Whether you are planting for beauty or for the production of herbal medicines, the chamomile ground cover is ideal. The reason it is such a good choice for herb gardening is that it can tolerate minimal amounts of sun and heat. This quality makes it a good choice for gardens in dry, northern areas where it is practical to grow herbs without fear of losing moisture in the winter. Even in areas of high altitude, it does not need much water because it does not need to be continually watered.
In order to ensure that the chamomile ground cover does its job properly, you must prepare the area properly before planting it. To begin, remove all weeds and rocks from the area. It is better to have the area cleared of all obstacles before laying the chamomile seeds. Dig a hole with at least three inches of soil in which to plant the chamomile seeds, as well as one to two feet of clear plastic in which to place the seeds. This will give the herbs room to grow properly.
If the seeds are planted too deeply, the chamomile plants may not have room to develop. To help determine the depth at which to plant the chamomile ground cover, dig several inches deep and then check the height of the plants. That number is the depth at which the chamomile should be planted, depending on how much sun and shade the area receives. If the chamomile plants receive excessive sun, they will be encouraged to grow too high. But, if the area gets less sunlight, the chamomile should be planted closer to the surface.
The chamomile lawn grass is fairly easy to maintain and grow. The key to a thriving chamomile lawn is to make sure the soil is adequately moist but not soggy. It also helps to aerate the growing ground cover by removing the topsoil in spring. This aeration allows the roots to better absorb moisture from the air. It also helps the chamomile lawn grass to develop strong and healthy branches. Pruning is not necessary, unless done at an advanced stage of growth.
It is important to water the chamomile lawn often during the growing season, especially if it is located in a drier climate. The soil should be watered prior to laying the chamomile seeds, as well as again after the seeds germinate. The chamomile ground cover can become quite a mess if left to grow on its own. Mowing the herb can be done by hand or with a sharp garden shredder, keeping cuticles short to reduce damage to the roots. Since chamomile is drought tolerant, watering is not necessary, unless it becomes overly dry.
The perennial herb chamomile is best planted in full sun to medium shade. The taller growing varieties of chamomile are often planted in containers. The taller varieties of chamomile are more sun-tolerant, but all chamomile seeds produce a yellowish bloom that fades in just a few weeks. If left to develop, this flower will bloom all year around, blooming lavishly with the fragrance of the evergreen perennial herb plants such as chamomile, marigolds, spearmint, fennel and basil.
To keep chamomile healthy and growing at its optimum, it requires little attention. If you live in a mild or moderately hot climate, chamomile is an ideal choice for your garden. As long as it has adequate drainage, perennial chamomile will tolerate most dryness conditions. However, as a drought-tolerant perennial, it should be kept trimmed to reduce the number of annual leaves, which can crowd the herb and result in a lack of color. Also, the perennial chamomile should be planted in well drained soil, with plenty of light.
Of all the annual herbs, chamomile is least bothered by birds and deer. In fact, chamomile serves as a natural bird repellent. The daisy-like flowers are used in herbal teas and are said to have medicinal properties. Of all the annual herbs, chamomile is said to have the most appealing fragrance, especially when the flowers are tossed into the air after being gathered. All of these factors make chamomile an excellent choice as a ground cover for a garden.