice. Vinca, ivy, pachysandra and sweet woodruff are just some of the […]
How to Grow: Ground Covers for the Shade
Learn about the best ground cover plants and techniques to grow in the shade. Listen to podcast: One of the most common questions I get from gardeners is what ground covers can I grow in shade? First of all, all shade is not created equally. Shade under an evergreen tree is different than shade under […]
How to Grow: Groundcherry
Learn about groundcherries, including varieties and how to plant and grow them. Listen to Podcast: When is a tomato, not a tomato? When it’s a cherry? If that doesn’t make much sense, you’ll understand the confusion over ground cherries. These tomato family fruits grow close to the ground. The “cherry” refers to the yellow fruit […]
How to Grow: Thyme and Oregano
When it comes to flavoring recipes, Mediterranean herbs are some of the most popular. While rosemary and basil get lots of press, don’t forget the low growing, perennial herbs, such as thyme and oregano. Oregano offers that robust flavor we associate with pasta sauces. Thyme leaves have fragrances such as lemon, orange and nutmeg depending […]
How to Grow: Mint
Listen to this podcast and read about growing and caring for mint plants including how to stop them from being invasive. podcast transcript One of the biggest drawbacks to mint is not getting it to grow, but keeping it under control. But it’s worth the effort. Mint is a flavorful herb that comes in […]
How to Grow: Edible Groundcovers
In the desire to grow less lawn and more plants, ground covers are often touted as a solution. Once established they can also help keep weeds away and provide a beautiful visual alternative to grass, bare soil or bark mulch. Ground covers grow in sun or shade depending on the type. Use the amount of […]
How to Grow: Hellebores
Learn about growing hellebores or Lenten roses in your garden as a groundcover. Listen to Podcast: Although we grow this plant as a perennial flower, it also has other devious uses. During the siege of Kirrha in ancient Greece, the invading armies poisoned the city’s water supply with crushed roots and leaves of this flower […]