Groundcover for clay sloped ground

baggins11

Hi
I have a large sloped bank that is heavy clay that is becoming a bit of a problem area.  We usually strim rather than mow most of the garden as we are on uneven ground.

Unfortunately this bank is far too sloped so as a result hasn't been cut and the grass is looking very bare and moss and ivy/weeds are taking over.

I am looking for groundcover that would thrive in heavy clay and shade (on edge of a woodland). I want a cheap and low maintenance option as it is a large area and don't want it to cost too much. As a result I am not too fussy if floral or evergreen etc I just want it to look relatively tidy without too much care needed.

So what do you think will give me most bang for my buck under these circumstances and how intensively would I need to plant to get the required coverage after say a couple of years to establish?

Any ideas of suitable plants i could grow from seed would also be welcome!

Davesnave

Iberian comfrey (Symphytum ibericum) is your plant. It's not the larger comfrey people use to make free tomato fertiliser, but it will  do that too if you want. Comes in yellowish, pink and bluish named forms , plus a white if you can find it, and flowers in spring. Boring and evergreen the rest of the time. Very easy to propagate from bits pulled off and simply inserted in damp soil. Great plant, but you might need to go mail order to find it.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/75444/Symphytum-ibericum/Details

I find geranium phaeum can compete with the comfrey to add a bit more interest and I'd guess Geranium macrorrhizum would too. You could also try Ajuga 'Catlin's Giant.' All of these will grow away from rooted bits pulled away from the main plant.

I'm sure there are more plants, like tougher ferns, you could add to increase the diversity, but I can't ID mine which just grow naturally, and look...err...like ferns!

baggins11

That is fabulous thanks so much Dave. I do have loads of the larger comfrey in a different spot so I know how well it grows.

twopenny

I had a dwarf comfrey with white tinged lavender flowers. Under 1ft high and it grew in shade. Bees loved it. Used the leaves to make liquid feed mixed with nettles.

Bergenia is often see in sites like yours. It's had a bad press because it's so easy to grow. Flowers in winter or early spring and again later if deadheaded.

I've always liked Lungwort - I call it dollymixture because of the pretty variety of colours on the one plant. Had that growing in shady places https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/lungwort/growing-lungwort-flower.htm

Forget me nots will grow just about anywhere. I have some turned up in the shadiest part of my garden. Again, if dead headed they will flower twice.

Primroses, snowdrops grow in woodland shade

baggins11

Thanks twopenny I will look at those.  We do have some primrose, snowdrops and a few ferns as well as some not very attractive small bushes that I don't recognise.  One almost looks like asparagus when it is left to grow at the end of season but it isn't asparagus!

The primrose obviously like the location as they have outlived the declining grass.

twopenny

baggins11 said:

One almost looks like asparagus when it is left to grow at the end of season but it isn't asparagus!

Wild Fennel? It doesn't have the bulbus base but it's a tap root. Have you rubbed the leaves?

We have it growing on the coast, wild and free.

Which reminds me, Wild Garlic if you're not too fussy about the layout. There's two sorts. The strappy leaved one is pretty - as long as you never want to dig it out totally. Spreads quickly and you can use it in cooking, to de worm the dog so a useful all rounder ;-)

madjackslam

A few other recommendations, based on our embankment. Centranthus ruber (red valerian). I don't quite understand why, because it's not supposed to like clay soils. And vinca - not sure which, probably Vinca major, but it has arrived and thrived. I've tried Bergenia, but they don't do well for us. Euphorbia characias also seems to be self-seeding nicely. 

baggins11

Thanks for those extra ideas. I am writing all the suggestions down and will try a good selection. I think I will try growing what I can from seed initially as I have bought a few apple trees for a different area so I have even less budget than I thought I had!

Euphorbia does grow well here but we have lots growing in the bed across the track so I won't use that. 

I don't think my unidentified plant is wild fennel. It almost looks like samphire. I will have a proper look and see if it has an aroma when I go out later.

twopenny

Lots of things available in the supermarkets soon. £1 to £3. Don't use the Poundland ones or those in cardboard packets at £2 in many cheapie shops. They need coddling and won't make it in clay shade.

Dwarf or Prostrate Ceanothus will grow almost anywhere and has a nice leaf. Oh and the autumn Cyclamen too. Sometimes they flower in spring also.