Question
QUESTION: We have green and variegated liriope in a bed facing east. The plants all started the season doing well  but now many of the green plants seem to be dying. The leaves are turning brown. The variegated are all doing fine at this time. What could be causes for this problem?

ANSWER: Hi Sue,
Thanx for your question.  It sounds like you may have leaf and crown rot which attacks the green variety more than it does other cultivars.  Here is a link.

http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/jos/liriope.htm

There's not a whole lot you can do about the disease once it sets in.  My experience with it is that it is pretty trouble-free.  Avoid planting in areas with poor drainage.

You might want to dig up a sample of the diseased plant and take it in to your local County Extension agent to have a look at it.  If you will give me your state and county, I can get the contact information to you.  I hope this helps.
Tom

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QUESTION: Hi Tom, reading the article you referenced, it does sound exactly like what is happening to our green liriope. We're in Calvert County, Maryland.  As those plants die off, the article doesn't recommend replanting liriope in the same place because of possible residual fungus causing damage. Is there another perennial you could recommend that might be similar to liriope which would be safe to grow in those areas?

ANSWER: Hi Sue,
Thanx for your question.  Here is a link to the Calvert County Maryland Extension Office.  They should be able to help you with local horticultural issues.  I worked at our local office here in Kansas and it is a very beneficial (and free!) service provided by your state's Land Grant University.

http://calvert.umd.edu/

As far as ground covers go, I am going to assume you are looking for something that will grow in partial shade?  If so, have you considered creeping myrtle?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinca_minor  It's also known as vinca minor or periwinkle.  It can be very effective in shade to partial shade to full sun.  If you're looking for something bigger, hostas are wonderful in groups planted in full shade or partial shade.  I use them in my yard underneath an oak tree and they help make a wonderful shade garden.  I have some lysimachia which makes an interesting ground cover but may not be what you are looking for.  Also called Creeping Jenny.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=T120

Let me know if you're looking for full sun, shade, partial shade.
thx,
Tom


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tom,
The liriope are in our front yard beds. They face east but have sun most of the day until mid to late afternoon. The beds are less than a year old, with stone cover (not mulch). Some of the other plants in the beds are barberry, nadina, daylilies, dianthus, and pennisetum.  They are all spread out (not what I think of as ground cover).  Any ideas?
Thanks for the link to the Extension Office.

Answer
Hi Sue,
What exactly are you looking for?  It sounds like the beds get sun for most of the day.  It sounds like you're looking for plants 12-36 inches tall.  Alternate-blooming perennials like coneflower, liatris, rudbeckia, coreopsis, low-growing ornamental grasses, knock-out roses, sedum (100s of types), phlox, artemesia, yarrow.  I hope this helps.
Tom