Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Grow Grace Ward Lithodora
The deer-resistant Grace Ward lithodora (Lithodora diffusa "Grace Ward") is an evergreen ground cover. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 8, the plant begins to bloom in spring and continues to produce a profusion of blue flowers until later summer to early fall. Grace Ward grows 6 to 12 inches and spreads 6 feet across the ground,...
The deer-resistant Grace Ward lithodora (Lithodora diffusa "Grace Ward") is an evergreen ground cover. Hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 to 8, the plant begins to bloom in spring and continues to produce a profusion of blue flowers until later summer to early fall. Grace Ward grows 6 to 12 inches and spreads 6 feet across the ground, forming a blue-dotted green mat attractive to butterflies. Grace Ward lithodora requires just a few actions on your part for it to grow and thrive.
Things You'll Need
Hoe
Mulch
Complete slow-release fertilizer
Shears
Grow Grace Ward in full or partial sun, spacing multiple plants 5 feet apart.
Weed the plant's surroundings regularly. Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch around the lithodora to suppress weeds. Use wood chips, shredded bark, compost or other mulching material. Remove the mulch gradually as the ground cover expands its territory, leaving no room for weeds.
Water the plant to the depth of its root system to keep the ground moist during the first growing season. From the second year on, irrigate established lithodora weekly.
Feed Grace Ward lithodora a complete slow-release fertilizer once every spring. A complete formula, such as a 10-10-10 formula, contains equal percentages of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Apply the nutrient according to the rates listed on the manufacturer's label.
Prune the plants back to the ground whenever the stems in the center begin to die. The hard pruning rejuvenates the lithodora, which responds by putting out fresh, new growth.
