Lawn are an anachronism in our increasingly hot and thirsty country; they are -labor-Intensive , money guzzling, unproductive ‘patches’ of ground which could be put to better use , be it for edible or purely aesthetic purposes. Few people appreciate the visual beauty of a vegetable garden, but the idea of ripping out grass and replacing it with a gorgeous carpet of foliage and flowers may grab their attention, all the while saving huge volume of precious water.
‘Carpet Planting’ is a wonderful way to create a living work of art that-depending on the plants chosen – can be permanent or which can change according to the season. It is, however, imperative that climatically suitable plants, which thrive in local soil conditions are chosen.
If you are opting to plant permanent ‘carpet’,which once designed and laid out, requires the bare minimum of attention-except for sporadic weeding and an occasional dribble of water-then the following , low growing , spreading species are ideal : acaena microphylla, jovibarba hitra, sedum lydium, sedum obtusatum, sedum tectorum, sedum spathulifolium and a wide range of sempervivums.
All of these are succulents with fleshy leaves; their leaf colours vary greatly and include blue, green, pink,purple, red, silver and yellow; many of them have showy, seasonal flowers.
If you prefer a carpet that changes with the season, then you are in for quite a bit of work, growing and purchasing seasonal , low-low – growing plants with which to create whatever design you fancy. These seasonal species need regular watering but are nowhere near as thirsty as lawn; choosing bee and butterfly attractant flowers adds a beautiful touch of nature to what is then an ever – changing picture. To achieve this, try delosperma, gazania, lobelia, mesembryanthemums, verbena and violas.
By B.Khan