Ground covers can be boring. Sure they cover the ground under trees and shrubs with a dark green layer and some even flower briefly in spring. But I like growing plants I can eat. So why not grow edible ground covers under trees and along walkways? It's just a matter of selecting the right ground cover for the right spot.
Let's take trees for example. Many landscape trees have open canopies and can be limbed up so a fair amount of light can penetrate to the ground underneath them. Instead of ornamental ground covers, consider planting an edible ground cover such a alpine strawberries. Alpine strawberries are low growing, mounding plants that slowly spread producing small, sweet red, white or yellow berries all summer. Near your rhododendrons plant other acid soil loving ground covers such as low bush blueberries or lingonberries. These creeping perennials will tolerate part shade and love the moist, acidic soil you're providing from your rhodis. Plus, the red fruits of lingonberries make great jams and jellies.
For bigger trees and shrubs with more shade, think herbs. Mints are hard to contain, but make a great ground cover in part shade to fill an area under a tree. The flowers are bee favorites and the leaves are great in mint juleps. Along walkways, try Corsican mint or creeping thyme. Although you may not harvest much of these plants for eating, the smell that wafts up when you walk over them can be intoxicating. Just don't expect them to be tolerant of lots of foot traffic like a lawn.
And now for this week's tip, speaking of fragrant plants, why not take a trip this September with me to the land of food and fragrance? I'm leading a VPR trip to discover the gardens and food of Barcelona, Spain and Provence, France. We'll visit private and public gardens, farmer's markets, take cooking classes in both locations and enjoy a luxurious fall on the Mediterranean. Go to VPR.net for details.
Next week on the Vermont Garden Journal, I'll be talking about currants and gooseberries. Until then, I'll be seeing you in the garden.
Broadcast on Friday, May 2, 2014 at 5:57 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 9:35 a.m.
The Vermont Garden Journal with Charlie Nardozzi is made possible by Gardener's Supply, offering environmental solutions for gardens and landscapes. In Burlington, Williston and Gardeners.com.
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Edible ground covers
