[Phillips87]

We have a project we are getting ready to start for a retirement home in our area. We are removing all of the current shrubs, plants, flowers etc and starting all over. The problem with the old design is that it pretty much hides the sign for the retirement (assisted living) home. They want something attractive but they want something that does not grow up and cover up the sign which is about 4 ft tall maybe 5 ft at the most.
My husband has thinks blue rug juniper would be a good choice and I think we should add pansy's around the perimeter and maybe down the middle of the circle the sign sits in for some color.
I personally hate juniper but it is the only ground cover that we could think of that stays looking the same in the summer and winter. We are in NW Arkansas so it does get cold here and also gets very hot.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for a more attractive ground cover that is a low to the ground cover and stays looking good over the winter?

[trees]

Here's my best solution for a low maintenance ground cover (and it does need to be low maintenance -- chances are it won't get a lot of love). Plant 'Big Blue' Liriope 8" on center. Add 1 Stella d'Oro daylily for every 6 sq. ft. (or so) and underplant the whole mass with daffodils. This gives you a great evergreen carpet with blooms appearing at different times of the year. The daylily and daffodil foliage is very similar to the Liriope and will blend in well with the mass. This will really dress up an (admittedly) overused plant -- Liriope -- and give it true year-round appeal.

In our heat, the junipers will struggle over time, get riddled with spider mites and get the inevitable brownout in spots.

Others to consider include 'Harbour Dwarf' Nandina or even dwarf yaupon holly.

Just suggestions...

[Phillips87]

Hmmm I hadn't thought of the liriope at all........I was mostly just thinking of something that would hug the ground more that's where the juniper came in (YUCK!!). I just don't like the whole juniper idea at all.........I will run this by my husband and see what he thinks. Thanks so much for your ideas!

[marvingarden]

I have been faced with a very similar situation, in my design i am putting in ivy groundcover and mugo pines, which will get big (in about 20 years),But i think the 'pumilo' stays small, anyway it can be kept in check with mininmal pruning. Another option I thought of was spreading yew. I know what you mean about the juniper, they can be so pedestrian, but in the right situation it is the right plant. I think if you have 4-5' to play with there are other options available than the rug. JM

[Phillips87]

What about ajuga as a ground cover ? How do you guys think that would would work? There are already so few choices out there right now.........there are already pulling everything except the Mums and Pansy's

[GLAN]

Trees

That is an awesome idea with the Liriope, D'oro's and Daffodils.

I am gonna have to remember that for a future project.