Author Topic: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?  (Read 1291 times)

Daintree

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Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« on: November 14, 2019, 04:31:07 PM »
I have bark on the floor of my greenhouse, but due to decomposition, the fans are churning up a lot of bark dust. Rather than keep adding more bark, or replacing it, I thought I would try planting ground cover.

Any ideas for a sturdy, shade-loving, low-growing, ground cover? Preferably something that won't climb the pots, but if it smelled really good, I could put up with a bit of climbing.

Thanks!

Carolyn

SeaWalnut

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2019, 04:50:05 PM »
Look up Japanese moss gardens.

brian

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2019, 05:20:57 PM »
Moss is awesome but wont smother weeds.  You would need to apply a seed preventative or apply roundup (which moss resists)

Vinca minor/periwikle is a good groundcover.   Sweet Woodruff is nice also
« Last Edit: November 14, 2019, 06:39:37 PM by brian »

Daintree

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2019, 06:43:16 PM »
Thanks! I have not had good luck with moss in the past, but the perowinkle and sweet woodruff look promising!

Carolyn

jmart777

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2019, 02:07:37 PM »
I attended an informative lecture this month at CRFG regarding this issue.  This guy runs a nonprofit and may be able to provide some more information tailored for your region.  Here in SoCal, it seems white clover is a good candidate for ground cover and a "living mulch". Many benefits in doing what your trying. You may want to reach out to him.

His website below is ...
https://www.mongoltribe.org/


J

Daintree

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2019, 10:52:44 AM »
Awesome, thanks!

Carolyn

TNAndy

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2019, 05:01:24 PM »
Years ago I planted some clover (whatever kind it is that's growing in my yard--red? white? I don't know) alongside my container plants.  I thought as a legume it would help provide a natural source of nitrogen.  What it actually provided was a natural source of white flies.   >:(  They loved it and once they ate it up, they spread to several of my other plants.  I was not pleased.  You have been warned....

Daintree

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Re: Shade-loving ground cover plants for greenhouse?
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2019, 12:02:32 AM »
Hmmm, hadn't thought of that...
Thanks for the heads up!

Carolyn