Grass Will Not Grow? Consider Planting Ground Covers

    Groundcovers are low growing plants that proliferate to form dense plantings. They are attractive and thrive in areas where turfgrasses have difficulty growing. By providing masses of beautiful foliage, groundcovers help unify the landscape. They contrast the foliage, form, color, and texture of the various other plants in the landscape. The plants are sturdy, durable, and most are rapid growers. The choice of a suitable groundcover depends on the growing conditions in the area it will be planted.
     Till organic matter into the upper six to eight inches of the soil before planting.  Add an all-purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10. Apply a one to two-inch layers of organic mulch, such as pine straw or pine bark. Keep the plants adequately watered until they are established. Proper spacing is essential to prevent the plants from crowding out other plants and each other. Most ground covers should be planted about one to two feet apart. Until the plants fill in the area, some hand weeding may be necessary.  Also, you can use a pre-emergent herbicide to help reduce the weed population.
    Many different groundcovers can be used in a variety of site conditions. In areas that are hot and exposed to full sun, like slopes, several types of horizontal growing junipers, such as shore juniper, Parsons, and blue rug junipers, thrive as long as the soil has adequate drainage. Another excellent choice for full sun is creeping phlox, often known as thrift. It has brilliant pink and white flowers in the early spring.

Garden thrift, which is a species of phlox, has colorful pink and white
blossoms in the spring and has attractive foliage year round. (Photograph by Timothy Daly)

      Liriope, mondo grass, pachysandra, and Asiatic and Confederate jasmines thrive in the shade. They will cover the ground in places where grass and other plants will not. Sometimes moss is used as a groundcover. It thrives in heavy clay soils, moist conditions, and shade. Mosses require very little maintenance other than occasionally removing fallen leaves.

Liriope spreads rapidly and can grow in both
sun and shade. (Photograph by Timothy Daly)

    Groundcovers also have practical functions as well. They are sometimes used to control erosion on slopes and banks. Thick masses help reduce weed populations in landscape plantings.
     Some groundcovers should not be planted due to their invasive nature. English ivy can be very invasive and quickly take over a yard and any trees in its path. Some of the smaller leaf varieties or variegated types of English ivy are not as invasive. Vinca, or periwinkle, is another commonly used groundcover that has an invasive growth habit. It has small leaves and purple flowers. The plant rapidly spreads and can form mounds up to two feet high. If you plant either one of these, continual pruning will be necessary to keep them under control.
     If properly selected, planted, and maintained, groundcovers can be attractive and functional additions to the landscape. Their presence will enhance the beauty and value of the landscape.
   

Several Species of Magnolias Thrive in he Home Landscape

When we think of magnolia trees, the one that comes to mind is the large southern magnolia with its white flowers and smooth light green leaves. The trees are commonly planted throughout the southeast. However, several other lesser known species of magnolias can be planted and do well in our climate.

    Southern magnolias make excellent specimen trees and average 60 to 80 foot tall and 40 to 50 foot wide. Three are evergreens and are useful in the landscape in providing shade, beautiful flowers and noise and pollution reduction.  They need to be planted in well-drained but moist site in full sun.  You may want to plant it in a bed.  As the tree grows, it forms such a dense canopy it will be difficult to get grass to grow under it.  Also, the leaves make a mess when they fall.  To get around these problems, plant the tree in a bed or natural area and do not prune the lower limbs, which can hide the mess made by the leaves.

Southern Magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora) grow up to 30 feet in height.
They produce white flowers in the spring and summer. The trees can be messy in
that they continually drop leaves. (Photograph by Timothy Daly)

There are several improved varieties of Magnolia available.  ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ has dark green leaves with brown undersides and is compact reaching only 30 feet at maturity.  ‘Claudia Wannamaker,’ is an early bloomer. ‘Samuel Sommer’ has a rapid growth rate, large dark green leaves, and big flowers.  ‘Little Gem’ is has a small growth habit reaching a size of 20 feet.  It begins to flower at an early age and has small dark green leaves with bronze undersides.

     Sweet bay magnolias have the potential to reach a height of 40 feet or more and are evergreen. Their leaves are elliptical shaped and are light green on top and white-to green on the bottom. They have creamy white flowers that are two to three inches in diameter with a lemony scent and bloom in June. It can be used as a specimen tree or planted in clusters. Unlike other magnolias, it thrives in wet soils and is often seen growing in wetland areas in its native habitat in the southern part of the state.

   Several species of magnolias bloom early in the spring. The saucer magnolia produces tulip-shaped flowers that are up to ten inches in diameter and are purplish to white. Three grows up to 20 feet. The star magnolia is smaller with a height of 15 to 20 feet. It has white fragrant flowers that are three inches wide. Both trees are deciduous, produce blossoms before the leaves, and, since they bloom early in the spring, their flowers can be harmed by freezes.

Star magnolias (Magnolia stellata) produce white blossoms in the early spring
(photograph by Timothy Daly)

   The cucumber tree magnolia grows up to 80 feet and has a large spread. The tree has a pyramidal shape when young and is deciduous. The leaves have a dark green color with green to yellow flowers that appear in May and June. Cucumbertree magnolias should be planted in areas where their growth is not restricted such as large estates, parks, and green spaces. They should not be used on small residential properties.

    The bigleaf magnolia reaches up to 40 feet and has large leaves that are12 to 32 inches long. When they drop, the surrounding landscape appears to be covered with discarded paper. Their flowers appear in early June and are creamy-white and are up to ten inches wide. Like the cucumber tree, it should not be planted on residential sites but rather in large spaces.

    Yes, the southern magnolia has company that can add interest and beauty to the landscape. Consider planting some of these trees.

Proper Pruning of Crape Myrtles is Essential

Crape myrtles are one of the most popular ornamental plants for the landscape. Their blossoms provide abundant color throughout the summer, and the plants require minimal care. Since their flowers are produced on the new growth, winter is the preferred time for pruning. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe crape myrtles should be heavily pruned to the point of being butchered. The result is plants that have the appearance of tall stumps. Some prune excessively with the mistaken belief that these actions will stimulate the production of more flowers. Others engage in this practice because the plants have grown too large for their site. This intense pruning causes weak new growth the following spring with the increased susceptibility to pests. In most cases, a light pruning is all that is required. 

   The butchering of crape myrtles makes it more susceptible to pests. A landscaper once told me he took over the maintenance of a large commercial property that had a substantial number of crape myrtles. Half had been butchered, but the other half were not touched. The following summer, those that were pruned improperly had a terrible infestation on Asian Ambrosia beetles, whereas those not pruned had minimal problems with the insects. 

Butchered crape myrtles 'crape murder' is harmful to the plant
and makes it more
vulnerable to environmental stressors and pests
(Photograph by Timothy Daly)

  Crape myrtles are pruned to improve the structure of the plant and increase the circulation of air in order to reduce disease occurrence. Pruning stimulates the growth of new shoots that form flowers. However, it is not an essential requirement for flowering. Many of the old crape myrtles planted along highways have never been pruned but produce an abundance of attractive floral displays. They have smaller clusters of flowers, but with more of them the overall floral impact has not been diminished.
     Keeping crape myrtles pruned to maintain their appropriate form is simple. If the growth from the past year has made the plant taller than the desired height, prune out the new growth. Prune branches that are dead, diseased, growing inwards and those that are crossing or rubbing against each other. Remove suckers that have sprouted from the roots and the lower trunk. The goal is to prevent the plants from becoming so overgrown that extreme pruning is needed. 

Properly pruned crape myrtles perform well, are healthy,
produce excellent blossoms and are not overly troubled
by pests. (Photograph by Timothy Daly)

    Sometimes heavier pruning is required, particularly on plants that have not been pruned for several seasons. Identify the main stems and remove any others that have sprouted from the roots. Cut out any branches that are rubbing against each other. Decide on the desired height and make selected cuts in the top of each trunk for a reduction in size. The preferred shape is for the crowns to be a little flat, with the sides tapering to a rounded shape. Some varieties of crape myrtles are quite tall. They should be planted in locations where they can grow to their natural height without constant pruning to keep it the desired size. 

    Crape myrtles are a positive addition to the home landscape. They will be healthier and produce an abundance of colorful blossoms throughout the summer if properly pruned.

   For more detailed information on how to prune crape myrtles correctly, please refer to the following publication from Clemson University - Crape Myrtle Pruning: 

https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/crape-myrtle-pruning/

2020 North Atlanta Home Show

For more information on the show, please visit their website at: https://northatlantahomeshow.com/

Extension Staff and Master Gardener Extension Volunteers at GA 

Extension  Gwinnett exhibit at the North Atlanta  Home Show