Question
Hi,  My husband and I have recently moved to Guatemala and have a lovely Spanish style home with a inner courtyard garden.  It has several varieties of Palms (coconut, plantain, banana etc.), a Cocao tree, an avacado tree and one corner of the yard has a large stand of bamboo.  We plan on planting an orange tree, mango tree and lime tree soon.  We will also be putting in some hardscape (a small soaking pool and patio area as well as some gravel paths through the yard and garden area.  In what little open area is left (mostly under the trees) we would like to put a ground cover that can tolerate a moderate level of being walked on, survive a dry season (usually Mar-Jun)and spread well and quickly.  Do you have any suggestions?  I was thinking of Dwarf Monkey Grass or Blue Star Creeper but am not sure how they'd do this far south.  Thanks for whatever help you can provide.  Arlene

Answer
Arlene, I don't want to discourage you, but I wouldn't attempt to get any kind of ground cover to take in a location such as that, under the tree is shady and the roots would be shallow because of the tree roots; have you considered putting some attractive potted specimens of shade loving perennials instead, prudently placed in the remaining open space? If you do want to put in groundcover, then those you mentioned will grow, but I don't like their chances of thriving under those conditions...Nick