What to plant under roses?

This is a question to help my neighbour. She'd like to plant something underneath well-spaced roses that will be very fast growing and will cover the bare ground currently being used as a toilet by local cats. The garden is sunny, but my neighbour has little time or inclination for gardening, so whatever is planted should be able to tolerate neglect.

 

I will suggest geranium machroryzzum. But any ground cover NEEDS help in it's first couple of years if it is to keep on top of weeds and make enough growth to become independent. And no garden canbe left completely to itself, so your neighbour WILL have to do something now and then.

The garden must be well prepared and reasonably weed free prior to planting ground cover plants.

 

Hi Tracy welcome to the forum if it was me I would suggest a mixture of Ajugas I have a number of them throughout our gardens and although the flowers are not brilliant the leaf colours are amazing, it's a low plant and spreads with ease. Below is a link of the Burgundy Glow Ajuga to give you an idea on what colours you can expect from this brilliant little plant.Hel.xxx.

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/pe...juga-reptans-burgundy-glow/itemno.PL00000154/

 

I've only recently taken in an interest in my garden, so I'm no expert, but I once planted some Nasturtium straight into the ground. It ran riot, it was great. It looks quite nice but it stinks if you damage it (really pungent peppery smell). I found it self seeded profusely so I had it a couple of years in a row with zero maintenance effort other than the original planting.

When I got bored with it, I decided to use the patch it occupied as a herb patch. I just pulled out all the Nasturtium and put established herbs in the same ground. Seems OK so far.

 

I dont believe Roses should ever be under planted.
It distracts from their beauty and would rob them of valuable nutriants.IMHO.

 

many moons ago I planted Gypsofilia under my roses and because the plants are reasonably tall, almost as tall as the rose bushes, they really did look good.

***Init wanders off to see if she can get some Gypsofilia seeds to grow next year. White gypsofilia might look great with the yellow roses. ***

 

Just wondering out loud, but why do people always call GypsophILA, GypsophILIA? :(:D

 

Apologies if I spelt it wrong David. :(

 

David, I thought it was 'philia' too, smacked hand. Thats a interesting point about mixing it with the roses, has anyone done/seen that? Can they both be in the same pot?

I know woo will probably be crying, but we're only trying to boost our little plots mate.

Our Hedgehog rose has buds coming now, look like they will be a dark red. We only bought the plant this year as a little thing and it's growing wonderfully. Also, our little patio rose 'Danny Boy', is having it's best showing since we had it, probably about 4 years old.

let me know how you get on.

cheers

 

In my mind - I agree with Roders, underplanting just detracts from the roses and they are hungry feeders - just a mulch to set them off - but I am just too much of a plantaholic - so mine are underplanted with lavender and a few pinks.

 

I think Achimillis Molly would look good and doesn't need much care.
Apologies for spelling of plant!!

 

Lavender, Nasturtiums, and Chives are are all supposed to help with blackfly control, so would be helpful from that point of view.
I tend to agree with Roders but Gypsophila sounds very pretty, and Woos' picture looks great.