Silver carpet thrives in poor, rocky soil, drought and salt spray. Best in full sun in well-drained soils. This plant has deep, succulent roots and is drought tolerant. However, it grows faster with irrigation. During the first few years, water regularly to encourage a strong, full growth. Once established, it will need water during severe drought.
How do you propagate silver carpet?
After the growing season, offsets and new growth are used to propagate silver carpet. If you want to, the plant will propagate by seeds. Before the last frost passes before spring, start the seeds indoors. Let them germinate at a warm temperature before planting them outdoors in mid to late spring.
How often should I water silver carpet?
This drought-tolerant ground cover thrives in rocky soil, poor soil and survives drought, but it can't tolerate wet roots. During the first few years, water silver carpet weekly, allowing the soil to dry out in between to encourage strong, full growth, recommends UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County.
Can you grow Dymondia from seed?
Growing Dymondia Lawns Dymondia performs best in sandy, well-drained soil, and is easy to establish by planting flats, which are divided into small pieces and planted about 12 inches (31 cm.) apart. However, you can also plant seeds, or you can plant divisions from existing plants.
Is silver carpet invasive?
Is Dymondia Invasive? Some people may wonder, “Is dymondia invasive?” No, it is not. Dymondia silver carpet is a charming, well-behaved groundcover with attractive silver foliage, happy yellow flowers, and a weed-suppressing growth habit. Have fun growing this little gem in your garden!
How do you take care of a silver carpet?
Silver carpet thrives in poor, rocky soil, drought and salt spray. Best in full sun in well-drained soils. This plant has deep, succulent roots and is drought tolerant. However, it grows faster with irrigation.
Does silver carpet attract bees?
Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' is particularly attractive to the solitary wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) that uses the fine hairs from the foliage to use as nesting material.
How long does it take for Dymondia to spread?
When first planted, dymondia will need generous watering, thick mulch and regular weeding for about six months, or until it spreads to cover open spaces. Dymondia is wonderful, but a few other lawn alternatives are worth consideration.
Why is my Dymondia turning white?
Too much water and it's dead, too. It has a helpful habit of rolling the edges of its leaves inward when it gets thirsty, so if you see it looking very white (the undersides of the foliage is white) then you know it's in serious need of water.
Is silver carpet safe for dogs?
Silver carpet (dymondia margaretae) If planted in an area where the dog runs, expect it to look patchy, but it will do its best to survive. It is best to use this option in smaller areas, such as between stepping stones, for the most satisfactory result.
Is silver carpet poisonous?
Is Stachys 'Silver Carpet' poisonous? Stachys 'Silver Carpet' has no toxic effects reported.
How do you maintain Dymondia?
Dymondia Care During the first six months after planting, dymondia needs regular care during the growing season until it is well established. Generous watering, mulching, and weeding are all important. It spreads by rhizomes and will eventually fill in bare spots with its dense mat but it is a slow grower.
How do I grow Irish moss on my lawn?
Irish moss prefers full sun to partial shade. In areas where heat gets high, partial shade or shade in the afternoon is a must. Grow Irish moss in an area that gets at least 6 hours of partial shade, and no more than 1 hour of scorching sunlight per day. Ideal Irish moss growing zones include 4 through 8.
Should I fertilize Dymondia?
Fertilizer. Fertilize dymondia once a year at the beginning of the growing season with a slow-release complete fertilizer.
Why does Dymondia turn white?
Too much water and it's dead, too. It has a helpful habit of rolling the edges of its leaves inward when it gets thirsty, so if you see it looking very white (the undersides of the foliage is white) then you know it's in serious need of water.
How do you keep weeds out of Dymondia?
To use an herbicide without killing the dymondia, get a bunch of big paper cups paper bags, or whatever is the right size for shields. Put the cups over the dymondia, spray the weeds, and an hour or so later, remove the cups. Save them for the next time.
Can Dymondia grow in shade?
Dymondia comes from the Western Cape of South Africa, where the climate is similar to our own. It is drought-tolerant. It thrives in full sun and can tolerate partial shade inland. Bees tend to ignore it until the silvery foliage erupts with dainty, daisy-like flowers in summer.
Where did the carpet forming plant originate?
These carpet forming plants are very drought tolerant once established and make a great plant to grow in sandy areas. It is originally native to South Africa.
What is the best way to use a garden?
Best Garden Use: Where there is foot traffic. Patchy Ground covering (especially popular with people with dogs as it has a strong will to survive). Between paving stones, rock garden, wall. Drape over a container, planter.
What is the best plant to plant between paving slabs?
The Dymondia margaretae plant makes a great plant for using between paving slabs. It is very tough and has the nickname 'living cement'. These carpet forming plants are very drought tolerant once established and make a great plant to grow in sandy areas. It is originally native to South Africa. Its deep roots make it ideal for growing in areas ...
How tall does a silver carpet grow?
This hardy little plant tolerates foot traffic, making it a great choice for filling in around pavers in a garden walkway or replacing the lawn. Grows only 1-3 in. tall (2-7 cm) and spreads 16-20 in. (40-50 cm). Silver carpet thrives in poor, rocky soil, drought and salt spray. Best in full sun in well-drained soils.
Where is the silver carpet native to?
Silver Carpet. Native to the coastal plains of South Africa, Dymondia margaretae (Silver Carpet) is a slowly spreading evergreen perennial forming a dense silvery-green mat over time and choking out virtually all weeds.
Does silver carpet grow in salt spray?
Silver carpet thrives in poor, rocky soil, drought and salt spray. Best in full sun in well-drained soils. This plant has deep, succulent roots and is drought tolerant. However, it grows faster with irrigation. During the first few years, water regularly to encourage a strong, full growth.
How to grow Stachys byzantina silver carpet?
Grow Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ in moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Once established it’s reasonably drought-tolerant, so will be happy in a dry, sunny site, or gravel garden. To propagate, divide plants as soon as growth starts in spring.
Is silver carpet evergreen?
Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ has oval, woolly, grey leaves, but differs from other stachys types in that it rarely flowers. It’s evergreen, which makes it an extremely useful front-of-border, mat-forming plant for year-round interest.
Growing Snow in Summer Plants
Growing snow in summer plants ( Cerastium tomentosum) is relatively easy. Snow in summer likes full sun but will also thrive in partial sun in warm climates.
Care of Snow in Summer Ground Cover
Snow in summer ground cover is very easy to maintain but will spread rapidly and may become invasive, even earning the nickname mouse-ear chickweed. The plant spreads quickly by reseeding and sending out runners. However, a 5 inch (13 cm.) deep edge will usually keep this plant in its borders.
How tall does silver carpet grow?
Silver Carpet will grow to be only 3 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 14 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This plant does best in full sun to partial shade.
Is silver carpet good for landscape?
It has no significant negative characteristics. Silver Carpet is recommended for the following landscape applications: Mass Planting.
Is silver carpet a perennial?
Silver Carpet is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect. This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning.
Dichondra Care
Dichondra is quite easy to maintain as long as its environmental needs are met. Sharp soil drainage and lots of sunlight are key for healthy growth, along with watering to prevent the soil from drying out.
Dichondra Varieties
There are several species and varieties of dichondra that are found around the world, including:
Propagating Dichondra
The vigorous creeping habit of dichondra makes it a snap to propagate. Simply dig out some stem pieces with the roots attached, and replant them in moistened potting soil. Keep the soil moist (but not soggy) until the plant begins to show new growth. Then, you can transplant it wherever you wish.
Potting and Repotting Dichondra
Dichondra is an attractive addition to any container garden. In a mixed container, plant the dichondra at the container's edge, where it will take up little soil space as it spills over the rim. When choosing a container, make sure it has excellent drainage. Dichondra plants don't have a deep root system, so your container can be fairly shallow.
How to Grow Dichondra From Seed
Plant dichondra seeds when the daytime temperatures are in the 70s and nighttime temperatures don’t drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. To grow dichondra from seed, first prepare your planting site or container by making sure the soil is loose and free of weeds.
