In article 1112113730.bf28fcc829e37987dbdcb5696e62bc14@teran ews, Gwen
Morse wrote:

I'm looking for a good low-maintenance ground cover for Long Island. I
have a patch of bare dirt along the front of my house that's about 5
yards long by a yard wide.

requirements:

low-growing.
won't cross over the railroad ties boxing in the area and mix with
what passed for our lawn.
like acidic soil (will be in a semi-shady area directly under an oak
tree). South-eastern exposure.
I have to be able to plant it "now" (early spring), as the dirt is
bare "now" and I'd like to plant before weeds take over.

Gwen

I suspect Campanula poscharskyana, Serbian Bellflower, would do right
well. You might should enrich the soil a bit if it's been "bare dirt" for
a long time, loosen the whole area well, & the serbian bellflower will be
able to spread into a dense groundcover with lots of blue flowers late
spring until deep into autumn. It tries to be an evergreen in Zone 8, but
I think you're colder, it will die back at the height of winter, but begin
to regrow well before spring. You could mix with it Gold-leafed Adriatic
Bellflower (Campanula garganica 'Dickson's Gold') & that would probably
hold its own with the Serbian bellflower while varying the color & texture
of the groundcover. It too attempts to be evergreen but might die back
temporarily in your zone. Both are very low-maintenance with not too much
watering required, & although they flower most extremely in full sun, they
also look nice in bright shade; I have a very wide-spreading flowery patch
under a pinoak, the rest get only morning sun, & that's been enough for
them.

-paghat the ratgirl
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