I have a confession to make . I ’ve been drag one’s feet on run on my very small front garden for the preceding three summer .
Here is what my shallow garden look like .
That ’s strange for me because , when it comes to horticulture , procrastination is not my default modality . Quite the opposite , in fact , as evidence bymy portfolio of garden projectson this website alone ( plus the many projection I do n’t papers as good ) .
A simple sidewalk garden that could do with a bit more life.
Yet I ’ve been arrange off adding more green to this patch because I have no approximation what plants will do well in a shallow garden . And unlike other gardening predicaments , when there ’s usually too much info to sieve through , this time I did n’t find enough information about plants with shallow roots .
Not too bad , right ? It is , really . What it looks like is quite deceptive .
When we first moved into this star sign , I had with child ambition of a beautiful pollinator garden in this patch . It look squeamish and sizeable and there was already a climbing hydrangea grow there , so the grease had to be good , right ?
A simple sidewalk garden that could do with a bit more life.
As it turn out , there is no soil there .
I remove some of the mulch only to find out that underneath it was more mulch , then a very thin layer of ground ( a couple of in at most ) , which I can only assume is just mulch that has decomposed over metre .
Digging a snatch deeper , I found a very fatheaded plastic weed - repress tarpaulin . I detest them with a heat , but at least this one seemed not to be falling apart for now .
Digging didn’t lead anywhere. There was no topsoil here, just mulch.
Ok , I can take that , I thought to myself . Let ’s see what ’s suppressing underneath . SAND ! Lots and peck of sand ! So the tarp seems to be accommodate the moxie together more than suppressing any Mary Jane . I honestly do n’t know how deep the sand goes , but after examine the depth with a bamboo cane , it seems that there ’s grit all the way down .
So why not dig it all out and make the garden deeper?
First , a bit of a back story .
During our first spring in this mansion , we built raised beds , sunk seam , container gardens and flower boxes in the backyard ; most of this backbreaking body of work take removing pavers , digging out sand , bag it and disposing of it at the local reclamation nerve centre at the landfill .
We then occupy up the beds with bags and bag of compost and surface soil because no bulk supplier would deliver to our zipcode . We ’ve now reached a point where we ’re take a leak most of our own compost , building up the land and improving it gradually in collaboration with wildlife .
There it is, the dreaded weed suppressant! Underneath it, there was sand all the way down.
The opinion of removing and cast out of even more George Sand sends chill up and down my spine . Not to mention my hubby ’s spur , since he ’s the one doing most of the sound lifting , quite literally .
So we ’ve decide to exercise with what ’s there . As a kind of compromise , we scraped back some of the mulch , add a bag of in effect garden grunge , then institute our shallow - rooted industrial plant and overlay everything with mulch again . We ’ve create a few aristocratic slopes just to promote good drain and a soft cascading outcome once the creeping plants set forth spring up .
Why would you plant a shallow garden?
My peculiar gardening frame-up is not the only scenario in which planting a shallow garden make common sense . A shallow garden might be your only choice if you ’re planting above a infected tank car or trying to cover up a septic drainage field .
Similarly , it ’s a good gardening approach if you want to plant something on top of pipeline ladder across your place . flora with a strong and recondite root organisation might cause problem to the integrity of your pipes over clock time .
In my research , I even get along across shallow gardens plant on piles of construction debris . The wastefulness was go forth on site and turned into a beautiful garden . In some case , that ’s a much good use of it than have it linger in a landfill forever .
Digging up all the sand underneath was not worth the effort.
The challenge of finding plants for shallow gardens.
The main challenge , for me , was finding what plants are truly suited for shallow gardens with poor soil . And I say this as someone who knows a thing or two about plants . Someone who read book and get courses and gardens and writes about plants . I had no estimation where to start and all the information I find out seemed unsatisfactory at best , if not downright wrong .
So you see , the procrastination I mentioned before was actually a period of vivid subject field observance . I confabulate botanical garden and took notes on what plants were growing in their tilt gardens . I paid attention to what plants I establish turn around the sidewalk tree diagram in my neighborhood . And I strolled around as many unresolved community garden as I could find ( it turn out that ’s a lot when you ’re locomote ) .
All in all , I did my preparation . About three summers ’ worth of prep before I bought any plant .
This is as much as we could fit. More info on the plants included in the list below.
Here are some tips for planting a shallow garden so that you do n’t have to procrastinate for eld , like I did .
6 Tips to Plant a Thriving Shallow Garden
Tip 1: Get familiar with different types of root structures.
Whether we bribe our plants online or from garden center , they always fall with a label that details the case of plant we ’re buying ( annual or perennial ) , their idealistic develop condition ( full Lord’s Day , part shade , etc . ) and their water requirements . In some cases , you might even get efflorescence or pruning info .
But one of my pet peeve is that data about what kind of root the plant has is completely lacking . I wo n’t get into point about all types of root structures for annual and perennial ornamentals . But when you ’re design a shallow garden , there ’s one to look for and another one to definitely invalidate .
attend for plants that have a shallow(often fibrous ) theme structure , such as thyme , sedums and most of the plants on the tilt that follows . This type of root stay put close to the aerofoil and ordinarily spreads horizontally .
You can grow shallow gardens on rocks or piles of debris.
Avoid plants that have a hydrant root system , such as eryngium , valerian and baptisia . This eccentric of root mature straight down into the flat coat and it has adapt to dish out two purposes : to anchor the industrial plant and to touch water system .
Tip 2: Some bulbs and tubers will work, but not all of them.
Ok , but how about other types of root systems , such as medulla oblongata and tubers ? This , of course , depends on how shallow a garden we ’re blab out about , the type of electric-light bulb , and the climate conditions you ’re gardening in .
You could get away with planting some small light bulb , such as Anemone quinquefolia , crocuses , mini irises ( Iris reticulata ) andspecies tulips(the small unity ) . However , larger bulbs such as most tulips and hyacinths need to be buried at about three times their width . This kind of profoundness is usually a luxury you do n’t have in a shallow garden .
Generally , if you could pop out and get this character of medulla oblongata in a shallow pan , such as you ’d customarily do with dwarf sword lily , it ’s in all probability safe to plant them in your shallow garden too . As long as you keep in mind that you should be able to bury the medulla deep enough to protect it from a thick freeze .
Campanula is a creeper that can grow well in shallow soil.
Tip 3: Look for the creepers.
There are some plant life that have a creeping growth substance abuse . That means they spread by sending lateral shoot that , in turn , send their own etymon into the earth in the new location . For some of them , such as creeping phlox and creeping Jenny , this growth pattern is revealed in their popular name . For others , such as savoury ( Satureja ) , it ’s a little turn less obvious . Generally ( but not always ) , these flora will have a shallow ascendent system of rules suitable for shallow garden .
An sum up advantage of using sneak plants is that you do n’t want too many of them to get started . Planting them a fair aloofness apart , then allowing them to spread horizontally along the surface of the soil , cause for an low-priced choice for filling up bigger garden . It might take a twelvemonth or two for these plants to replete up the gaps , but the saving are worth the wait .
Tip 4: Shallow doesn’t have to be short.
On the other script , not all shallow - root industrial plant are of the scant , creeping variety . Keep in mind that what ’s above soil level wo n’t of necessity mirror what ’s below it . So there are some mid - sized plants that can have shallow root , such as lavender and improbable sedum .
At the same time , the word “ shallow ” is not a world-wide yard measure . There are degree of superficiality , so what works for a seven - in deep garden ( 17 cm ) wo n’t process for a three - inch mysterious one ( 7.5 cm ) . experimentation with both tall and groundcover plants and see what work for your site .
Tip 5: Choose drought-tolerant plants.
Since there is n’t much soil , there wo n’t be much in place to keep on water . This could ferment into a major challenge for shallow gardens because if you draw a blank to water system during a dry flow , it might spell trouble . permit ’s just say there is n’t much squirm room for plant neglect in a shallow garden .
One solution to this conundrum is to choosedrought - tolerant plants . They still need unconstipated watering , but you wo n’t fall back them through periods of drouth .
There is a catch , however ! Some flora have adapted to dry out conditions by develop warm taproot scheme . Which brings us back to our former decimal point of quash plants with deep taproot .
Perennials such as moss phlox have a shallow root structure.
So the fact that a plant can handle drought is a necessary factor , but not a sufficient gene , to sprain it into the perfect shallow garden keystone .
Tip 6: Mulch, baby, mulch!
Whether you live on in an area prostrate to drouth or you do n’t , mulching a shallow garden just makes sense . Mulching will keep your soil cool and will lock the moisture in . It also adds special deepness when deepness is at a premium . And over time , as the mulch split up down , it will also improve the quality of poor soil .
Tree barque , Natalie Wood chips and pine needles are three good choice for mulching a shallow garden . If you ’re looking for a spare , DIY option , making your own leaf mold in the fall is just as effective .
And if you ’ve taken my advice and plant some creeper in your garden , even better . Over time , they ’ll develop as a living mulch ground cover .
Perennials such as sea holly (Eryngium) send tap roots, not at all suitable for a shallow garden.
10 Plants that will do well in a shallow garden
Now that we ’ve got some basic principles cover let ’s see some plants that are suitable for a shallow garden setup .
1. Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
There are two types of phlox commonly used in garden : garden phlox or improbable phlox ( Phlox paniculata ) and creeping phlox or moss phlox ( Phlox subulata ) . It ’s the latter that I recommend for a shallow garden . In fact , you ’ll often see it acquire in sway garden , on retaining rampart and as eating away restraint on gradient .
Moss phlox is a herbaceous perennial that will spread like a mat around two to three substructure wide around the root structure , but will stay around six inches grandiloquent . The leave of this speedily growing undercoat blanket are disconsolate fleeceable , petite and needle - similar , so not much to pen home about . It ’s the flower that make for a stunning display starting in mid - saltation and continuing until later summer ( look on the planting fix ) .
I ’m institute a cultivar called ‘ Candy chevron ’ – that ’s just what the midget tubular clusters of heyday wait like in full flush . you’re able to also find moss phlox that blooms in shade of crimson , pinkish , purple , emollient and white , all of which will create a beautiful carpet in shallow gardens .
Species tulips are the smallest ones, the closest relations to their wild counterparts.
2. Moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora)
The name of this one is rather confusing because it ’s neither moss nor a rose . You may be more familiar with its less showy full cousin , the common purslane with which it shares a crime syndicate ( Portulacea ) .
However , as the name suggests , grandiflora will have beautiful showy flower all through the summer . The lilliputian rose - like blooms come in different burnished color , such as yellow , orangish , pinkish and deep red .
But the garden centers that I usually buy from do n’t even bother with trade individual colors . I can only find out portulaca mixes , in which several plants of different colors are growing in the same passel . That works absolutely for me , since I do n’t have to cull dearie . And if you plan on begin it from semen , you ’ll find the source mixed the same way .
Savory (Satureja) will send new growth creeping along the soil and forming very shallow roots.
Since it ’s a succulent , Portulaca grandiflorawill mostly grow as an annual and buy the farm back once the frost hits . But I ’ve seen it reemerge from the ground in spring when the filth did n’t freeze out very cryptic . Just in case , I plan on taking cuttings in the fall and overwintering some moss uprise indoors . Even as an annual , it unfold quickly and send out rich blooms that draw pollinators .
3. Hardy ice plant (Delosperma)
When I said I got my divine guidance for a shallow garden just by walk in my neighborhood , this is what I mean . I ’ve been catch this audacious ice works pack on top of the protruding roots of a very large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree grow along the pavement . The roots were knobbly and sticking out quite a lot , so I ’m reasonably indisputable there was less than an inch of very inadequate grime for the chalk plant to anchor in .
The unfearing ice plant started blooming here and there in very early spring . By July , it was out of the question to see the foliage underneath the flowers . Did I mention that nobody but the rainfall was watering it ?
As luck would have it , I found some ice plants for sale at the monthly blossom market back in June . Unlike the Portulaca , the different colors were planted separately , so I had to choose . I went for thick orange because I thought it would ruffle nicely with the hopeful pinks and yellow of the moss rise next to it . But just like Portulaca , this succulent is fast - spreading and fairly resistant to both cold and drouth .
You can grow lavender in a shallow garden, as long as the soil drains very well.
It can handle low temperatures in the winter , but is n’t a big fan of too much wet . design to take cut to overwinter indoors , just in case .
4. Sea pinks (Armeria maritima)
How cute is this Armeria ? It move by so many names – sea shock , lady ’s pincushion , sea thrifts , pink thrifts . I got it from a little free plant program library in my neighborhood and stay fresh it growing in a batch on my terrace table . It was the first time I was grow it , so I demand to do a bit more inquiry before incorporating it into my shallow garden .
It turns out that I should n’t have worried about it because its instinctive habitat is coastal drop and crevices , turn in really shallow primer coat . Sea thrift is native to Northern Europe and the United Kingdom , but it ’s also native to California .
Unlike the other industrial plant on the list so far , Armeria stays succinct and evergreen ( even through harsher winter ) . But even though it ’s fairly hardy , too much moisture will kill it . It acquire slowly in a mound - like shape with earth - like flowers levitate above the foliage starting in mid - spring .
Shallow gardens often need extra watering, so choose drought-tolerant plants.
Since we have very loaded falls and winter around here , I ’ve taken the precaution of collecting the cum as a backup in casing the plant dies back due to too much moisture .
5. Coral bells (Heuchera)
So far , the plants I ’ve include on this listing have been of the showy flower , not so showy leave smorgasbord . But if it ’s stunning foliation you ’re after , you ’ll have to bring some coral bells into your shallow garden .
In spite of its exuberant waves of foliage , and tiny foamy flowers that grow way above leaf level , heuchera has unexpectedly shallow roots . In fact , most of the time you ’ll find that the antecedent orb has the tendency to project a spot above ground grade as the soil freeze in colder climate ( this is called puff ) . If you catch it early , you could mildly push it down into the solid ground with your foot . If you remark it afterwards , you might take to re - dig the hole and replant it .
Depending on what climate you ’re gardening in , coral bells will grow as an evergreen or a semi - evergreen .
We finished off by restoring the mulch on top of the plants. And now, we wait for everyone to start sprawling.
But can you still call it an evergreen if the leaves come in shades of purple , dark or flatware ? The darker leaves will tolerate sun better than the lighter or greener variety . The foliage can get scorched in extend Lord’s Day and heat , so giving it a couple of time of day of shadiness in the middle of the daytime will help this dead - live perennial last for up to five year in your shallow garden .
6. Creeping baby’s breath (Gypsophila repens)
When you hear “ baby ’s breathing place , ” you ’re plausibly thinking about the beautiful and very popular wedding bouquet filler . But the babe ’s breath used by florists ( Gypsophila paniculata ) is not what we ’re speak about here . The mouse variety ( Gypsophila repens ) work much better as a shallow garden plant than its much taller similitude . They do look very much alike : a people of aethereal wispy blooms in shade of lily-white , pinkish or purple .
This herbaceous perennial only grow about eight inch tall ( around 20 curium ) , but it makes up for it by quickly speaking into a mat about 20 inch ( 50 cm ) astray in diameter , all covered in a swarm of star - shaped flowers . you may start with one individual glob which you may divide and replant in spring or late fall . Once you get it established , creeping infant ’s breath will handle drought and heat very well .
7. Thyme (Thymus)
It was only a matter of sentence before I propose a plant that did double duty . But if you’re able to admit a perennial that bridge the crack between your shallow garden and a kitchen garden , then thyme would have to be it . And if you count the fact that it will wreak a bevy of bees to the garden , that ’s triple obligation .
There are a lot of varieties of thyme to select from . For a shallow garden , I would urge a creeping miscellany that forms a thicker lusterlessness and journey faster than its taller cousins . ( You ’re beginning to see a creeping idea here , proper ? )
Creeping thyme will do really well in full Sunday , but it will also endure part shade , as well as drought conditions . bet on your clime , it may deport as an evergreen plant . In my temperate mood , it does lose its leave of absence when it sustain cold and dark in the winter . I just trim it a bit to keep it tidy and it get greening up again in leaping .
I’m very excited for the candy-striped flowers to start blooming.
8. Saxifrage (Saxifraga)
I admit it ’s a bit of a cop - out to call this just saxifraga . This covers the wholeSaxifragagenus which moderate over four hundred species . But the honest news program is that most of the one you ’ll discover in garden centers will be perfect plant for shallow gardens . And the even better news is that there are high luck of incur one that ’s native to your area .
Saxifraga are a very democratic choice for rock music gardens ( another root ) and their name translates from Latin as “ Harlan Stone surf . ” In English , you may also find it as saxifrage or breakstone . The saxifraga you ’ll receive for sale normally is part of theArendsii hybridseries , with evergreen leafage year around .
breakstone care to grow in part - shade in well drained soil and , just like Armeria , does not tolerate periods of keep up moisture . The mat – covered in white , red or pinkish flower from late April until former June – will often spread to twelve inch encompassing ( 30 curium ) .
Garden centers will often sell mixed-color moss rose.
9. Rhizomatous geraniums (Geraniummacrorrhizum)
Ah , geranium ! in conclusion a plant that even the most novice of gardeners has heard of . There are 100 of type of geraniums usable for finish , all with different ontogeny pattern . But the only ones desirable for a shallow garden will be the ones that grow from rootstock . You would n’t think that if you had a quick look at the duncical , sturdy rhizomes . However , once you observe how the rhizomes fan out , it make sense . Rather than going deep underground , they kind of hover midway above ground level hold the root good .
Rhizomatous geranium , sometimes holler rock music crane’s - bill or bigroots , take shape a ground cover that naturalizes speedily without becoming invasive .
The leave will release a pleasant olfactory property when you sweep past them . The flowers , usually pinkish , fuchsia , white-hot or peach emollient , grow more extravagantly when the plant is placed in full sun . you could propagate this kind of geranium by dividing the rhizomes where they naturally constitute an angle .
The hardy ice plant comes in all sorts of neon colors.
10. Upright stonecrop (Sedum)
at long last , I desire to get back to the point that planting a shallow garden does n’t needs have in mind plant a low garden that ’s only populated by groundcovers . you could impart some elevation to your shallow garden by choosing taller varieties of plant life that have a shallow antecedent body structure .
Of course , this will depend on how shallow your shallow garden is . Are we speak two inches or six column inch ? There ’s a difference . And while I would n’t add too much summit in my very windy climate , I would n’t shy aside from it in a calmer scenario . establish a magniloquent stonecrop , such as Sedum ‘ Autumn Joy ’ is a good via media . It still has the shallower root of a succulent , but it adds a sculpturesque superlative to the garden .
This reliable perennial forms rich clump of flowers on top of juicy , succulent foliage . As the name suggest , it open up up in full in the fall . My one small-arm of advice for this low - maintenance perennial is to engraft it in a spot that get as much sun as possible ( rather around six hours at the summit of summertime ) . If it does n’t get sun , it will stretch and farm skinny and etiolated .
The sea pinks that ended up in my shallow garden spent the better part of the summer as a potted plant.
As with most horticulture projects , creating the arrant shallow garden take time . And I do n’t mean time to plant it . I ’m referring to the time it needs to start spring up and follow into its own . But once it assume embodiment , it will look just as beautiful and satisfying as any flower garden could .
If you want show-stopping foliage, always go for coral bells.
Creeping baby’s breath is the mat-forming version of the popular wedding bouquet filler.
Creeping thyme will bloom in a carpet of flowers, much beloved by pollinators.
See if you can find a saxifrage native to your region.
No garden is complete without geraniums.
If you plant tall stonecrops, you won’t need to sacrifice height in a shallow garden.
