Effortless gardening with Low-Maintenance wintergreens

Wintergreen ground covers overflow with interest all year round. These exceptional, hardy ground covers are the perfect perennials to cultivate in your garden.

How to cultivate wintergreens

In their native environment, these plants thrive in cool, damp areas, especially under evergreen trees. They also work well under or around deciduous shrubs and trees. When cultivating these plants, select a spot with partial shade where the soil is moist and well-drained. The advantage of planting these ground covers is that you can plant in either autumn or late spring. Just dig your hole, place the plant in and fill it with organic soil to cover the root ball. Keep the wintergreen well-watered for the first growing season to allow the plant to establish a strong root system.

You can also cultivate winter greens in potted plants. If you cultivate the plants in pots during winter, repotting is needed. This is necessary, especially when the roots fill the container or start growing out of the drainage holes.

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Wintergreen Care Tips

Wintergreens are appreciated for their low-maintenance and carefree nature, making them easy to care for. Their adaptability is a key factor in their ease of maintenance. When provided with light, soil, water, and humidity, the plants can thrive.

Light is an important consideration; they require partial shade to grow optimally. While they can tolerate full shade, this may lead to reduced flowering. Wintergreens are not particularly fussy about soil quality and can even thrive in nutrient-poor soil; however, they need good drainage and perform well in loose soils.

During the first growing season, it is essential to water wintergreens regularly until their roots are well established.

With the right care given from the start, your wintergreen ground covers won’t give you any problems as they grow. There is no need for pruning or fertilisation. While the plant can be grown in pots, leaving it in the pot long-term is not ideal. Repotting is necessary and should be done at the right time. During winter, if you are growing the plant in pots, it should be kept outdoors. As long as the roots are insulated well against the cold weather, your winter green should be fine.