A Great Cover-Up

A BAFFLING PROBLi for many gardeners is what to grow in hot, dry, or gravelly areas that are too inhospitable for grass and most ground cover plants. Particularly troublesome spots are areas between the driveway and lawn; around patios, where heat builds up in the soil; on south- and west-facing ibankments; and at exposed sites with poor, thin soil. Fortunately, there are some durable ground cover plants that will thrive under these rigorous conditions.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is extriely tolerant of poor soil and even will grow in pure sand. The six-inch-tall evergreen has small, glossy, dark-green leaves that turn bronzy red in autumn. In spring, the entire plant is covered with tiny white flowers tinged with pink. These mature to bright red berries that birds love. Spaced 12 inches apart, plants will form a thick carpet in two or three seasons. Bearberry is hardy to Zone 2.

Creeping junipers are also suitable ground covers for parched areas. A popular choice is blue rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'), a tough-as-nails ground hugger that is only four to six inches tall. Its intense silver-blue needles take on pleasing purple tones in winter. Although a single plant may eventually grow to eight feet in diameter, the recommended spacing is two to three feet for quick coverage. Blue rug juniper is hardy to Zone 3.

Spreading, mat-forming types of sedums resist drought by storing water in their fleshy stis and roots. Two good choices, both hardy to Zone 4, are two-inch-tall 'John Creech' two-row sedum (Sedum spurium cv.), with pink flowers in June, and the six-inch-tall 'Fuldaglut' two-row sedum, with reddish or purple foliage and rose-red flowers from July through Septiber.

Shrub roses, as well as some perennials such as creeping phlox (Phlox stolonifera) and catmint (Nepeta cataria), like it hot and dry, as do some ornamental grasses such as blue fescue (Festuca glauca). Lowbush blueberries will do well, as will creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and other herbs.

As a rule, small plants are spaced five to 12 inches apart; larger ones, such as shrubs, require two to four feet of separation. Of course, if you are a frugal gardener, you could space thi at a greater distance. This will mean that they may take a little longer to establish, but you won't end up paying a big cover charge.

– –George and Becky Lohmiller