Carpet Bugleweed Planting

Once established ajuga plants requires little care.

Carpet bugleweed planting.

This is a very popular ground cover. The plant also likes fairly moist soil but is remarkably adaptable and will even tolerate a little drought. A dense fast spreading purple groundcover spreading by runners bugleweed can be used as an informal shade groundcover in between larger perennials. Good drainage is essential lest carpet bugleweed fall victim to a disease called crown rot.

Depending on the type fertility and porosity of the soil you might need to amend the native soil. Department of agriculture zones 4 through 10a. How to grow bugleweed ajuga it is best to sow on the soil surface then cover ajuga seeds with a light dusting of soil on top. Plant bugleweed in an area where air circulation is good spacing the plants about 1 foot apart.

Mow or trim away old flower spikes. Unless it s really dry ajuga can usually sustain itself with normal rainfall and there s no need to fertilize this plant. Ajuga reptans commonly known as carpet bugleweed is a shade tolerant ground cover hardy to u s. Space new plants 6 inches apart in shade to part shade.

The soil should be dry and have a ph in the range of 5 5 to 7 1. Ajuga reptans also known as carpet bugle or bugleweed needs shade. Evergreen with spikes of blue flowers in summer. Caring for carpet bugle plants.

Ajuga reptans planting time. Carpet bugleweed ajuga reptans. Plant these perennials in spring or early fall 6 to 12 inches apart. Cut off the flower spikes in late summer after the flowers have faded.

When planting in dense clay or poor soil it is often beneficial to thoroughly mix in some good organic matter such as composted manure homemade compost sand and or a good planting mix at a 50 50 ratio with the clay soil. It spreads quickly by runners making a mat of dark green leaves that grow 2 to 3 inches wide in full sun and 3 to 4 inches wide in part shade. To keep the plant under control rigorously prune runners twice a year. Leaves may be green bronze dark purple or variegated green white and pink.

To shear back a large area of bugleweed use a lawnmower set to a high blade height. If your garden has a shady spot where other flowers won t grow fill it with ajuga a colorful and low maintenance ground cover. They stand on 6 inch spikes that rise above tufts of foliage about 3 4 inches tall. Fast growing ajuga reptans bronze beauty carpet bugle is a vigorous perennial prized for its rich blue flowers and contrasting bronze tinged leaves which quickly form a dense mat of attractive rosettes.

Evergreen in most regions it is perfect for planting between stepping stones or in wall crevices. How to grow bugleweed.