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Carpets of spreading, dense, low growing colour: Aubrieta. What else?

FayeGFayeG Posts: 26
edited June 2022 in Garden design
Hi all,

I've bought some packets of Aubrieta for next spring. Must I start this year for flowers next?

Also:  Any ideas for low growing carpets of plants for summer?  Colour would be nice or scent.  For border draping and large gaps. Maybe like Aubrieta for summer. Perrenials pref.
NB: I wasn't very succesful with creeping phlox but maybe I didn't do them as I should (I bought plug plants last time).

I don't have a greenhouse and my husband moans about pots all over. Direct planting would be a perfect solution but alternatively some mini trays with lids for the spare room window sill will be my option.
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  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    What kind of soil and aspect do you  have?
  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 26
    edited June 2022
    Fire said:
    What kind of soil and aspect do you  have?
    There is a large field behind my house so the far end can get a bit wet over the winter. That area is a little shady but still gets the sun.  Towards the house the soil is good and most things grow very well.  It is south-facing and pretty open and gets the sun most of the day.
  • FayeGFayeG Posts: 26
    I don't know if it's because of the field but I had an awful weed problem last year - loads of couch grass etc and it was all neglected because of family losses so my attention went elsewhere. Ive worked extra hard this year to get rid of the weeds and I'm thinking the best solution is to fill all these gaps to reduce the chance of weeds ever taking over to that extent again.
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    I think you may need different plants for your wetter, shadier area than the part in full sun. Plug plants need a lot of tlc but you can buy ready to plant versions that go straight into the garden.
    There are a great many varieties of plants for ground cover, I suggest you have a look at local garden centres and online to see what you actually like. If in doubt about growing conditions you could ask again here - sellers are inclined to tell you that all their plants grow anywhere, but they don't!
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    Persicaria affinis. Lamnium maculatum and Geranium macrorrhizum come immediately to mind as good ground covering plants in my garden.
  • Tam_ThumbTam_Thumb Posts: 44
    edited June 2022

    Lithodora 

    Thats what i'm using for ground cover

    I have plenty of aubrieta going spare, will probably try to give them away 

  • LynLyn Posts: 22,015
    Cerastium (Snow in Summer) grows freely here, good ground cover,  flowers early summer but the lovely pale grey/green foliage lasts through. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 11,203
    Some of the thymes might do well in the sunnier, drier spots. I also have a pink teucrium running amok down the rockery.

    It is a fallacy though to think ground coverers will stop all weeds from coming through, things like couch grass and dandelions seem able to grow through anything!
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,409
    Helianthemums come in lots of colours. They need sun to open their flowers but go on all summer, will grow in poor dry soil and are evergreen (or grey).
    Some Campanulas, such as C.muralis and C. portenschlagiana will spread in sun or light shade.
    Creeping thymes come in shades of pink or purple and and can cope with sunny, dry soil. They smell lovely when trodden on, just watch out for the bees! 
    Ajuga (Bugle) will grow in damp shade and so will Sweet Woodruff, with pretty white flowers in spring and early summer. The bright green foliage is attractive too,but dies back in winter, though revives early in the year.
    Some hardy geraniums make good low groundcover and will even smother ground elder. G. Biokovo is one and there are others with bright pink flowers.
    You may get some inspiration from this thread:
    Couch grass however seems able to sneak in anywhere, so remove as much root as you possibly can before planting :)
  • BorderlineBorderline Posts: 4,699
    Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia Maritima are nice simple frothy flowers, and will tolerate some shade and the soil conditions you mention, as long as they don't have heavy waterlogged soils.

    In the drier areas, Saponaria Ocymoides, Soapwort will spread and tumble over edges.
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