LANDSCAPING MATS CAN COVER AND BEAUTIFY BARE GARDEN PATCHES
We all have those difficult spots in our gardens where it’s tough to get anything to grow. If those spots happen to be in a hot, sunny, very dry location, help is on the way.
Walter Pinder, of NATS Nursery in Langley, is in charge of sales for LiveRoof, a modular green roof system. Living roofs have very much been part of the European building culture for many years. Over the last 15 or so years in North America, interest in living roofs has been making great headway.
Pinder came to see me last fall to explain an exciting new concept that is similar to living roofs but designed more for today’s smaller spaces as a ground cover — one ideally suited for areas where it’s hot and dry. With our trend of ever-increasing drier summer weather, this could be a real asset for dealing with some challenging areas of our gardens.
The idea is to take this growing concept one step further by planting sedum landscaping mats in those trouble spots. Pinder said that eight to 12 specially selected evergreen sedum varieties, produced from cuttings, are planted in various sizes of coco fibre mats and grown on until they become thick, full and attractive. Chosen for their growing habit, foliage colour, and flowers, the sedums are blended together to create a beautiful textured look. These very hardy sedums should grow year-round anywhere from the Yukon to the Gulf Islands, but it is essential that the soil drains well, and the area is not waterlogged during the wet fall and winter seasons.
Because the coco fibre mats come with the plants already rooted, they are easy to grow, however, proper soil preparation is important. Once you loosen up or rototill the existing soil, work in a well-draining, quality blended soil mix to help the roots catch hold quickly. Once laid out, give the mats a thorough, deep watering which will also help the roots penetrate the soil and anchor the mat.
Similar to living roofs, these landscaping mats need to be situated in low traffic areas where walking is minimal. If used on a pathway, set out some stepping stones, or better yet, uniquely shaped pieces of flagstone or slate for a more artistic touch.
The sedums will grow between two to eight inches (5-20 cm) tall and are very low maintenance. The only pruning needed is a quick cut back when the flowers are finished in order to keep a tidy appearance.
Pinder said there have been few problems with diseases or insects. On the contrary, these sedum mats create a bio-diversified habitat and make great homes for bees and pollinators. Their flowers provide both nectar and pollen.
Weed seeds will find their way into these mats via the wind and birds, but just a little hand-weeding will quickly remove these intruders.
To keep these sedum mats at their prime with healthy growth and good colour, an annual application of slow-release 14-14-14 fertilizer will feed them continually for four to five months.
Watering, even during summer, is not really an issue. Once the roots get into the soil, the sedums are quite self sufficient. Only during a long period of drought and if you see some wilting, a good drink might be required.
Pinder said these locally-produced mats will be available for the first time this spring in late March or early April, so, check with your neighbourhood garden store.
“Color Splash” is the most popular mix. The mats will come in three different sizes: 10-inch squares; 10 inches by 20 inches; and 1 foot by 2 feet. They will be priced around $25 per square foot. I can foresee many useful applications for this innovative product, from using it on hard-to-mow banks and for replacing turf to simply beautifying a barren area with live plants and creating new plant habitats.
This new concept sounds like a good solution for many landscape challenges. It is environmentally friendly, relatively low maintenance and well suited to today’s busy lifestyles. How great is that?
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