Best Ground Cover To Surround An Edged Cottage Garden Space

Question

I am starting a cottage garden bed about 20 feet by 12 feet. I have horrible, invasive, maddening established Bermuda grass and have been digging a new bed every year in hopes of one day getting rid of all the grass in my front yard. I have installed a 5″ rubber edging border, buried halfway to try to counter that evil spreading grass from below and above. I dug a pretty wide and deep trench when I was installing the border, and the extra space got me thinking: Would a groundcover like creeping thyme or creeping speedwell be something good to plant all around the outside of that edging to possibly slow the spread of the bermuda grass?? I read your blog on great groundcovers, but I’m still not sure. I need something relatively fast spreading but not something that will easily jump the edging to get into the bed itself. Thoughts??

Answer 1

A groundcover might slow down the Bermudagrass. It's worth a try. Something else you might consider is laying bricks side by side lengthwise all around the border, the same level as the grass, so you can run your mower over it if the Bermuda starts creeping up. Also, be sure the edging is 6 inches below the soil to stop the Bermuda.

Something like mondo grass would provide a thick border. A lot of groundcovers aren't thick enough to stop Bermuda. None of the ones listed in zone 8 evergreen groundcovers looked suitable. Creeping thyme may work. Here is more information:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/specific/bermuda-grass/managing-bermuda-grass.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/thyme/growing-creeping-thyme.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/mondo-grass/mondo-grass-care.htm