Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

The image at the link below is of a circular area that we want plant
ground cover in. We've used turf before (not shade friendly which was
silly) and it didn't last very long. We're now considering re-seeding
using shade tolerant lawn seed.

But I'm wondering if there might not be a more suitable alternative? I
vaguely remember my grandmother having a circular area in her garden in
Zimbabwe which was covered with a 'clover-like' ground cover. It was
lush and lovely (although possibly not suitable for my area). It had a
quirky ordinary name - a name that appealed to me as a child, but I
can't for the life of me remember what it was now !!

Here's a link to a picture of the area:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2755698...ritishgardens/

Does anyone have any suggestions for a ground cover that can grow in a
moderate-deep shade area that is also very damp. Something that will
tolerate a fair bit of pedestrian traffic (en route to our decked
area). The bed to the right of the picture is planted up with ferns,
gunnera and hydrangeas.

Thanks!

Question 1) I think you might be thinking of Chamomile

try here; http://www.properplants.com/asps/extra8.asp

Question 2;

Have a look in here for ideas; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk...20location.htm


Question 3) Chomile will be too tender unless you incorporate 'stepping stones'

Hope this helps!

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

"George.com" wrote in message
...

"Small Red Robin" wrote in message
oups.com...
The image at the link below is of a circular area that we want plant
ground cover in. We've used turf before (not shade friendly which was
silly) and it didn't last very long. We're now considering re-seeding
using shade tolerant lawn seed.

But I'm wondering if there might not be a more suitable alternative? I
vaguely remember my grandmother having a circular area in her garden in
Zimbabwe which was covered with a 'clover-like' ground cover. It was
lush and lovely (although possibly not suitable for my area). It had a
quirky ordinary name - a name that appealed to me as a child, but I
can't for the life of me remember what it was now !!

Here's a link to a picture of the area:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/2755698...ritishgardens/

Does anyone have any suggestions for a ground cover that can grow in a
moderate-deep shade area that is also very damp. Something that will
tolerate a fair bit of pedestrian traffic (en route to our decked
area). The bed to the right of the picture is planted up with ferns,
gunnera and hydrangeas.

Thanks!

I am not sure this is of any help to you or not however I 'll post it
anyway. New Zealand has a native 'weed' that is a very good ground cover
for
such an area. Its proper name is dichondra repens but is commonly called
mercury bay weed. It grows well is shady or sunny areas and does not mind
some damp. It is slow growing and does not require much mowing. It is
increasingly a substitute for grass and I have it growing in my lawn
alongside the grass. Whether you have exactly the same variety as us I am
not sure but you do have dichondra for sale in the UK. Our stuff likes the
warmer climes of NZ rather than the very cold deep south. We get frosts
here
in the Waikato however (0 to -3) and the dichondra does ok with them.
Seeds
can be purchased online in both NZ and the UK.


http://secure.digithink.net.nz/kings...pID=427&cID=45
http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/vascular_pla...p?PlantID=2163

http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/foru...TOPIC_ID=11879
http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/page5a.htm
rob

whoops, a slight mistake there. Most of what I have in my lawn is actually
hydrocotyle. This ******* is hardy. Most likely well suited to what you
want.
http://weeds.massey.ac.nz/weeds.asp?pid=99&sf=common
http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/species.asp?item=3633

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

Small Red Robin wrote:
The image at the link below is of a circular area that we want plant
ground cover in. We've used turf before (not shade friendly which was
silly) and it didn't last very long. We're now considering re-seeding
using shade tolerant lawn seed.

Snip

Not exactly what you asked, but looking at the photo (lovely spot, by
the way!) and if hte place is likely to stay quite wet in winter, why
not either pave or if budget doesn't allow, gravel it?

Cat(h)

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

Hi there,

Cat(h) - paving over would be a last option for us because the circular
area leads (through an arch, where I was standing when I took the
picture) on to a small gravel area which then steps onto a decked area.
So it would be too much hard stuff for my taste.

Scotia - it's not chamomile that I'm thinking of (regarding my
grandmother's groundcover). I had to phone my mother to check because
it's driving me mad. She said my gran had an area that was covered with
'daisy lawn' and that she also had a small groundcover that made tiny
little 'strawberry-like fruit' (inedible though). I remeber my grans
little area being really lovely so wouldn't mind reproducing the
effect; however, this was in Zimbabwe so I'm not sure if either of
these options are available here in the UK, or if it would be a hardy
option for Scotland....? Anyway, 'daisy lawn' is still not the
'intriguing name' I think I can't remember so I don't know what is
going on in my head or where I got it from. Maybe I dreamt it. But it's
driving me nuts!

Janet - moss would be an option and would probably do very well there.
I'm not sure though that it might be dangerous to walk over all the
time? Wouldn't it be very slippy? Our garden is very long and narrow
and that little section is right in the middle - on the way to our
decked area, my washing line and my greenhouse and shed.... so well
travelled.

George - thanks for all the links. I'll go check them out.

The search continues...... please keep ideas rolling in. Many thanks.

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

Small Red Robin wrote:

Janet - moss would be an option and would probably do very well there.
I'm not sure though that it might be dangerous to walk over all the
time? Wouldn't it be very slippy? Our garden is very long and narrow
and that little section is right in the middle - on the way to our
decked area, my washing line and my greenhouse and shed.... so well
travelled.

I think the slipperiness would be more of a problem if it was growing
on a hard surface.

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

Ornata wrote:
Small Red Robin wrote:

Janet - moss would be an option and would probably do very well there.
I'm not sure though that it might be dangerous to walk over all the
time? Wouldn't it be very slippy? Our garden is very long and narrow
and that little section is right in the middle - on the way to our
decked area, my washing line and my greenhouse and shed.... so well
travelled.

I think the slipperiness would be more of a problem if it was growing
on a hard surface.

Wouldn't it be very wet all the time? I'd go for wood chippings for a
foresty kind of feel.

Lawn advice ... suggestions for a lawn alternative for shady damp area
 

Ornata writes

Small Red Robin wrote:

Janet - moss would be an option and would probably do very well there.
I'm not sure though that it might be dangerous to walk over all the
time? Wouldn't it be very slippy? Our garden is very long and narrow
and that little section is right in the middle - on the way to our
decked area, my washing line and my greenhouse and shed.... so well
travelled.

I think the slipperiness would be more of a problem if it was growing
on a hard surface.

I can't see any reason why moss growing in a lawn situation should be
slippery. The slipperiness on a hard surface is usually algae and
possibly a different species of moss.

But wasn't Janet's suggestion tongue-in-cheek?

--
Kay