How Much Foot Traffic Can Dymondia Take?

Facts About Dymondia

• By no means do you need to keep people and pets from walking on Dymondia, but a game of rugby on it may injure it. Dymondia is a drought-tolerant ground cover with a deep root system composed of tubers that store nutrients and water. These roots are also what anchor the plant in place when it’s growing on a hillside or slope. Because it spends so much time developing these roots, it’s a slow grower above ground. Once it mats together, though, you’ll have a hardy, weed-suppressing ground cover.

Growing Requirements

• Although Dymondia won’t die if you plant it in the shade, it won’t be at its most attractive and may not grow together to form a mat. Full sun or partial shade is ideal for the plant. Once it’s established, water only during periods of extended drought. In fact, Dymondia will tell you when it’s thirsty by curling its leaves. It perks right up when it’s watered.

Propagation

• Although Dymondia is starting to catch on with gardeners, it’s still not widely grown. The ideal way to ensure that you have enough of the plant to cover the area is to immediately propagate the plant when you find some. As with most ground covers, division is the easiest way to create more Dymondia.

  Remove the plant from the container and use a sharp, sterilized knife to cut through the roots so each division has its own set. Plant each in a 1-gallon planting pot so the roots have room to expand. Standard potting soil is fine. Water the divisions to keep the soil slightly moist. When they begin spilling over the side of the pot, it’s time to transplant them into the garden.

Planting

• As with all plants, success with Dymondia requires adequate soil preparation. Till the soil to a depth of at least 10 inches, breaking up any hard areas and large clods. The roots need lots of room to roam. After you dig the planting holes the same depth as they were in the 1-gallon container, fill them with water, allow them to drain and fill them again. Plant the plugs 18 inches on center (measure 18 inches from the center of one hole to the center of the next). Keep the Dymondia plants well watered until they show new growth, then gradually decrease both the amount of water given and watering frequency.