Evaluation of Plantable Containers for Groundcover Plant Production and Their Establishment in a Landscape

The demand for groundcover plants for landscape use is increasing. Plantable containers are becoming available in sizes appropriate for groundcover plants. Landscapers are seeking ways to decrease the time required to prepare and plant groundcover beds. Studies were conducted in 2011 and 2012 to evaluate plantable containers for a variety of groundcover plants. The study has shown that ‘Bronze Beauty’ ajuga ( Ajuga reptans ), ‘Herman’s Pride’ lamiastrum ( Lamiastrum galeobdolon ), ‘Beacon Silver’ lamium ( Lamium maculatum ), ‘Immergrunchen sedum ( Sedum hybridum ), ‘Red Carpet Stonecrop’ sedum ( Sedum spurium ), and ‘Vera Jameson’ sedum ( Sedum telephium ) were grown to a marketable size from 1.5-inch plugs in 8 weeks in Lexington, KY, when transplanted in May through August. ‘Big Blue’ liriope ( Liriope muscari ) from bare root bibs required 12 weeks. Plant growth in a 90-mm paper container and 80-mm bioplastic container was similar to that of plants grown in standard 3-inch rigid plastic containers and required 20% less time to transplant into the landscape and grew rapidly after transplanting in the field. Peat containers in this production system yielded smaller plants and slower ground coverage after transplanting in the field than plants grown in the other containers.