How to Plant Perennials in With Pachysandra

Hosta withstands being interplanted with an aggressive groundcover like pachysandra.

Ground cover such as pachysandra serves to bridge a space between specimen trees or shrubs, to grow where grass will not, to deter weeds and to hold an embankment. The most commonly used pachysandra, "Pachysandra terminalis" cv. Green Carpet is among the most uniform of all ground covers, filling in at an even height of 6 to 12 inches. One way to enliven this bank of green is to inter-plant it with shade-loving perennials that tolerate the thick root system of the pachysandra.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp spade
• Hosta
• Ferns
• Bleeding heart

Instructions

1. Choose sturdy perennials like hosta, ostrich or cinnamon fern, or bleeding heart to compete with the thirsty and aggressive roots of the pachysandra. Select taller, upright hosta to contrast with the lower-growing pachysandra. Choose plants that prefer shade or part shade, since pachysandra does best in those light conditions.

2. Dig out sections of pachysandra, using a sharp spade, that are roughly twice the diameter of the root system of the plant you intend to grow with the ground cover. Remove all the pachysandra roots that are within this area, as many of these can develop into new plants if left behind.

3. Dig and prepare the hole as you would when planting a perennial in a traditional border. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole, but make the hole no deeper than the depth of the root ball of the plant.

4. Plant the perennial in the center of the hole and fill in around the root ball, lightly firming the soil as you go. Water well until the plant is established. Provide regular moisture throughout the growing season, because the pachysandra and neighboring trees and shrubs will claim the lion's share of any rain that falls.

5. Check the perennials several times throughout the growing season, and in subsequent years, to ensure that the pachysandra is not overrunning them. Using care, cut some of the ground cover away from the outer growth of the perennials, especially if you have interplanted perennials that lack the vigor of hostas, ferns and bleeding heart.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the U.S. native, "Pachysandra procumbens," rather than the Asian Green Carpet cultivar if you prefer a less-aggressive form of pachysandra.

References

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Pachysandra
• Google Books: Timber Press Pocket Guide to Ground Covers -- Pachysandra
• Google Books: Gardening with Perennials Month by Month