The creeping bugle brings magical splashes of color to your garden. We will show you how to plant it correctly and what you need to consider.
Creeping Günsel is a labiate plant that attracts attention with its attractive, blue flowers. It is also used as a medicinal plant and requires little care. Nevertheless, the pretty plant is a rare guest in the ornamental garden. This is probably due not least to the fact that the creeping bugle (Ajuga reptans) lives up to its name and spreads quickly and takes over entire lawns. Find out below how to grow the plant, also known as wound weed or rock bugle.
Plant Description
The creeping bugle grows persistently and is between 10 and 15 centimeters high. Rhizomes up to 50 centimeters long are formed. The plant also owes its name to this fact. The erect stems are square and have downy hairs at the top. The glossy leaves are ovate and stalked. The plant flowers between May and June. The creeping bugle usually flowers blue. White and pink inflorescences are less common. Like all lamiaceae, the Creeping Günsel forms cloves, which when ripe decompose into single-seeded fruit.
| Crawling Bugle (Ajuga reptans) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | carpet-like, mat-like, runner-forming |
| Growth: | 10 - 15 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 25 cm |
| Flowering: | May - June |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | permeable, high humus and nutrient requirement |
Crawling Bugger's Distribution Area
Europe is the main distribution area of the plant. In addition, the creeping Günsel also occurs in North Africa, in Iran or in the Caucasus. The plant is mainly found at the edges of forests and in meadows. There the mint family prefers a fresh and nutrient-rich soil. The plants grow in the Alps up to an altitude of around 2,000 meters.
Use of the crawlerGünsels
Crawling bugle is often used as a ground cover. Its use as an ornamental plant is on the decline. Because the plants spread very quickly and often grow into lawns, they are commonly considered weeds.
The importance as a medicinal plant is almost completely unknown today. A tea brewed from the dried parts of the plant can help against diarrhea, rheumatism or skin ailments. The plant tincture can also be used externally to treat wounds and scars.
The plant parts can be collected between April and June. The entire plant can be used for medicinal purposes, with the exception of the root. The stalks are hung in an airy place to dry. The dried plants can then be used to prepare teas.
Planting creeping buggies - step by step
Suitable location for the crawling bugle
If you have decided to give this attractive plant a place in your garden, you should choose a sunny to partially shaded spot. In the wild, the plants grow on the edges of forests or in sparse deciduous forests. Particularly humid locations are less well tolerated because the creeping bugle does not tolerate waterlogging. If the plant is too damp, it can die quickly because the roots wither and can no longer supply the plant with nutrients.
» Tip: A location that is too shady favors mildew infestation.
A location that is too shady will also result in rather stunted growth.
In the border, the plants look particularly decorative in the vicinity of ferns, primroses or lilies of the valley.
Ideal substrate for the creeping bugle
Choose nutrient-rich soil for the plants. The substrate should be well drained so that water can drain off easily and waterlogging does not occur.
» Tip: Heavy soils can be made more permeable by adding sand and gravel.
The soil should not dry out completely, but it should also not appear too wet. In order to ensure a high nutrient content in the substrate, you should upgrade barren soils with compost, bark humus or leaf compost.
When is the ideal planting time?
You can purchase Creeping Bugles from specialist retailers between spring and autumn. Spring or fall are recommended for planting. You can use creeping bugle as a specimen plantbring into the ground, or plant as a cushion perennial.
Planting creeping buggies - step by step
1. Select location
2. Prepare soil
3. Dig planting hole
4. Observe planting distance
5. Insert plant
6. Fill in soil7. Press down the soil
8. Water the plant
9. Attach the border to the bed
Once the right location has been selected, you can prepare the soil. This is first loosened up and freed from weeds, stones and roots. So that the crawling bugle receives sufficient nutrients, the soil quality must be checked when planting. Too meager and too heavy soils do not suit the plants. Heavy clay soils can be made more permeable with sand. By adding compost, horn shavings or bark humus, you improve the nutrient quality of the substrate.
If you want to use the plants as ground cover, choose a planting distance of about 25 centimetres. About twelve plants are placed on one square meter.
» Tip: The closer you place the plants to each other, the faster you will get a closed carpet of plants.
After planting, you should also consider the downsides of the creeping bugle and use bed boundaries to ensure that the vigorous plants do not spread into your lawn, because from there they are difficult to remove.
Planting creeping buggies - all the facts at a glance
| Measure | Explanation |
| Select Location | The plants need a sunny position. Half shade is also tolerated. In the shade, the creeping bugle grows sparsely and is often attacked by powdery mildew. The soil should not dry out, but it must not be too damp either, otherwise there is a risk of waterlogging. Make sure you plant at a reasonable distance. |
| Prepare the ground | The soil should be rich in nutrients and have good permeability. Heavy soils can be made more permeable with sand or gravel. The addition of compost or humus ensures a good supply of nutrients. |
| planting | Dig the planting hole twice the size of the root ball. Insert the plant and fill with substrate. So that the plants cannot spread unhindered, you should make provisions with bed edging. |
Warning, risk of confusion!
The crawling bugle bears a close resemblance to theGroundman. The growth and flowering are very similar.
» Tip: Since both plants are completely non-toxic and even edible, don't worry.
Both plants can be distinguished by their inflorescences. The flower of the Günsel is significantly larger than the inflorescence of the ground ivy. There are also differences in the shape and color of the leaves. The creeping bugle has rather elongated leaves. The leaf shape of ground ivy is more rounded.
» Tip: Crawling bugle has no noteworthy odor of its own. Ground ivy has an aroma reminiscent of mint.
Every now and then it can be confused with the Geneva Günsel. This plant looks similar but does not produce the stolons characteristic of the creeping bugle.