How to Grow and Care for a Creeping Speedwell
If you’re looking for a particular type of flower that you can plant to add some color to your landscape without growing so tall that it starts to look unkempt, you might want to consider Creeping Speedwell. There are a couple of different varieties of this plant that you can choose, depending on the colors that you want displayed in your own landscaping. Once you learn how to plant and care for it, it becomes something that can make your overall landscaping much less of a hassle. The key is to learn how to plant it properly and then care for it properly so that you’re not constantly fighting an endless battle to keep it alive.
Why Creeping Speedwell Is So Popular
There are a number of different reasons this is particular plant is so popular, not the least of which involves the fact that it can be used to cover a relatively large amount of your landscaping without growing so out of control that you end up having to cut it back. The truth of the matter is that it only grows a couple of inches off the ground and while it’s capable of covering a significant amount of area with relatively few seeds or smaller plants, it doesn’t tend to get so out of control that you end up wishing that you had never planted it in the first place. As a matter of fact, it provides a great backdrop for much of your other landscaping and in some cases, it’s used front-and-center while taller, more dominant plants are used in the background. As previously mentioned, it comes in a few different varieties so you can plant these different types of Creeping Speedwell depending on the color combination that you want to use in your own landscaping designs. The dominant color involves blue flowers that have green foliage and bloom from March or April all the way up until July. If you’re looking for something a little bit more unique, you can choose a version that incorporates a lighter, more vibrant shade of green for the pedals themselves, separate from the green color of the foliage.
Which Version?
Some people choose to go with a hybrid version that marries these two versions, the green and the blue, together. The end result is a combination of the two, often with a blue color that is far more vibrant than it would be otherwise. In fact, some people say that it looks almost like a neon blue when the light hits it just right. Another reason why this particular selection is so popular is because it provides something of a colored carpet that can be used for your landscaping needs. That’s a great option if you’re looking to add a significant amount of color or coverage to certain flower beds or areas where you’re displaying other plants. Since this particular plant can often be planted alongside a wide variety of other items, there usually isn’t any conflict of interest in that particular area, either. For all of these reasons, this is a good choice for different landscaping needs. It’s worth noting that the plant can grow relatively easily in warm climates and even in some hotter southern areas of the United States, provided that you give it at least a little bit of shade so it has a fighting chance against the heat.
Planting Creeping Speedwell
In order to successfully plant Creeping Speedwell, you’ll need to choose a location that has at least a little bit of shade. The amount of shade you want to choose is entirely dependent on the climate in your area. For example, you can plant this particular choice in sunny locations if the temperature doesn’t tend to get extremely high in those areas. On the other hand, it’s best to incorporate more shade if you live in an area where the temperature ranges anywhere from 85 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit on a regular basis. Remember, these plants bloom all the way through July so you need to choose an area where they’re capable of tolerating the amount of heat and sunlight that is commonplace during that time of year. In addition, they tend to do very well in fertile soil that has been properly turned and fertilized. You only need to plant the seeds a few inches down and they work very well for dense coverage, so you don’t have to worry about spacing seeds several feet apart in this particular case. As far as watering needs are concerned, it’s important to allow the soil to thoroughly dry in between waterings. If you keep the soil wet all the time, they won’t grow as well because they don’t handle that much water as well as some other plants.
Caring for Your Creeping Speedwell
Of course, it’s imperative that you care for your plants properly. Fortunately, these are relatively hardy plants that can take more than their fair share of abuse without looking ragged in the process. That being said, it is still important that you do your best to care for them properly. The plants are perennial and they tend to grow in fairly dense coverage areas. There are a couple of things that you should be aware of here. One advantage to using Creeping Speedwell is that they are resistant to a lot of wildlife, including rabbits and deer. That being said, a lot of people tend to use them as cover around walkways or even in between paving stones. This looks great, but if you live in an area where fleas and ticks are a potential concern, it’s important to remember that these types of pests burrow in exactly the type of cover provided by Creeping Speedwell. As a result, you may not want to incorporate them into a pathway where you or your pets are walking on a daily basis. However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be used successfully for flower beds and other areas.
