Ground cover plants are extremely beneficial in suppressing weed growth within the garden beds and amongst the ornamental plants. However, utility does not have to be the primary function, ground cover plants are aesthetically beneficial too, with many being highly decorative in their own right. A variety of colours and textures are to be found and once established most weed seedlings that attempt to grow will be successfully smothered by the ground cover canopy, depriving them of light and competing with them for water.

Ground cover plants also have great benefits with regards to the garden location and site topography.
Where steep slopes exist and are subject to erosion, plants with a low spreading habit and vigorous root growth will provide stability to the soil, particularly after heavy rainfalls. The following are recommended:

Juniperus squamata – Blue Carpet.

Cotoneaster dammeri – Bear Berry.

Hypericum calycinum – Rose of Sharon.

A wildlife garden can benefit too with the addition of ground cover to attract the bees and butterflies, such as:

Thymus praecox – creeping thyme.

Lotus corniculatus – bird’s foot trefoil.

In dry locations and to inhibit evaporation from soil and to eliminate the use of a top surface mulch, ground cover plants should not be underestimated. A dense planting of evergreens will assist in shading the soil, keeping it cool and natural leaf decomposition will act as the mulch.
The following plants are suggested: 

Rosmarinus – rosemary

Lavandula – lavender

Cistus skanbergii – dwarf pink rockrose.

Cistus Corbariensis – hybrid rockrose.

Ground cover plants can provide colour to areas of shade, the following are examples:

Bergenia – Ballawley, elephants ears.

Euonymus fortunei – spindle emerald/gold.

Symphytum x uplandicum ‘Variegatum’

When selecting ground cover plants it is best to choose the ones of vigorous growth and that will cover their allotted space in a short duration of time. It is important that they are perennial, either evergreen all year round or emerging rapidly in spring before the unwanted weeds have a chance to set seed.

Ground cover plants are not necessarily confined to low growing, but taller shrubs of medium height can also be used to
suppress weeds beneath their own canopy and below tree canopies too, such as:

Fatsia japonica - ‘Variegata’

Cotoneaster conspicuss – Tibetan.

Prunus lauroceraus - ‘OttoLuyken’
 
There are numerous ornamental ground cover plants available that can provide great colour and interest to the garden and when preparing to plant, ensure that the ground is weed free prior to planting and take heed of the recommended spacing, as this can vary from plant to plant.

This year and the years to follow, why not reduce the weeding time and bring additional benefits to the garden by incorporating a variety of ground cover plants.

A living wall is a vertically built structure intentionally covered with vegetation, it is also referred to as a green wall and for good reason. Not only does a vertical garden on an otherwise blank wall look extremely attractive, but there are huge environmental and sustainable advantages to be had too. With the addition of a green wall on a property, private or commercial, the heating and cooling bills can be reduced; it adds thermal benefits to a building, being the most natural form of cladding and aids in reducing urban temperature as well as pollution.

A green wall is an excellent noise insulator, reputedly to absorb over 40% more sound than a conventional building facade, ensuring a quieter environment at home or the office. A sense of well being is created, a positive effect on how the people feel, spirits are lifted, increased happiness and improved mental health, these are all benefits from vertical gardening.

There are living wall modular systems that are available in a kit form to suit the vertical space available and budget. A drip irrigation system should be installed that will be connected to the mains water supply. It is an excellent opportunity to enhance biodiversity by increasing more plant life into an area, other than at ground level only. The chosen plants can be ones that are attractive to bees and specific habitat boxes can be incorporated within the structure that will provide refuge for a number of species such as butterflies, ladybirds and lacewings. A vertical garden can bring nature to an urban environment and whilst doing so improving the health of the people.

With regards to plant selection, this depends on the aspect of the wall and the local climate unique to the area. There are, however, a huge variety of plants that can be used from annuals, perennials, succulents and even edibles.

Spring is a good time to plant as the young plants will establish and grow together and it is important to have a year round interest, thus, incorporate plants with shape, form and colour of foliage as well as flowers.

There are immense benefits to be had from a living wall, if space is limited at ground level, then why not consider growing vertically?

It will be greatly appreciated by the people that use the building, people that are passing by and the biodiversity it creates will be appreciated too by nature.

Plants which possess silver foliage can compliment a garden in many different ways, they provide a distinct contrast planted alongside green foliage and they can provide an all year round interest, brightening up an otherwise lacklustre area of the garden. But, it is not only a dull area that can benefit from the addition of a glaucous colour, a great attribute of silver/grey foliage is the ability to reflect sunlight and conserve water, this is enhanced by the hairy type foliage or a waxy texture of the leaves which many possess.

Many of theses plants are native to hot and dry areas and therefore drought tolerant, requiring low maintenance and will perform well in a full sun area of the garden with well drained soil.

Silver foliage adds elegance and a cool sophistication to the garden and can be found on large trees down to small ground cover shrubs and perennials. Eucalyptus, the snow gum tree, is one of the hardiest of Eucalyptus and the grey
tinged leaves on white twigs radiates an impression of silver, complimented by a grey /white smooth trunk.

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Silver Queen’ is a large shrub which can grow to a height of four metres. Its latin name denotes thin leaves, these having white markings on the edges, giving an affect of a silvery foliage. It is an ideal plant for coastal areas. Popular small to mid-sized shrubs are lavender and Helichrysum, both release pleasant aromas, the latter being more known as the Curry plant due to its distinct curry fragrance.

With regards to small shrubs and perennials, there are plenty available and more to choose from. Convolvulus cneorm is a small shrub native to the mediterranean and displays silk grey hairs on its evergreen foliage, hence it being more known as the Silver Bush.  Santolina or Cotton lavender is ideal for ground cover and filling in gaps within the borders, the yellow pompom flowers provide a nice contrast with the silver fragrant foliage.

Another popular ground cover is the perennial Lambs Ear or
​. It is also known as Silver Carpet and has oval, woolly silver leaves with fine hairs and is suitable for the front of borders, covering areas with its carpet, mat forming
characteristics. There are numerous other silver foliage plants, the following are popular;

- Senecio cineraria/Silver Dust
- Sea Holly/ Eryngiums.
- Cardoon/Cynara cardunculus
- Bluebeard/Caryopteris
- Honeywort/Cerinthe major
- Rose Campion/Lychnis coronaria
- Brunnera macrophylla/Jack Frost

If not already in possession of silver leaf plants, then why not incorporate some into the garden, either in shade or full sun areas and if every cloud has a silver lining, then surely every garden should have some silver foliage.