Tough ground cover for shady area

I don't think they do either. The ones that have seeded most for me is the Metallic Blue Lady. But I don't know how well they will come back true from seeds. I'm hoping they will as they are in their own area.

Melissa - I have all 3 kinds of books too, the ones I bought, the ones the library owns and the ones I don't know where they came from.

Guys, I am only JOKING about the hostas!!! What, there are 9 million or so cultivars??? I know I've bought over 50 different kinds and it isn't even summer yet!

Al, I could go further and say I actually have only one kind of book; those I've read and those I haven't ;-) Hey, what else would one use to fill book cases?

Hey! That's my job to tease the hostaholics. I think that one lady thought my PhotoShopped picture was real.LOL

Al, you use PHOTOSHOP? Now your Master Gardener cat is out of the bag!!!

I think there should be a "You've Been Hosed!" Forum where we can display the freaks of nature that always occur in our gardens. Then we can sell 'em the magic seeds. Heck, invisible seeds! For growing invisible plants to go with the invisible fence. Me, I'm cooling off in my invisible pool right now.

Jax, I was just thinking that hostas were the way to go, since I've got 3 of them back there right now and no weeds growing under them. I had a plan to eradicate the weeds--what do you guys think of this?
I just put a bunch of leftover leaves from last fall over the whole corner to try to suffocate the weeds that are there (and hopefully improve the soil a bit?)--this fall, I'm going to plant a bunch of woodland bulbs (and hostas?), and then I'll cover the whole thing with leaves and maybe a tarp, to really keep it closed off. Then in the spring, I pull back the tarp, rake up the leaves, and voila! bulbs and hostas! I'll probably have to put down mulch right away to prevent seedlings from taking hold in the nice newly cleared ground before the hostas grow in, right? Here are my questions:
first, is the leaves-and-tarp idea a good one? will it suffocate the bulbs or hostas?
should i plant the hostas in the spring or fall?
how long will it take for this idea to really effectively block out weeds?
should i put some kind of ground cover down between the hostas?
does anyone know somewhere you can get hostas cheaply in bulk???

I don't have many weeds in between my hostas - some oxalis is about it. For planting hostas spring or fall is fine, I would do any dividing in the spring. Cheap hostas - well maybe end of season sales. Earlier in the year other gardeners divide theirs and sell I've seen or Master Gardeners sales or any sales like that.

I would leave out the tarp. No air, no water, no light - no good for plants.

That was my feeling, too. I think everything would rot.

Or put newspaper down (7 thick or so) cover with the leaves & wait. It will kill weeds better and add a little more to the soil.

Yes - deal with the weeds and soil improvement first - then start fresh. I love being fresh.

Naughty Victor! That may be part of your charm and why we enjoy you so much.

I agree with Dave47 and Victor -- healthy soil first, then come the plants.

OK, but can I put down newspaper and leaves over bulbs?

Leaves, yes. Newspapers do rot but I doubt the bulbs would get enough water.

I agree - no bulbs or plants if you're going to 'suffocate' the area at the same time.

Last winter I put down a heavy mulch on some of my gardens of just leaves that were shredded with my lawn mower and collected in the bag. Mostly it was to prevent frost heaving, which I get a lot of in certain gardens. It worked really well in keeping down the weed population as well. I raked the leaves off in spring, but some gardens I didn't get around to raking, and the plants in those gardens had no trouble growing through them. And no weeds. The only weeds you will not suffocate in this manner are certain perennial varieties.

I have quack grass or witch grass growing in certain gardens, and no amount of mulch smothers that. I have to dig or pull out the roots, and they run everywhere. Once it's introduced into a garden, then you'll have it everywhere.

Another really invasive plant is tradescantia, the one that is fuchsia purple. I have tried and tried to smother it in one area with piles of grass clippings, leaves, pulled weeds, ect. It just grows right through it. I did successfully kill off a stand of Jeruselem artichokes (sunchokes or native sunflower) growing in the same area that had created a jungle there.

Karen

Karen is right. Perennial weeds do have to be pulled and regardless of how tiring it's worth it. Avoiding invasive plants is a major miracle and something most of us just dream about it seems.

Yes and Preen and all the other pre-emergents are useless against perennial weeds. I have many woody vine weeds that are a nightmare.

Me, too. That Porcelain vine comes back even when I'm sure I've removed every bit of it.

mellymass

Sorry for the late reply. I started 12 years ago with a 2 flats of plants...maybe 96 plants (covered 10' x 50' roughly.) I got them at 75% off since some were pretty dead looking (end of season.) I planted most of them and they eventually spread. I mulched between them for a few years and then they got so full I got to stop that . About 5 to 7 years ago we had the house re-roofed and those workers killed a lot of myrtle. I recently filled in with another 25 plants from our local co-op and that is it, time, effort and about $25 total.

After all this time I have decided to add some more hostas close to the foundation, to grow above the myrtle. I planted about 10 yesterday and when they spread, I will divide the hostas to run the full length and about 2 feet out.

Good luck with the myrtle...doesn't need much once it establishes itself.

Rose

Well, I'll try the smothering bit for now, and see what all comes back. One lesson I've learned: I'm not going to bother pulling anything up until I've already got the mulch on hand to cover my handywork! There's nothing more frustrating than doing a ton of weeding, only to see the pristine area get infiltrated again before I get around to getting the mulch!

I think I'll just do leaves in the fall, since I really want to put some bulbs in; I'll put down newspaper now to make the weeding easier...

Once you've got the weeds all pulled, why not put down some Preen, unless you're against chemicals? I put mine on top of the mulch, as I seem to get a lot of weeds seeding into the mulch.

Do try the smothering now, Meg. You're so right when you say you won't pull the weeds unless you have the mulch! I've done that all too often.

I'm with Polly and the Preen! We buy five gigantic containers in spring to hopefully hold us through until late fall.

I'm not really into using chemicals, esp with a baby and a dog--do you know of any natural/organic equivalents?

I don't. Sorry.

Yes - Corn gluten meal. One of the commercial names is WOW (for without weeds). Can get it from Gardens Alive. I've been using on my lawn with so-so results. Of course, I have a number of perennial lawn weeds which it cannot help. It's worth a try and is 100% safe. A little pricey though but GA always has sales.

Meg, I am a hosta holic with many weedy areas that I plant to plant over with the biggest hostas I can find. I went to the dollar store and bought clear shower curtains and those clear table protectors, and pinned them down to my weedy spots. I should say I first mowed the areas, torched the ground with a propane weed torch, THEN put the plastic down. Someone on the Weeds & Invasives forum said that this clear plastic "solarization" will cook the roots! It better- I have some pretty determined invasives (HONEYSUCKLE!!!). To make the area look better now, I put some of the new hostas in big pots and plopped them on the plastic. It's good b/c I can move them around to determine where they look best. I don't know if I'll plant out in the fall or next spring- we'll see. I'm going to mulch heavily with leaves when I do. Not much can grow under the mature large- leafed hostas.

Jax, how much sun is in the area? The clear plastic method works best where you have a decent amount of direct sun. However, since you plan on using Hostas it sounds like a shadier area.

It is a SW facing bank of my pond with a big tree over it. The bank turns to the South, and from there I've planted sun plants, but where the bank gets shadier, I'm working on the solarization- "they" say it works in shady spots, too- I think it is more like snuffing the plants out from air, water, plus whatever sun gets to it is intensified to a scorching point. I did find some garter snakes using my plastic as a hideout to capture frogs, though-

I just planted 1/2 of the area with hostas in those big biodegradable leaf bags cut down to 8" high and filled with soil. I am using sun tolerant ones; in fact, I planted a very corny American theme garden: hostas Liberty, Independence, Minuteman, Patriot, Revolution, Patriot's Fire and Independence Day. They all have white in them, so they should look and grow fine with a little sun. But, should I add a 'Loyalist'??? BTW, I'm going to fill in around the bags with 6" of mulch, so it won't look too funny- I'll take a pic tomorrow.

Meg, Agway sells corn gluten, which saves on the shipping fee. There is one in North Branford on rte. 80.

Just thought I'd mention that Garden Crossings is having a sale on their Hostas. $2 off the regular price. And if you spend $50, free shipping. This ends this weekend. They are certainly not the cheapest source around, but they are quality. They are on my gold list. Great customer service, variety, healthy plants and superior packing.

I have success with Sweet Woodruff

Very nice - love that smell. Where I planted a lot of it was just too dry. I have to introduce it to another area.

I don't have a picture of it in bloom but this is the phlox stolonefera (sp?) under oak & maple.

Looks good!

I planted some of that phlox stolenifera myself in a shady spot, and the foliage looks nice, but I too did not get many blossoms out of mine. I love the creeping jenny in my moist shade garden where I have a lot of astilbes, ligularia, goat's beard and cimicifuga. I will try and remember to take a picture tomorrow to post here.

Karen

The faster my Creeping Jenny spreads, the more I'm liking it. I have it around my pond and it grows right into the water.

Karen, I agree. It hasn't been impressive. Although anything that thrives where I have that is welcome. Lamium is much prettier though.

I saw some lamium around a tree at a local park that looked really nice. What cultivars do you guys like? I have a perfect spot for some.

I like orchid frost.
Polly, Thanks for all the info!