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Low-growing, fast-spreading plants often used to stabilise soil and prevent soil erosion, as well as for aesthetic interest.

on foliage.Yellow to white mottling of upper surface of leaves. Whole leaf may become puckered and turn brown at the edges.Cover a piece of stiff card with grease or contact adhesive and hold it above the infected plants while lightly brushing the foliage

. In severe cases, growth becomes distorted, leaves curl up, the plant weakens and can die.Natural predators, such as birds, earwigs, ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies, ground beetles, spiders and parasitic wasps are a gardener's best allies. Some

flower buds might never open, or do so unevenly.When disturbed, the bugs quickly drop to the ground or fly away, so you'll have to be quick if you want to catch and squish them. Remove their hiding places by keeping the area under plants free of debris

The distortion, known as fasciation, is a freak of nature, and often looks like several stems have been fused together. It's a rare phenomenon and does the plant no lasting harm. It can develop on a range of shrubs, flowers and perennials. The cause could be environmental, such a...

Short plants, eg, ground cover, which are grown under taller shrubs or trees.

A plant used to provide height and contrast in bedding schemes, usually among shorter varieties or ground cover plants. Plants often used include roses, dwarf trees and pelargoniums.

The process of acclimatising plants to lower temperatures, usually following their raising under cover, such as in a greenhouse, prior to planting out in open ground.

A layer of vegetation, comprising shrubs and small trees, which grows beneath larger trees. Ground cover in a forest or wood.

Vinca major or periwinkle is a pretty, low-growing plant often with pale blue flowers that is used as a ground cover plant because of its mat-forming properties. However, it can be very invasive, and will rapidly spread around the garden