Full sun groundcover

[Dmcdonald]

I have an area along the front of my yard that is a small ditch. It does flood when we get a hard rain but drains quickly. It is basically a depression. it is on the west side of my house and gets full sun all day. Any suggestions on a groundcover. Something that will keep the weeds out. I have a coquina wall that seperates it from the rest of the yard so keeping it from spreading into the yard is not an issue.

[trioderob]

Dimondia

[Gonzer]

Dimondia

I'll second Rob's suggestion.

[Tropicgardener]

Dwarf form of Tradescantia spathacea, seems to survive wet and dry, looks very tropical and suppresses weeds.

[Dmcdonald]

I have an area in the back that has Tradescantia spathacea growing but it is in the shade. I will try some in full sun and if it does well that is what I will use. thanks. I checked the Dymondia and it looks to much like a weed to me. The little flowers remind me of dandelions.

[Tropicdoc]

Vinca minor, Asian jasmine, creeping jenny. I had this same question a while back and looked into it. Creeping fig, but you would have to worry about it climbing to the detriment of other plants.

[Tropicdoc]

Oh, and dichondra.

[The Silent Seed]

GOLD Creeping Jenny - Absolutely gorgeous, and really is chartreuse. And, it does have flowers too, yellow.

[Dmcdonald]

Vinca minor, Asian jasmine, creeping jenny. I had this same question a while back and looked into it. Creeping fig, but you would have to worry about it climbing to the detriment of other plants.

I did a quick search and the vinca minor isn't bad. The jasmine it says is very invasive so i will stay away from it. The creeping Jenny is a possibility. What did you end using? I am going to try the Tradescantia spathacea since I already have a large area of it and can transplant some cuttings and see how they do. Thanks

[Dmcdonald]

This is the area I want to cover. The last bit of lawn I have in the front.

[Tropicdoc]

Did your research say Asian jasmine was invasive in a bed or invasive into the environment? Its not that hard to control. Not as hard as creeping fig, which I also have.

I went with jasmine because I thought the vinca flowers detracted from a jungle feel.... made it look more like a flower bed.

[Dmcdonald]

It said once you have it you always have it. I read the replies on Daves Garden. I have a few plants I have been fighting for years and don't want another.

[Tropicdoc]

I guess once you have it you always have it can be taken as a positive or negative. A vigorous groundcover is what you want to retard weeds. I have read that vinca minor is worse than Asian Jasmine as far as underground runners. I like plants that I have to cut back because they are so vigorous.... ex (bananas, cannas, creeping fig, Rangoon creeper, colocasia)...... makes a jungle! I can always rely on a freak winter to help me cut things back!

[Dmcdonald]

I have this vine that grows like crazy. Not sure what it is. I would love to get rid of. It wraps around everything. I removed it from my fence and within a month the fence is almost covered in it. It seems to come overnight.

I have been working on eradicating mother of a thousand babies from my yard for 9 years since we bought the house. I have thrown away at least 4 garbage cans a year every year of it and feel like I have more now than when I started.

I moved some of the Tradescantia spathacea from the backyard to the front. Now to see how it likes full sun for me.

[_Keith]

It said once you have it you always have it.

I kind of thought that was the definition of a good ground cover. Last thing I want is another thing to baby to keep it alive.

[Dmcdonald]

Yes I want it to grow but not take over everything in the yard. From what I read it will grow up into and strangle trees. I was out in the yard watering yesterday and had to pull the chocking vine I have off my chamdoreas in the front yard since it had wrapped all the new leaves and they were unable to open. Tonight I noticed it attacking a bunch of stuff in pots in the back. I could probably kill it with some roundup but I have never sprayed any on my yard and would rather not start.

[_Keith]

Yes I want it to grow but not take over everything in the yard. From what I read it will grow up into and strangle trees. I was out in the yard watering yesterday and had to pull the chocking vine I have off my chamdoreas in the front yard since it had wrapped all the new leaves and they were unable to open. Tonight I noticed it attacking a bunch of stuff in pots in the back. I could probably kill it with some roundup but I have never sprayed any on my yard and would rather not start.

LOL, well I have to confess I have one ground cover like that. Thank God it is contained by concrete on all sides. If it ever got loose, help me because it would both be my lawn and into everything.

[Dmcdonald]

Lawns are overrated anyway:)

[Tropicdoc]

I was driving around town noticing how much useless grass there was being mowed around town. I thought that our town would be much more beautiful if these areas were replanted with native trees and undergrowth.

[mnorell]

Wedelia trilobata (aka Sphagneticola trilobata) is an excellent groundcover for full sun as long as you can keep it in check. It's a Caribbean native and well adapted to Florida's climate, should be readily available, and roots readily and quickly from cuttings. Some consider it invasive...but as long as you have a contained area it shouldn't be a problem. It's pretty commonly used in Key West to good effect in parking strips, etc. If you use it you should make sure your yard-trimmings don't make it out into other areas where it can root and spread to become a nuisance to others.

[Tropicgardener]

Wedelia trilobata (known as Singapore Daisy here) is very much a weed in our wet tropical climate.........I have roughly an acre of it that I eventually will try to eradicate. Having said that it is a great ground cover and is easy to mow........much easier than the grass !!!

[dalmatiansoap]

limestone gravel

[Gtlevine]

I use Dymondia exclusevly and love it.

[_Keith]

Yes I want it to grow but not take over everything in the yard. From what I read it will grow up into and strangle trees. I was out in the yard watering yesterday and had to pull the chocking vine I have off my chamdoreas in the front yard since it had wrapped all the new leaves and they were unable to open. Tonight I noticed it attacking a bunch of stuff in pots in the back. I could probably kill it with some roundup but I have never sprayed any on my yard and would rather not start.

LOL, well I have to confess I have one ground cover like that. Thank God it is contained by concrete on all sides. If it ever got loose, help me because it would both be my lawn and into everything.

Pretty sure the one I am talking above about is Wedelia. In mild winter years it is totally out of control the next year. Even on a year like this, when every last bit of it froze to the ground, it is already back to 50% coverage and I'll be cursing it by August. I tried to kill it one year with a combo of 2,4-D and RoundUp. Again, killed to the ground only to come roaring back.

[JungleGina]

I use mimosa pudica as a street-side ground cover. It has pink puffy Horton Hears a Who flowers and does not try to take over the place, even without concrete barriers.

[Gonzer]

I use Dymondia exclusevly and love it.

Thank you Gary!

[PANGEA EXPRESS]

Aptenia cordifolia? lush low and easy

[DoomsDave]

Oh, and dichondra.

EEK, FOR THE LOVE OF [you know Who] DON'T.

That flea beetle is a [expletive].

[DoomsDave]

Wedelia trilobata (aka Sphagneticola trilobata) is an excellent groundcover for full sun as long as you can keep it in check. It's a Caribbean native and well adapted to Florida's climate, should be readily available, and roots readily and quickly from cuttings. Some consider it invasive...but as long as you have a contained area it shouldn't be a problem. It's pretty commonly used in Key West to good effect in parking strips, etc. If you use it you should make sure your yard-trimmings don't make it out into other areas where it can root and spread to become a nuisance to others.

The Ground Cover of Doom.