Vines
Ground covers such as flowering vines spread quickly and cover everything, making them attractive in yards and gardens. They have lush foliage and colorful flowers, contributing to the relaxed atmosphere of an outdoor sitting area. They will also remain verdant for many years, providing beauty with very little maintenance. Ground Covers can be selected to go with the surrounding shrubs and flowers to all form a pleasing, harmonious whole. The garden can be a riot of color-coordinated blossoms when everything is blooming.
Flowering vines are generally not picky about their environment. They can thrive in a wide range of light levels, allowing them to cover all areas, sunny or shaded. An example is vinca minor, a lovely little plant that spreads even in densely shaded garden spots.
Vinca Minor is a vine with thick, heavily veined leaves and delicate flowers ranging from white to vivid purple. It thrives in most conditions so that it will grow almost anywhere. Undesirable weeds are covered and shaded out, leaving a cover of vinca that is all the same height and color.
If any weeds make it through the vinca covering, yard owners need not worry about using standard weed killers since vinca has a waxy coating on its leaves, making it impervious to most herbicides. That is good for gardeners who like these flowering vines since one can freely spray for the weeds without hurting the vinca.
English Ivy
Another plant that is a blessing for the landscaper and homeowner is English ivy. It’s just as easy to grow and lush as vinca but has more climbing ability. While vinca sticks close to the ground, English ivy climbs up and over walls, rocks, and other features. It does this by extending roots in grasping pads capable of holding almost any material.
Because of its ability to cover even horizontal surfaces, this ivy has been used as a ground cover on ugly, churned soil at construction sites and other disturbed areas. Its dense, dark leaves will obscure anything under them and eliminate unsightly weeds.
An attractive quality of this ivy is that its flowers are appetizing to various insects such as butterflies and other nectar-eaters, while its berries draw many types of birds. These plants are a constant source of nature-watching pleasure during spring and summer. Bird watchers, butterfly fans, and beekeepers love them.
