June 17, 1998

Probably the first plant that comes to mind when considering groundcovers is creeping phlox. It is usually found in the groundcover section of a nursery and is often in full bloom when gardeners are thinking about planting groundcovers. There are other plants-Ajuga, Sedums, Thymes, and Vinca-that do a better job of covering the ground, but most are very short and never very showy, even at the peak of bloom.

In my back yard I have two problem slopes that were difficult to mow and in full sun. There is no shade from dawn to dusk and the soil in these slopes is not the best. It has the tan color of clay and loses moisture quickly to summer heat. I tried sowing grass seed but the environment and my lack of attention guaranteed poor results.

Several years ago, at the same time I was fretting about these slopes, my wife, Donna, was dividing some daylilies (Hemerocallis) and black-eyed susans (Rudbeckia). She was wondering what to do with all the divisions and I needed something for these slopes. Fortunately it was one of those days when we were talking to each other and the rest is history.

Ordinarily we would work up the soil, add a good dose of compost, mix well, and plant the groundcovers. In this case, we did not want to till the soil and have it wash away in the next rain. So we used an herbicide to kill the existing grass and weeds. We planted the daylilies on one slope and the rudbeckias on the other.

The results were very rewarding. By the end of the next year, the rudbeckia had pretty much covered the slope and the daylilies were not far behind. Now the slopes are stable because both plant varieties are strong rooters capable of holding the ground in place. Maintenance amounts to just a little time each year in the spring and again in late fall.

Now when it comes to daylilies, there are only about a zillion kinds to choose from. Ask every daylily fanatic to list the top ten favorites and no list will be the same. A good daylily should bloom for a long time and be a vigorous grower. Most importantly, the foliage should stay green and attractive throughout the season.

We used a daylily called Hemerocallis 'Mary Todd' to tie down our slope. A large plant with lots of big bright yellow flowers, it's a strong grower that multiplies quickly, crowding out all those weeds you see in the chemical commercials.

Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro' is a another example of a good performing daylily. It blooms for many weeks and holds good foliage all season long. I am not very fond of the color, which is a strong golden yellow, but the plant is a reliable performer and smaller than 'Mary Todd'. The leaves are finer and narrower, too.

We planted Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' on the opposite slope and the results were even better than we expected. I was surprised at how quickly the plants filled in the area. We set the plants about 18 inches apart and they spread to cover the slope by the following summer. The plants get 20 to 24 inches tall and have large, deep golden yellow daisy-like flowers with dark brown centers. Black-eyed-susan is one of my favorite flowers so when this slope is in full bloom in late summer, I'm a happy gardener.

With a little patience, a homeowner with a large area to fill could easily propagate these two perennials to cover the job in fairly short order. A difficult slope in shade or early morning sun could be planted with one of the fast multiplying hostas. Using plants like these can change a problem area into an attractive addition to the landscape.