Today we planted a bunch of groundcover called Stepables. It seems like a good concept if you think about it because you have the ability to select hardy, drought resistant varieties that will keep out weeds, grow fast, and produce flowers year after year.
In theory, at least. We will see how this actually works out!
I think most people would select one or two varieties that best complimented their needs, but I went with seven total because I’m going for this wild/forest-looking concept. They were all selected based on their tolerance of sun/heat, drought resistance, and speed of growth. (I’m impatient, what can I say?) These are the finalists:
- Grass replacement: Elfin Miniature Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) As the grass dies off or gets weeded out, I will slowly replace it with this low-growing groundcover. It stands up to heavy traffic, is drought tolerant once it is established, and it produces these wonderful little flowers. It stays green year-round and never needs mowing like a lawn. I can’t wait until my "icky ol grass" turns into a luxurious "living carpet"!
- Corner strawberry bed: Baby Tears (Sedum album ‘Chloroticum’) This will fill in nicely between the strawberries, hiding under their leaves during the hottest months, and bringing blooms every spring. I’m also hoping these will somewhat distract the deer from eating the strawberries, as deer typically don’t like sedum plants but I have already caught them rummaging through my varieties of strawberries!
- Fast growers to live around the landscaping: White Star Creeper (a white-flowered Pratia angulata), Alpine Geranium Charm (a pink Erodium reichardii), County Park (purple-flowered Pratia pedunculata), and Double Alpine Geranium Flore Pleno (a light purple-flowered Erodium reichardii). These may vary in their tolerance of the amount of foot traffic, but what they all do have in common is their tolerance of varying water conditions and bright sun at certain times of the day. They are all moderate to fast growers during the peak season as well.
- The landscape accent plant: Victor Reite, Dwarf Thrift (Armeria) This plant tolerates light foot traffic and looks like a mini grass bush with taller flowers.
The soil was simply prepared by hand-mixing the soil, the top layer of bark mulch, and some composted elements. I pushed down on each plant as I dropped it into the hole to keep them level with the ground. The plants were also watered well after being planted.
I know these will take a few years to really spread out and become established, but I am trying to think of my garden in terms of the long run (say, the next decade or two) instead of what looks good right now. I am also getting continually bombarded with surprises in this yard, because plants keep springing up everywhere that the previous owners must have planted.
