The Sunday Mail
AS much as having a lawn is a good thing for your garden, lawns do need to be maintained and during the dry season they must be watered as well perhaps more copiously than we realise.
With the ongoing challenge of water supply and the drought it only makes sense to replace your lawn with other plants that require less water and serve the same effect of beautifying your large expanse of the garden.
They are not groundcovers for no reason, they equally do the job as much as your lawn does and at times with surprisingly stunning results.
If you choose a groundcover, which flowers then the end result will be much more pleasing. Perhaps let us start with a grass plant.
A popular plant in the landscaping industry is mondo grass (ophiopogon japonicus). It is a versatile garden plant that will grow in part shade to a full sun position. Even those really shady portions of your garden where your lawn is struggling to succeed mondo is the first option.
It multiplies easily: just divide the root stolons. Mondo is not fussy and will reward a little care.
When it comes to dry conditions, sphagneticola trilobata or wedelia trilobata is the plant to choose. It originated from Central America growing up to 30cm in moist conditions. This creeping daisy can be a bonus because it flowers for a long time.
Though considered a weed in other parts, it is a good investment in the driest of landscapes. Wedelia will need to be cut back to limit its spread. Where it receives adequate water supplies it will respond well, giving a lustre green colour.
The genus mesembryanthemum is filled with a number of drought tolerant succulent groundcovers. Carpobrotus deliciosus is a tough groundcover, quick spreading with brilliant purple flowers. A yellow form exists (carpobrotus edulis). Another group of plants worth replacing your lawn with are gazanias, such as gazania krebsiana or gazania rigens.
Their colours range from reds, pink, orange, yellow, cream and white. They are easy to propagate from seed or cuttings as well.
Cotton lavender (santolina chamaecyparissus) is a useful plant that grows to a height of 50cm. It has silky, grey fern like foliage and daisy like yellow flowers. This evergreen groundcover can grow in a hot sunny, well drained position. Take the time to trim it back after flowering to maintain a dense or compact cover. Water wise echeverias make excellent free care plants, which will thrive in a hot dry situation.
Hardy and true to its name is hedera helix, commonly known as English Ivy. A good foliage plant for most sites be they sunny or shady. Easy to establish and maintain. Its one of those plants which you plant and forget about.
Hedera is also a good ground cover for those dry areas in your garden. Liriope muscari is another excellent lawn alternative because once established is very drought resistant. A plain green form and a variegated one exist. Both can help you do the impossible with limited water supplies.
Choosing an alternative plant for your lawn is an essential decision in your quest for a beautiful garden.
The correct groundcover will change the outlook of your garden bringing life and colour to an otherwise dull green landscape with the added benefit of cutting down on your water consumption.
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